The ugliness and ignorance of Hollywood types would be laughable if it weren’t for the fact that what they say gets reported and people hear it.

The sad thing is, that the comments of Ms. Sarandon indicate the sort of world we are being brought to.  We all know what Ms. Sarandon said about Pope Benedict is wrong, but lets assume for the moment that the next Pope might be a former Communist, or have been a vocal supporter of some oppressive regime in the third world when he was young.  Should a few years supporting such a group, if since repented, still be used to summarize an entire man’s life?  Particularly if they have spent 2/3rds of that life (if not more) in service to Christ’s people?

Hollywood celebrities should be more careful in their enunciations.  What if ‘Occupy Malibu’ gets to protesting the outrageous incomes and politics of these entitled and imperious folks?

MarylandBill ... I’m not sure that having been a former Communist—or for that matter a present Communist—wouldn’t be a positive thing in the eyes of Ms. Sarandon and many of her fellow travelers.

letterman… Maybe not for Ms. Sarandon and others on the left, but don’t you think that some prominent people on the right might have a problem with it?  Especially if this hypothetical pope was to disagree with them on some issues?
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My point here really is that our society has gotten into the habit of defining the entire life of a person by what may have been a single indiscretion or a brief period of being lead astray. 
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Its a perilous test that all would fail if their lives were examined in enough scrutiny.

Susan Sarandon,like so many so called celebrities in Hollywood are clueless about so many things. They make these outrageous statements and slander the name of a good person. They live in a bubble of privilege and ignorance. For the most part I don’t support Hollywood by going to the movies unless it’s something really worthwhile seeing. Susan Sarandon is just another example of why there is so much that is wrong with Hollywood.

I would not waste my time defending our beloved Pope Benedict XVI to the likes of her, an ignoramus two bit actress.  She has let herself, her family and her profession down.

Doesn’t the Hank Williams,Jr. exception apply to Ms. Sarandon?

@Crazylikeknoxes: I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I didn’t make an exception for Hank Williams Jr. I criticized his comments too. Cheers.

Thanks for letting us know that the ADL is helping us out.

Susan Sarandon is not only in need ofour prayers, she also in dire need of psychiatric help.

Wasn’t Susan Sarandon raised Catholic, and stayed Catholic longer than Hitler (who left the Church in his teens) did?

Anti-Catholics are allowed to continue and we, as faithful Catholics, need to defend our faith at all times.  I even do at work when people say anything adverse about my faith.  If Susan Sarandon WAS a Catholic, I pray for her soul as she is the worst kind of offender.  The only other thing we can do besides defending our faith at all times and pray for her is to boycott any movies she’s in, and not support any kind of commercials she is in and to let the product developer’s know why we will not support them by purchasing their products.  Same thing with Yoplait and their support of Susan B Komen who supports Planned Parenthood - biggest abortion provider in the US.

It seems obvious to me that Sarandon may have a rent payment due or need a new Lexus or some such. The hollywood types who havn’t had a role in a while, need to find someway to get their names into the news, so that they can get that next gig. Sucking up to the lunitic fringe and their fellow travelers, by outlandish statements is the only way that they know to put money in the moneybox, (While poorer but honest people struggle to put bread on the table).
Almost everyone has a price, and she certainly has publicly stated hers.

As a Tolkein character might say, “Garn!!!”

As I wrote re: Hank Williams. Calling anyone a Nazi/Hitler is a bad idea. It makes Hitler look better and vilifies the much less evil person. I was shouted down on the ncregister blog because Obama “deserved” being equated with Hitler.  Please think hard before ever calling people Nazi’s or Hitler or Osama.  Rational discussion deserves better.

In Jesus’ own words: “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”

Susan Sarandon could receive great counsel in humility and holiness from Our Holy Father whom she refers to as a “Nazi.” He would be the last one to throw a stone at her for her liberal Hollywood lifestyle and I’m sure he would regard her with genuine Christ-like love, even though she has insulted him in such a vulgar, flippant, public way. Were she to meet him personally, she could learn some valuable lessons simply by being in his presence. Maybe even what being “Catholic” really means.

Susan is a bigoted, anti-Catholic moron. Most good actors are unhinged mentally. It is what makes them good mimes.

Sarandon supports the slaughter of unborn human life. Enough said!

I don’t know why everyone is placing such importance on the ravings of a silly trollop!

