Archbishop Cramner reflects on "the Innocence of Muslims"

The blog by "Archbishop Cramner" carries a thoughtful reflection on the recent Islamist riots over the anti-Mohommed film. It should be noted, that only this year the Venice Film Festival carried an anti-Catholic film that drew some criticism in Italy, but was not met by street riots, murder and mayhem. Perhaps this reflects the nominal Christianity of once Christian nations. For, after all, if people really believed Christ was God, then action - legal action by the State would be taken - and not an unruly mob (c.f. Quas Primas, Pius XI). 

Now there are also those, including "Catholics" who claim that though these anti-Catholic "artistic" undertakings are grotesque and in bad taste, the authors have the "right" to make and distribute their art. This is a grave error: The Vatican Council II document on Communications also underscores that public morality is to be maintained. 

Leo XIII in Immortale Dei wrote: 

 So, too, the liberty of thinking, and of publishing, whatsoever each one likes, without any hindrance, is not in itself an advantage over which society can wisely rejoice. On the contrary, it is the fountain-head and origin of many evils. Liberty is a power perfecting man, and hence should have truth and goodness for its object. But the character of goodness and truth cannot be changed at option. These remain ever one and the same, and are no less unchangeable than nature itself. If the mind assents to false opinions, and the will chooses and follows after what is wrong, neither can attain its native fullness, but both must fall from their native dignity into an abyss of corruption. Whatever, therefore, is opposed to virtue and truth may not rightly be brought temptingly before the eye of man, much less sanctioned by the favor and protection of the law.

We also - on issues pertaining to Islam and our relations with them, should follow the  teachings of the Popes. I'd prefer to listen to them, rather than degenerate lapsed and/or nominal Christians permeated with the ideology of the so-called Enlightenment. Publishing silly cartoons is not one of them. We need dialogue, not name calling (or bomb throwing, for that matter.  Islamists beware, I will call a spade a spade). 

"Archbishop Cramner" writes: 

In their condemnation of the puerile, amateurish film The Innocence of Muslims which appears to be being used as a pretext for riots, destruction and murder in some Islamic countries (not to mention in some non-Islamic countries with significant Muslim populations), Anglican leaders from across the Communion have written a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, demanding a UN declaration to outlaw ‘intentional and deliberate insulting or defamation of persons (such as prophets), symbols, texts and constructs of belief deemed holy by people of faith’.

Note the specific parenthetical insertion of ‘such as prophets’: if they had dared to specify ‘such as the Son of God’, there isn’t a Muslim nation on the planet that would vote for such a declaration. It is a bizarre point of emphasis in any case, for why should the divinely-inspired prophets of the Abrahamic religions be granted higher recognition than the rishis of the Indian subcontinent? Why should the declaration allude to Mohammed but not to Vasishtha? 

The full text of the "Archbishop" may be read here.