Richard Dawkins Defends The Pope: “Don’t Hold It Against Him”

Richard Dawkins frequently comes under fire for his outspoken statements against religion (okay, and for other many other views he expresses), but on Thursday, he spoke in support of a statement from the Pope, telling followers not to ‘hold it against [Pope Francis].’ The tweet was spurred by the religious leader’s statement on the Charlie Hebdo attacks, in which he suggested that religion should not be mocked, saying that someone who insulted his own mother could expect to be punched.

The Pope’s statement has been getting a lot of attention — would the leader of one of the largest and most influential Christian faith groups in the world really punch a person who insulted his mother? Tweeting a link to one of the many stories about the statement, Richard Dawkins argued that the Catholic leader was not really saying he’d punch anyone, but that it was a joke that shouldn’t be used as fodder against the man. He went on to suggest that, if there was a reason for ire, it was in the meat of the statement: the notion that religion shouldn’t be open to ridicule.

Pope's "punch" was a joke. Don't hold it against him.
http://t.co/ywmaQwRFA9 His double standard re ridiculing religion is less forgivable.

— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) January 15, 2015

The Pope’s statement, taken by some as a serious and literal assurance that he would physically attack someone for making an offensive statement, may be surfacing as one of the most controversial statements made yet by the leader who has spoken so inclusively (though his church has refuted his statements from time to time) that he’s earned the nickname ‘Pope Fluffy.’ He has made waves, granted, with his level of inclusiveness, saying that even atheists can receive God’s grace, and by demoting officials in the church over anti-gay sentiments, but this may be the first thing he’s spoken that has his more liberal supporters shaking their heads.

Though Dawkins’ defense of the Pope’s punchy statement might turn heads, his overall point is consistent with his usual stances. He isn’t saying that Pope Francis is correct, only that it’s a mistake to focus on the ‘expect a punch’ portion of the speech, and not focus on the notion that religion should be above ridicule. Whether or not one agrees that free speech shouldn’t include mockery of religion, it’s hard to disagree with Richard Dawkins on the simple fact that this, not the punching ‘threat,’ is the important part of Pope Francis’ statement.

Photo: Casa Rosada

Richard Dawkins Defends The Pope: “Don’t Hold It Against Him”