Sadly, it is not just Susan Sarandon who makes these kind of comments about the pope.  There are too many Catholics out there and in my own congregation, never having read anything the Pope has written or listened to anything he has said, take the New York Times attitude for their own and despise B16 openly.  Call to Action and We Are Church are just two organizations who encourage this way of thinking.  I know Catholics who firmly believe that the Pope was a Nazi—and want to believe it—not matter what the truth is to the contrary.  If Satan is the father of lies, and we believe he is, then we can see that he has been hard at work to discredit this good, holy and brilliant priests we are so blessed to have as pope.  It is singularly hurtful and hard to understand when so-called Catholics throw the stones of libel at him.  This pope has great courage, though—just think of the storm of criticism he braved when he made his trip to Germany, and to England last year.  The Lord continues to deliver him from the lion’s mouth.  We should be in awe of him.

I don’t understand how this surprising or shocking to anyone.  The average person on the street (especially if they aren’t Catholic) has the same, if not a quite negative, view of the pope.  And yes, it’s obviously incorrect, but Americans in general don’t have a particularly charitable attitude towards the Church.

I think we need to be careful here.  While I certainly do not support Ms. Sarandon’s statements, or indeed most of her politics (though I do have some sympathy for her Death Penalty position), I think it is important that we judge her statements and actions, not her as a person. 
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She is a child of God, just like we are.  And though our sins might be different, we are sinners, just like she is.  We need to pray for her conversion, just as we pray for our own conversion.  And we talk about her statements and activities, lets try to focus on her statements and activities and not on her.

MarylandBill,
Too bad “child of God” Susan Sarandon didn’t show the pope the kind of respect you’re demanding for her.

Susan Sarandon’s comments are just a prime example of her ignorance. Like many who espouse her political and social beliefs, the Catholic Church is EVIL and rather than well thought out debate, they simply try to vilify by making comparisons to individuals who were truly evil. But since Sarandon probably has NO grasp of history, she merely seeks to lump all those she dislikes into a broad category of evil. But she is not alone, we see many people particularly the Liberal Left Hollywood Celebrity set who think that much of what the Catholic Church promotes is EVIL. They want to have unfettered hedonistic pursuits, and when the Catholic Church speaks out against Abortion, promiscuity, homosexuality, or other behavior which they see as counter productive and self destructive, the Hollywood crowd cries foul . The Church then becomes the enemy of those who want NO discipline, No pursuit of virtue, but rather want to see a societal norm which says, if it feels good DO IT, and seeks to demonize those who are seeking to inculcate virtue and morality into a society which is increasingly shunning any attempt to reign in excessive behavior. Susan Sarandon is just one example of the Liberal Elite who believes secular humanism is the answer to all our problems and that any effort by anyone particularly the Catholic Church to try and influence societal behavior which she does not agree with is seen as EVIL. God bless Pope Benedict.

@MarylandBill: Thanks for your comment and your call to moderation. While I think Sarandon’s actions merit strong criticism, there is a difference between harsh and hateful, and not all of the commentary on this subject is on the right side of the line. Everyone, please, criticize, but don’t hate on anyone!

@Maryland Bill & Steven Greydanus - Well said!

Thank you Abraham H.Foxman for your kind defense of Pope Benedict XVI. God bless you and Pope Benedict XVI.

The best thing that Susan Sarandon can now do with regard to her Nazi comment is to apologize sincerely to Pope Benedict XVI.

Susan Sarandon was raised Catholic and graduated from Catholic University of America.  She has not been living a very Catholic life for a very long time, which in most people I would try to humbly chalk up to accidental ignorance coupled with internal struggle.  However, she has been a public dissenter of the Catholic Church for along time. 

Now I don’t know about the quality of Catholic education she received at CUA.  Either they (like many Catholic schools)dropped the ball on her basic religious formation, or she couldn’t be bothered to learn what the Church actually teaches when given the opportunity, or she has willfully rejected the teachings of the Church and is intent on willfully spreading misinformation.

The good Lord will sort Sarandon out later.  We just have to be prepared to clarify the facts among all the lies out there.  Apologetics is probably the most important aspect of the faith (besides basic doctrine of course) that our children need to be taught if they are going to survive in this modern world.

