Wednesday, May 16, 2007 | Reason : In the News | print version

Brazil's Indians Offended by Pope Comments

by Raymond Colitt, washingtonpost.com

Thanks to Florian Widder for the link.

Reposted from:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/14/AR2007051400721.html?hpid=sec-religion

BRASILIA - Outraged Indian leaders in Brazil said on Monday they were offended by Pope Benedict's "arrogant and disrespectful" comments that the Roman Catholic Church had purified them and a revival of their religions would be a backward step.

In a speech to Latin American and Caribbean bishops at the end of a visit to Brazil, the Pope said the Church had not imposed itself on the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

They had welcomed the arrival of European priests at the time of the conquest as they were "silently longing" for Christianity, he said.

Millions of tribal Indians are believed to have died as a result of European colonization backed by the Church since Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492, through slaughter, disease or enslavement.

Many Indians today struggle for survival, stripped of their traditional ways of life and excluded from society.

"It's arrogant and disrespectful to consider our cultural heritage secondary to theirs," said Jecinaldo Satere Mawe, chief coordinator of the Amazon Indian group Coiab.

Several Indian groups sent a letter to the Pope last week asking for his support in defending their ancestral lands and culture. They said the Indians had suffered a "process of genocide" since the first European colonizers had arrived.

Priests blessed conquistadors as they waged war on the indigenous peoples, although some later defended them and many today are the most vociferous allies of Indians.

"The state used the Church to do the dirty work in colonizing the Indians but they already asked forgiveness for that ... so is the Pope taking back the Church's word?" said Dionito Jose de Souza a leader of the Makuxi tribe in northern Roraima state.

Pope John Paul spoke in 1992 of mistakes in the evangelization of native peoples of the Americas.

Pope Benedict not only upset many Indians but also Catholic priests who have joined their struggle, said Sandro Tuxa, who heads the movement of northeastern tribes.

"We repudiate the Pope's comments," Tuxa said. "To say the cultural decimation of our people represents a purification is offensive, and frankly, frightening.

"I think (the Pope) has been poorly advised."

Even the Catholic Church's own Indian advocacy group in Brazil, known as Cimi, distanced itself from the Pope.

"The Pope doesn't understand the reality of the Indians here, his statement was wrong and indefensible," Cimi advisor Father Paulo Suess told Reuters. "I too was upset."

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1. Comment #41434 by gcdavis on May 16, 2007 at 5:53 am

"I think (the Pope) has been poorly advised."

Wow, we all know who his adviser is!

Other Comments by gcdavis

2. Comment #41437 by Luthien on May 16, 2007 at 5:57 am

Speaking of advisors; reminds be of a gary larson cartoon "The pope is inflateable".

Seriously though, what do you expect from a Nazi?

Other Comments by Luthien

3. Comment #41445 by CJ on May 16, 2007 at 6:09 am

the Roman Catholic Church had purified them and a revival of their religions would be a backward step.

My superstition is better than your superstition na na ne na na :p

No, not backwards, just the same old carousel of ignorance.

Other Comments by CJ

4. Comment #41447 by MiloC on May 16, 2007 at 6:15 am

"the Pope said the Church had not imposed itself on the indigenous peoples of the Americas."

What has this guy been smoking? This pope must be very poorly educated. I suppose that the conquistadors like Cortez were out on humanitarian missions to save the poor indigenous peoples of America!

Other Comments by MiloC

5. Comment #41452 by Russell Blackford on May 16, 2007 at 6:18 am

Well, the stupidity stick has been getting a good workout again. But we're used to that where the Vatican is concerned.

Other Comments by Russell Blackford

6. Comment #41475 by PaulVermeersch on May 16, 2007 at 7:04 am

Would you expect anything less from a former member of the Hitler-Jugend and head of the Inquisition?

Other Comments by PaulVermeersch

7. Comment #41476 by Peacebeuponme on May 16, 2007 at 7:05 am

Only good thing Herr Ratzinger has ever said - a revival of their religion would be a backward step. All they need to do to move forward now is get rid of christianity.

Other Comments by Peacebeuponme

8. Comment #41496 by PeterK on May 16, 2007 at 7:39 am

Looks like Benedict could be a strong candidate to carry that torch of "Cruel and Stupid Things said by Religious Leaders" left behind by Falwell.

