Sabina Guzzanti: Italian comedian might be prosecuted for satirical comments about Pope

Italian comedian, Sabina Guzzanti, may be indicted because of satirical comments she made about the Pope at a rally in Rome in July. The rally was organized to protest interference by the Vatican in Italian affairs, in particular on issues related to gay rights and abortion. It was also a protest against Berlusconi's decision to invoke "ad personam" laws to avoid prosecution on corruption allegations.

A Guardian article provides more detail:

Referring to the attitude to gay people of the Catholic church and Pope Benedict - the former cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - Guzzanti said: "In 20 years Ratzinger will be dead and will end up in hell, tormented by queer demons - not passive ones, but very active ones."

Satire is a time honored literary form and in the land that produced Dante and his visions of hell, diabolical humor seems right at home. In fact Dante himself placed a Pope in hell. In the Divine Comedy Boniface VIII is condemned to hell even before his death.

The great Italian film director, Federico Fellini, was famous for his satirical treatment of the Catholic Church. In the film Roma, he included a hilarious clerical fashion show that featured ecclesiastical grandees dressed in surreal costumes.







The Pope, according to a 1929 Lateran treaty is a "sacred and inviolable person". Insults directed at his person are punishable by one to five years in jail. A lot of this depends on the endorsement of the justice minister and thus far there has been a reluctance to push for a penalty against Guzzanti.

This is wise, because if Guzzanti is prosecuted for exercising her right as a comedian to make fun of powerful figures, however "sacred" - it will make Italian politics seem even more fascist than many already suspect. Moreover there will be many protests. If the Pope was offended by this, he should prepare himself for more to come if Sabina Guzzanti is punished for the 'crime' of satire.

Sabina Guzzanti is a brave, cutting edge comedian with the guts to take on the pontiff of a Church that oversees an earthly empire that would embarrass the simple carpenter from Nazareth. Since Jesus was opposed to the empire building of the Pharisees, there is little doubt he would find the spiritual triumphalism of the Catholic Church equally or even more repellent, since it is being conducted in his name.

Ratzinger does a lot of pontificating and finger pointing of his own - an odd trait in one who supposedly is the human representative of Jesus on earth. Didn't Jesus reputedly say: "Judge not, less ye be judged."

The policies of the Catholic church in relation to contraception, abortion, homosexuality and other issues have created a great deal of human suffering.

A few satirical shots aimed at the Pope is to get off lightly.


Tags: Sabina Guzzanti, the Pope, hell, gay rights, Fellini, Roma, Jesus