I got a lot of heat from readers after the above cartoon was published February 12, 2013 just after Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement. Scroll down and have a read. Then, have a look at the photo of the Pope from yesterday celebrating his 88th birthday with his buddies. Happy birthday Pope Emeritus!* * * * *I believe in freedom of expression, but the Feb. 12 cartoon of Pope Benedict was a despicable, outrageous, disrespectful rendering of a holy, learned man who heads the Catholic Church and has spoken and written to rulers and peoples everywhere calling for peace, justice and recognition of the dignity of every human being.
N. Winslow, Beamsville
* * * * *The cartoon portraying Pope Benedict in an unflattering way did a disservice both to the Pope and the many Catholics who respect his decision to step down. The decision was courageous and reflects the Pope’s clear understanding of himself and the needs of the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict has championed the Christian principle of forgiving, and he would no doubt feel compelled to forgive the editorial cartoonist and the editorial board. The Pope and The Spectator’s readers deserves better.
M. Ronney, Hamilton
* * * * *From a clergyman to the Spectator Publisher…
The Cartoon in Tuesday’s Spectator portraying Pope Benedict in an unflattering way was in my opinion, unfair and disrespectful to a Pope who has served his Church and the world well. I cannot understand what the Spectator thought they would achieve by printing that cartoon. Pope Benedict deserves better. My first reaction was to say “enough is enough”…time to cancel my subscription to the Spectator, and to encourage many others to do the same.
Why Sir did you and your colleagues permit this cartoon to appear?
Michael Ronney, Hamilton
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI toasts his 88th birthday with his brother Georg Ratzinger, right, Monsignor Georg Gänswein, second from right, and members of a group from his home town in Bavaria. Photograph: L’Osservatore Romano/AP