Other Comments by PeterK

9. Comment #41571 by konquererz on May 16, 2007 at 10:17 am

So says the Pope, so says the Catholic church! Well, apparently not in this case. I think its a good sign that priests and such will openly criticize the Pope. Its not been favorable in the past, the Pope talks directly to god, or so its said. Its silly to see too religions arguing about who is best, but its a basic fabrication tear in the wool of christianity.

Other Comments by konquererz

10. Comment #41580 by slummingangel on May 16, 2007 at 10:57 am

let me get this straight the indians should be grateful for them being invaded and told what to do it's official the pope's a crack head

Other Comments by slummingangel

11. Comment #41622 by mooch on May 16, 2007 at 12:03 pm

"They had welcomed the arrival of European priests at the time of the conquest as they were "silently longing" for Christianity, he said."

This calls to mind the 'she said no, but she really meant yes' line of defence used by perpetrators of date-rape.

Stupid, stupid man.

Other Comments by mooch

12. Comment #41650 by jonjermey on May 16, 2007 at 1:36 pm

Were they also "silently longing for" smallpox?

Other Comments by jonjermey

13. Comment #41659 by D'Arcy on May 16, 2007 at 1:51 pm

Even the Catholic Church's own Indian advocacy group in Brazil, known as Cimi, distanced itself from the Pope.

"The Pope doesn't understand the reality of the Indians here, his statement was wrong and indefensible," Cimi advisor Father Paulo Suess told Reuters. "I too was upset."

Hmm. Could this be signs of heresy breaking out in Brazil? Will the pope order the excommunication of those involved. Somehow I don't think so. Like the CoE, the Catholic Church will attempt to adapt to the social realities, allowing it to continue its policy of mysticism par excellence.

If you feel like a shag, just remember the Pope says No!

Other Comments by D'Arcy

14. Comment #41667 by bluebird on May 16, 2007 at 2:04 pm

Seems to us the Pope (and his predecessors) don't 'understand the reality' of anything.~~~~
The Native Americans in U.S. are known as the "forgotten people".

Other Comments by bluebird

15. Comment #41677 by the great teapot on May 16, 2007 at 2:49 pm

Waiter!
Quick, we need another barrel, this one has just run out of fish.

Other Comments by the great teapot

16. Comment #41691 by Lauregon on May 16, 2007 at 3:29 pm

I suspect the indigenous people of South America were "longing for Christianity" just like Iraqis were longing for shock-and-awe warfare to be waged against them.

Other Comments by Lauregon

17. Comment #41702 by FXR on May 16, 2007 at 3:56 pm

In a speech to Latin American and Caribbean bishops at the end of a visit to Brazil, the Pope said the Church had not imposed itself on the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

THE MUSKETS DID IT......THE MUSKETS DID IT......

Other Comments by FXR

18. Comment #41707 by USA_Limey on May 16, 2007 at 4:10 pm

Comment #41437 by Luthien wrote:

"Seriously though, what do you expect from a Nazi?"

... I don't like the pope and I don't like Catholicism, but that's unfair. He was 14 when he joined the Hitler youth and membership was cumpulsory under that regime. Towards the very end of the war he served in the German army and actually deserted; for which had he been caught he would have been shot at the side of the road -no trial, no argument.

Sorry, just an amateur historian doing some nitpicking.

__________________________________________________

Carousel is a lie! There is no renewal!

~ Logan

Other Comments by USA_Limey

19. Comment #41714 by Lorc�n on May 16, 2007 at 4:30 pm

I agree, calling Benny a Nazi is just untrue - he's promoting a fallacy but you can be accused of the same thing in not being truthful.

That said, it's amazing how history can be twisted.

Lorc�n.

Other Comments by Lorc�n

20. Comment #41750 by USA_Limey on May 16, 2007 at 8:07 pm

Hitch is gonna take some heat for this attack on Falwell!

http://kevinmccullough.townhall.com/g/9764c788-1dcb-4aff-a1aa-46266d27eddc

Nice job!

Other Comments by USA_Limey

21. Comment #41785 by Corylus on May 17, 2007 at 2:02 am

They had welcomed the arrival of European priests at the time of the conquest as they were "silently longing" for Christianity, he said.

Hmm, it might be relevant to ask what the priests were 'silently longing' for at the time? The gold of Eldorado perhaps?

