I’m not believing what I just heard on the radio as I pulled in my driveway after driving carpool this morning. According to the report, while aboard his private plane on an Asian tour the Pope was interviewed about the recent Islamic terrorist attack on the French newspaper “Charlie” (can’t remember the second name and don’t want to spend the time to look up). He said something to the effect of criticism of faith being “off limits”. Further, that although freedom of expression – of which speech is one – is a fundamental human right, one could expect a reaction if you “go there” (my words, not his). Really?

What about encouraging love of virtue and hatred of vice? Furthermore, the classic definition of a virtuous person is reason over passion and as human beings and rational creatures – possessing the divine gift of reason – we should not react to our immediate impulses? Being God’s earthly spokesperson shouldn’t the Pope use the occasion to remind His flock (the human race) that we are to “walk in His ways” and that this is done when we choose restraint over reaction? Maybe I, too, am just reacting to some comments taken out of context for a catchy media soundbite? But I find it disheartening that at times such as these – when the flock is in desperate need of shepherding – that the Pope would choose political correctness over right reason.