Don,
That is exactly why we must show her the respect we wish she had given the Pope.  By answering her hateful comments with hateful comments of our own, we justify (in her mind and the minds of those who think like her), their original hateful comments.
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I am not in the slightest suggesting we give her a pass for what she has said.  I am saying that we are called to attack her positions, not her.

I always thought she was a nut case, now I know she really is.  The holy father has nothing to worry about but she does.  Susan needs a lot of prayers.

Typical Hollywood ignorance.  Vote with your wallets, fellow Catholics!  No more Susan Sarndon films for me!

I’ve not been happy with the rabid, hate-filled minds of “Hollywood” for some time.  I’m definitely not going to waste any time or money on any of her productions.  Thanks for the reminder that we should all pray for her.

I think she is lacking in content.  She has had the luxury of standing on a soapbox with her ex.  She must be a very sad, shallow person to make disgusting ignorant remarks like these about our Pope. Let’s all pray for her soul.

I don’t believe that Susan Sarandon is all that different from the many people who live a secular existence. They are liberal thinkers and they view the Catholic Church as a big bully whose thinking is outdated and who suppresses a person’s right to choose what is in their best interest or best for society as a whole ; i.e., abortion, same sex marriage,embryonic stem cell research. Much of the world lives without God in their lives. If you don’t have God in your life you become selfish and self-centered. You view anyone who is religious with suspicion and infringing on your rights. It’s a sad world in many ways. And, there but by the grace of God go I.

“Ms. Sarandon may have her differences with the Catholic Church, but that is no excuse for throwing around Nazi analogies.  Such words are hateful, vindictive…”

That’s pretty funny, coming from Abe Foxman.

No doubt Sarandon was playing to her element. And no doubt she styles herself off as a sophisticated expert on the Church and wants the rest of us non-members of the chattering ilk to know she’s an “expert.” What a pitiable example, however. Had she done any homework about the perils of using the N-word, ideologically speaking, she might’ve come across the late historian Peter Viereck’s observation about anti-catholicism within academia, which in some quarters and regions of the land has allowed itself to become an “adopted cousin” of sorts to Hollywood.
  The (Lutheran) and ethnic German, Viereck, a long time Pulitzer winning historian and professor at Mount Holyoke College, said anti-catholiism was the anti-semitism of the intellectuals.
  Seeing that Sarandon’s remarks also betray a considerable lack of historical judgment on her part, one other facet of Prof. Viereck’s life needs mentioning. He, along with his brother George, who died at Anzio, were the much estranged sons of Georg Sylvester Viereck, Hitler’s chief official propagandist working for the Third Reich’s strategic consulate in New York before Germany (stupidly) gave its only formal declaration of war to any nation, ours.
  Brush this woman off. Her credibility when it comes to discussing anything to do with the Church is nil at best. Hell, if she said St. Peter’s Basilica was located next to the Papal Palace in Vatican City, I’d get a book about the Vatican to be sure.
  The best treatment for such hollow people is the cold brush off. They do live for the applauses after all. Some life.

“Obviously Sarandon has no clue of how formative Ratzinger’s work was for John Paul II, and the importance that he placed on it.” If I were the editor, I would chop that sentence down to “Obviously Sarandon has no clue.” That’s much better.

God bless the ADL.

@Larry: That IS better. Brevity is the soul of wit.

And exactly how is Sarandon different from Reese and McBrien?

@Bill Ronner: Although it’s no secret that Frs. Reese and McBrien have hardly been Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI’s staunchest admirers, not once have I seen either of those two priests stooped to Sarandon’s depth. Not saying I could’ve missed a few zingers on these priests part, but wouldn’t it also safe to say they would’ve been called off to Rome and a lot of publicity paid to such such a dressing down had occured by now?
  Calling in Sarandon would invite a lot more grief from the ever so sophisticated scribes in the uber-liberal literati caste. Be a lot of fun to watch, tho. LOL!

The ignorance or the thirst for publicity of the woman (not lady) is appalling. They suppose, so they talk…a real shame…IGNORANT!

Ignorant!

That just goes to show how ignorant some of these “movie stars” really are.  I think they should just stick to acting.

McBrien questions the Real Presence in the Eucharist and also questions whether the Catholic Church dates back to the time of Christ.  Reese was removed as editor of America Magazine for his heretical writings.  Both of these priests support women priests although all popes addressing the issue say it is not possible.  Both endorse a change in the Church’s position on homosexuals.
McBrien, former Chair of the Theology Dept at Notre Dame still teaches there while I believe Reese teaches at a Catholic College. I believe Sarandon is a whack job appealing to the anti-Catholic segment of our society.  That she graduated from a Catholic University makes it worse.  But these 2 priests can be very affective at misleading both young and old Catholics with their heretical views.  This make them more dangerous than Sarandon.