Other Comments by Corylus

22. Comment #41802 by glittergulch on May 17, 2007 at 4:57 am

And yet the pope speaks for god! Hmmm, I'm not sure how I can spin this one to make it fit with church dogma... I got it! God is testing us!

Other Comments by glittergulch

23. Comment #41818 by PaulVermeersch on May 17, 2007 at 6:12 am

Comment #41437 by Luthien wrote:

"Seriously though, what do you expect from a Nazi?"

Comment #41707 by USA_Limey

... I don't like the pope and I don't like Catholicism, but that's unfair. He was 14 when he joined the Hitler youth and membership was cumpulsory under that regime. Towards the very end of the war he served in the German army and actually deserted; for which had he been caught he would have been shot at the side of the road -no trial, no argument.

Sorry, just an amateur historian doing some nitpicking.

* * * * * *

Hey, we're not saying he agreed with being a Nazi, we're just saying that's where he learned a lot of his ultra-conservative bullying tactics that made him such a suitable Inquisition bulldog under Jay Pee the Deuce, and now the Pope with the painfully, conveniently blind-eye to history.

To say the things he does, he has to be either stupid, or an evil old fucker. I don't think he's stupid.

Other Comments by PaulVermeersch

24. Comment #41996 by cry4turtles on May 17, 2007 at 12:27 pm

"They had welcomed the arrival of European priests at the time of the conquest as they were "silently longing" for Christianity, he said."

As they longed to be at the sharp end of a canine tooth. What conversion tactics! The pope is a idiot, but an idoit I'd love to have 5 minutes alone with (with my trusty chocolate lab at my side). He's not the only one that can convert. Sick him Fido!

Other Comments by cry4turtles

25. Comment #42008 by BornAtheist on May 17, 2007 at 12:42 pm

"the Pope said the Church had not imposed itself on the indigenous peoples of the Americas."

Yeah, I can imagine:
Conquistador: "Hi there! Listen, we belong to this catholic church and stuff, but we don't want to impose our beliefs on you, so what are your thoughts on this secular humanism-thingie?"

Native: "Screw that! We want to convert to catholicism, so start preaching, hombre!"

Conquistador: "Are you sure? We really don't want to impose..."

Native: "You will convert us or die!"

Conquistador: "Ok, then... If it's what you want."

Other Comments by BornAtheist

26. Comment #42185 by snaregirl on May 17, 2007 at 8:48 pm

Am I alone in developing a real appreciation for this pope's work and his great efforts in promoting the secular, atheist worldview? He has the vision of a bat, his "morals" can properly be called such only with greatest of ironies and his foot seems to live permanently in his mouth. I say, just get some popcorn and enjoy the show, because for my money, this yokel is turning into one hell of a blessing in disguise.

Other Comments by snaregirl

27. Comment #42344 by AtheistAttorney on May 18, 2007 at 5:14 am

Rat-zinger is actually worse than John Paul II who I absolutely despised. I never thought it would be possible to pick someone worse and yet they did. If I was the devil they so fervently believe in, the first thing I would do is install the papacy.

Rome is a thousand years behind civilisation in their actions to say nothing of their beliefs and she keeps trying to hold the rest of the world back with her. Not even the massive, worldwide scandal of paedophile priests even slightly shook the faithful - and those overfed, sycophantic slobs sometimes called bishops still elected the man who oversaw decades of cover-up while he was in a position to do so. Shame on them - they should shut the *&^% up and stay at home. I would not shed a tear if the whole city and with it the denomination was raised to the ground.

Other Comments by AtheistAttorney

28. Comment #42762 by John Phillips on May 19, 2007 at 11:59 am

I know the popes remarks were sick but I must say thank you to all, as some of the replies here have been pure comedy gold and my eyes are still filled with tears from laughing so much.

Especially BornAtheist's post #25, that is a definite 11 out of 10 :)

Other Comments by John Phillips

29. Comment #42853 by dlitt on May 20, 2007 at 1:59 am

Tecumseh (1768-1813)

"How can we have confidence in the white people? When Jesus Christ came upon the earth, you killed him, the son of your own god, you nailed him up! You thought he was dead, but you were mistaken. And only after you thought you killed him did you worship him, and start killing those who would not worship him. What kind of people is this for us to trust?"