The Pope and Protest

It should not come as a surprise to anyone. The Catholic Church has never been a democratic institution. It is a monarchy; an autocratic one, at that. Case in point: a protest at St. Peter's Square over the Pope's remarks against gay marriage was intervened with by police, who seized placards that alluded to this issue but were in no way disrespectful of the Pope.

But, then again, when has the Church been respectful of those who disagree with its views? Time was when those who did were either killed or thrown into prison. Although it has tempered its treatment of dissent, the Vatican will still strike back at anyone who dares to oppose it in any way.

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