I thought we were just dealing with Sarandon and her off-the-wall slander of the Pope. Now you bring Frs. Reese and McBrien to try n’ fry. I graduated from a Catholic university, too. Suppose because I did along with Sarandon and I wasn’t out to dig up other stuff on the priests ... it looks like, I, too, fall into your Javert-like dragnet.
  Enjoy your inquisitions, but let’s stick to the subject: Sarandon’s disrespect of Pope Benedict.

I think it would be fascinating to review what Susan said about JPII when he was alive. Probably remind one of the way Democrats have been talking about Ronald Reagan the last few years. Don’t worry: plenty of us can remind you young’uns of how they talked about him in the 80s.

You know, nobody NEEDS to see her movies (the only thing I can even think of off hand - Bull Durham? Meh, sports porn, no thanks) or feed her attention.  What has she done lately?  Could she possibly be staring down the mortality of a career?  “Beauty is deceptive and charm fleeting…”

There ARE devout Catholics in the Hollywood community (Martin Sheen, Mel Gibson to name but two), so why aren’t THEY saying something?

@LRoy - I would not classify Martin Sheen as a “devout Catholic” since he supports same-sex “marriage” and Mel Gibson has certainly had his share of personal problems which would make anything he had to say on the issue not very credible.

Poor woman. She needs prayers.

MarylandBill,
If asking Susan Saranedon to show some respect for the pope is disrespectful, what is demanding that Catholic show respect for her?

I guess she didn’t see the articles that John Paul II sold gas to the Nazis.
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Why should she respect the pope? She is an atheist. She has her own ideas and will not humble herself to someone she despises.
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Catholics live in a church full of mirrors.

@Joseph - Are you on medication?

How would Sarandon know?. She wasn’t there!. She also needs to get her facts straight.  The pope at the time tried helping the Jews escape. If it was to be viewed publicly at the time, Hitler would have taken more severe action against the Jews and other victims.. Alot of escapes were done in hiding. Some Jewish researchers are finding this out now. Another hollywood “dipstick” flapping their mouths with no evidence to back there idiotic statements.

I was about to mention Martin Sheen as well. Isn’t he going to say something?

Don,
Returning her disrespect with our disrespect does nothing but justify her initial disrespect.  By all means we should defend the Pope, but we must do so in a way that observes the law that Jesus gave us.  We are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, not as they did unto us. 
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Like all of us, if she does not repent of her sins, then I imagine she will not receive a happy judgement when she sees God face to face.  But if attack her in a way that drives her further away from God, then will we not also face some of that judgement?

Stephen, I responded with a critique of McBrien and Reese because of your comment about these priests not sinking to Sarandon’s depth. They have! I attended a Catholic College and my daughter recently graduated from Holy Cross.  She entered as practicing Catholic and left not attending Mass. The reason is that the McBriens and Reeses in academia constantly preach heresy which sometimes resonates with the Sarandons and the Dowds.  CU has recently made great strides to hold to Catholic teachings with their abolishment of multi-sex dorms among other things. Other schools should follow by divesting themselves of these heretics. Maybe then the Sarandons would not be so vile!

This is so much bigger of a problem than some Hollywood moron blurting out proof of their own ignorance.  Sarandon is just another example of the people on the pedestal attacking anyone with faith or values.  People who believe in a higher power than themselves are completely alien to these people. “how can you worship God?, I thought you worshipped me?” this is their mindset.  This is our doing, we put these people on the pedestal in the first place, obsessing about every little detail about them, from what they wear, to what they eat for breakfast.  We need to look at our priority list and maybe do a little shuffling.  Maybe there are people ACTUALLY in our lives that deserve the attention and affection given these “stars”.  Maybe teachers are STARS, policemen (& women) are STARS, volunteers at your church or your child’s school, THESE ARE STARS!! And the funny thing is, these people would not even accept all the fawning and obsessing over them that these so-called “stars” expect on a daily basis.  They would probably say “if you have this much free time to stare at me,  maybe you put down the microphone and the camera and come lend us a hand?”. My favorite bible passage speaks to a time to “put away childish things” I think it’s time that we put away some of these pop icons, and devote more of our attention to the things that really matter.

