British PM comments on Pope’s remarks on blasphemy

January 20, 2015

British Prime Minister David Cameron appeared on the CBS political interview show “Face the Nation” and addressed a question on Pope Francis’s recent remarks on blasphemy.

Cameron was asked, “The Pope said that freedom of speech has limits, especially in regard to religion, that we shouldn't make fun of other people's religions. How do we find the right balance here?” He replied:

I think, in a free society, there is a right to cause offense about someone's religion. I am a Christian. If someone says something offensive about Jesus, I might find that offensive, but in a free society, I don't have a right to sort of wreak my vengeance on them.

We have to accept that newspapers, magazines can publish things that are offensive to some, as long as it is within the law. That's what we should defend. The politicians, my job is not to tell a newspaper what to publish or what not to publish. My job is to uphold the law, that they can publish things that are within the law.

 

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Further information:

• Face the Nation Transcripts: January 18, 2015: Cameron, Rubio, Pfeiffer (CBS)
• Vatican spokesman clarifies Pope’s remarks on blasphemy (CWN, 1/16)
• Pope addresses limits of free speech, climate change, in new interview (CWN, 1/15)