Vatican Finally Forgives Lennon

[octagon]

Ex-Beatle had claimed he was "one of Christ's greatest fans".

[kiramdear]

I think Jesus already forgave him long a long time ago

[winston]

I think Jesus already forgave him long a long time ago

There's no question there Kira.

[kiramdear]

He was big on that kind of thing - forgiveness, that is. Well that's what I read.

[gregga41]

40 years is a long time to hold a grudge, isn't it???

[kiramdear]

The new Pope seems to be trying to clear up some grudges on all sides, with all the good words and apologies and invitations to people of other faiths. I'll give that to him.

[brammy]

"Forgive" him for WHAT????? Lennon explained what he really meant a long long time ago. If the Catholic church is still unclear on what this issue was all about, it is Lennon who should forgive the church for the church's incredible and stupendous blithering ignorance.

Ya just gotta shake your head and laugh.

[deaconblues]

"Forgive" him for WHAT????? Lennon explained what he really meant a long long time ago. If the Catholic church is still unclear on what this issue was all about, it is Lennon who should forgive the church for the church's incredible and stupendous blithering ignorance.

Ya just gotta shake your head and laugh.

+1

[1965]

Didn't they hear he's dead? A bit late, no? Not like anyone really cares now anyways.

[simer4001]

"Forgive" him for WHAT????? Lennon explained what he really meant a long long time ago. If the Catholic church is still unclear on what this issue was all about, it is Lennon who should forgive the church for the church's incredible and stupendous blithering ignorance.

Ya just gotta shake your head and laugh.

As a good Catholic (seriously) I find it strnage that this was even an issue. However, I don't think they did hold a grudge. I don't remember seeing anything negative from the Catholic church regarding his comment. If I recall correctly, John did say "more popular". I also believe he was referring to teenagers. He was probably correct in his assumption.

I'm certain that Jesus didn't feel the need to forgive him for his comment. I'm certain he has forgiven me for thinking and saying much worse. At least I pray he has or will.

[Scastles]

The whole remark was blown out of proportion. On the other hand, can you imagine if he were to have said it today with the media latching onto everything? The remark was four months old when it became fodder in the U.S. It was from an old interview Maureen Cleave did in the UK. They thought nothing of it there, but in the U.S., another story. I have also thought Lennon considered the remark a statement of how idoitic fans were to heap such praise and following on the Beatles.

[kiramdear]

John was often completely tactless.

The quoted words were poorly chosen and he tried to say that in partial retraction. I always thought that pointing out the Beatles' popularity in comparison to Christ's was his way of trying to criticize one aspect of American culture, that is to say what's wrong with your values when a pop group is more fascinating that your avowed Savior? At least that's the way I took it.

[Ric O'Sound]

The press has made it sound like the pope or the Vatican has issued some statement proclaiming that Lennon has been offically "forgiven". In the couple of lines in the article that deal with John's quip (which was not the main focus of the editorial), the author (an editor at the newspaper) basically said that, looking back on it now, it can be viewed as a youngster's mistake and nothing more.

But neither the pope nor the Vatican has officially forgiven Lennon for anything. For all we know, the pope could still be secretly holding a grudge (although unlikely)...or it might be that the pope and/or the Vatican consider the incident so stupidly unimportant (which it truly is), that it was never even worth issuing an official statement about it in the first place. I think the Catholic church has probably considered John's comments a non-issue for quite some time...not just since Saturday. The editorial was simply a well deserved acknowledgment of the timelessness of Beatles music published on the anniversary of the White Album. How this all gets twisted around into "Vatican finally forgives Lennon" is beyond me.

[Scastles]

John was often completely tactless.

The quoted words were poorly chosen and he tried to say that in partial retraction.

The only reason he attempted a retraction or backhanded apology was because he was under some pressure, especially with the U.S. tour. Call it tactless, or call it for what it was at the time.

[kiramdear]

Of course you are right, Stan. His observation was heavily tainted with arrogance, and he likely never gave it a second thought until the pressure was applied.