Over 60 comments in and nobody has yet mentioned (for good or ill, and I could see it going either way) the role Sarandon won an Oscar for and which showed what a great actress she can be (redundantly at the time, though her roles have been rubbish since).

A nun.

Anyone can “pretend” to be a good and decent person.  People like Susan Sarandon and Mucheal Moore should try BEING decent human beings for a change….although I guess that’s not good business where they come from.

Micheal…

@Grrnal: Moore’s no saint, as the rest of us aren’t. But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt any day over Sarandon. A least ALL of Moore’s docudrama style movies are a heck of a lot cleaner than a lot of Sarandon’s. ANd when was the last time Sarandon could take on a flaming ego case like Sean Hannity on issues of the faith and nail the host on his inattendance at Mass the previous Sunday simply by remembering not only the gist of the Sunday Gospel reading, but the actual chapter and verse? That was Michael Moore’s doing. He literally destroyed that poseur Hannity, who always looks like a cross of Eddie Munster in an altar boy’s habit.

@Steven - Just as a point of reference = altar boys wear albs; not habits.

@steven. Moore deserves less of a benefit of the doubt, not more.  Sarandon is a old, fading star who is trying to hang on to fame that had long since dried up. Moore is more relevant, more powerful, I suspect more intelligent, and does much better research than what I would think Susan Sarandon is doing before spouting off her ridiculous opinions.  He KNOWS when he is deliberately misleading his viewers and he doesn’t care.  He says things to upset people he doesn’t like, and he KNOWS those statements will upset and offend MILLIONS of people he doesn’t have any beef with, and he doesn’t care.  He jokes that Jesus must have been gay… to get a few laughs.. Just so he can stick it in the church’s face that it was a catholic university audience that laughed.  This is an enemy of the belief system of many people, myself included.  And a much more dangerous enemy than that ridiculous Susan Sarandon.  Don’t get me wrong, this is still our fault… We put people up on a pedestal and act like they are more important than we are, then we have to make excuses for them when they say stupid crap.  It’s time to return our attention to the more important people in our lives.  Let the icons spout off to each other and pretend like anyone else is still listening.

Oh, and being prepared for a debate doesn’t make you right.  I saw that hannity too, he baited that egomaniac right from the beginning.  Impressive, maybe. Funny to watch Sean squirm a little, sure. But it doesn’t make Moore any less of a piece of crap.

I actually question whether Hannity is no longer a Catholic.  He takes the Mormon position on the Trinity as well as other Mormon positions.

Grrnal: Awwwwhhh, c’mon, give Michael a little slack; if for nothing else than to set Fox’s Eddie Munster in his place. LOL.
Bill: If the Mormons want Hannity to balance out Beck, by all means, they can have both of ‘em, especially if they have a church-run nut-hut. Could anybody could think of two more promising future residents?

If his tactics were only directed at republicans, I could look the other way.  I renounced my membership and became a conservative independent the day that Obama got BP to set up that 20 billion account to FINALLY start helping some of the people affected by the oil spill, and the republicans APOLOGIZED TO BP… Saying that he was shaking them down.  For them to actually say something so STUPID that I find myself on the same side of an issue with OBAMA?!?!? I can’t hang out with these goofballs anymore.  But that’s politics, I like a good fight in that arena.  But religion?!?!  I don’t insist that people believe what I believe… So I will not tolerate them ACTIVELY ATTACKING my beliefs… Christians get a bad rap as being “judgmental” (whatever that means), of trying to tell everyone how to live, BUT, from where I’m sitting, it seems that PLENTY of people seem to think it ok to attack Christianity without provocation.  I don’t know what Moore’s beef with the Catholic Church is, but if he thinks he can substitute constructive dialogue with careless, mean-spirited attacks… Anyway… Touchy subject.  I guess it still boils down to us… Moore is a symptom. If we didn’t fill his pockets with money everytime he “creates” one of his “docu-whatevers”, he wouldn’t be an issue… Same thing with Sarandon… If we let a movie maker know that we are unwilling to spend our money on projects involving a person such as that,.... but that takes a certain level of commitment that I wonder if we have…

As far as I know it’s Glenn Beck, not Sean Hannity, who left the Church to join the Mormons so he could get married to another woman.

Victor Morton:
Yes, Susan Sarandon pretended to be a nun to promote one of her agendas.  So?

MarylandBill: you show such disrespect to me?  It hurts my thin skin.

@Victor Morton: FWIW, the real-life nun played by Sarandon is possibly as far as or further than Sarandon from a Catholic worldview, alas. She’s a nut. (Not that the film portrays her that way, or that she was even necessarily that way at the time. Just saying.)

This REALLY TICKS ME OFF!!! Seriously!!! Dis Obama, Islam, or Abortion, you can get fired from your job(if you’re a reporter or teacher especially)! Call the Pope a nazi, well nobody gives a darn.It’s always like this! i mean, [bangs head on desk] C’MON PEOPLE!!! LOOK UP POPE BENEDICT, IT’S CLEAR HE’S NOT A NAZI!!! Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Apparently it’s not just Jewish and Christian leaders objecting to Sarandon’s remarks; according to this WENN piece, some Hindu leaders have spoken out against it, too!: http://www.imdb.com/news/ni16855770/

What do you expect from the hollywood crowd? Anything different.  All they think about is divorce and infidelity.

Sarandon’s proving herself to be an internationalist/multicultural p.o. expert.

How anyone can look at or listen to or read Pope Benedict and call him a ‘Nazi’ is puzzling.  Sarandon might just be attempting to get herself in the headlines as she has not been relevant for a while. She is a great actress but, like so many in Hollywood, seems to be blind to the horrors of what the Dems did when attempting to keep blacks segregated, and attempting to keep slavery legal…I honestly don’t understand why they will not see the truth.

Well,I THINK we should write to the Dairy Council.MS Sarandon is currently doing commercials for milk. I will tell them I want her withdrawn as a spokesperson for a wholesome product my family uses 15 gallons a week.It would be a shame to go without it.

Contact them here:

http://www.whymilk.com/contact_us.php

and let them know what you think about Ms Sarandon,who attacks our Pope, being milk spokesperson

Posted by MarylandBill on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 12:09 PM
_

## Kudos to the poster :)

One of the biggest problems surrounding Pope Benedict 16 is that he is a truly brilliant thinker, philosopher and intellectual. As Cardinal Ratzinger he was outstanding. His moral and theological reasoning were always acute, and placed many of the shabby arguments of his moral opponents (including lazy, decadent Catholic ‘intellectuals’, atheists and others) in the embarrassing greyish spotlight they deserved. I will never forget reading his comments on the ‘immorality’ of so many USA Catholic ‘marriages’ celebrated in USA Catholic churches for ‘Catholic’ couples who were openly co-habiting. Most individuals today are so intellectually weak that a truly intelligent person appals them; Pope John Paul 2 is pushed by the media as a ‘nice guy’, so he is OK. But a mind like that of our current Pope is quite beyond the average media editor, entertainer or, (Gosh!) college professor, so naturally he is easily vilified. It is interesting to look back and see also the intellectual light of such little-known Popes as Leo 13, (ex. ‘Rerum Novarum’)not to mention the incisive socio-political critiques of Pope Pius 10.

Sarandon is a brainless, witless, ignorant member of the BWI Organization in Hollywood.  Would that her brain was half as big as her MOUTH!!  A perfect example to “consider the source”.

That Sarandon person and 95% of her fellow “show types”, confirm the DUMBING OF AMERICA!

As a history teacher, a Christian, and a reasonable person, I find Ms. Sarandon’s comments despicable.

What is much more despicable, however, is the reaction in this forum. For professing Catholics to call her names such as “trollop”, “mentally unhinged”, etc… it’s beyond despicable. You know better. You shame Christ with your words. A gentle answer turneth away wrath, or have you forgotten?

Until the Church responds with love to Her enemies, she will always deserve society’s derision. And the world will be alienated from Christ’s love.

@puckspice - Very well said.

Seriously? You actually expect BETTER from a Holliwood actress?!?!? Now who’s delusional?!

@gaby: I expect better from a human being. And like puckspice, MarylandBill and others, I’m chagrined by the tone struck by many in this combox (and that’s not even counting one over-the-top comment I deleted early on). I expect better from readers—even if that makes me delusional.

So, now “Christians” come into this forum to see what they can find “wrong” on catholics to keep saying that they are the perfect religion? To start with, religion, we all are Christians, but the denomination is the different one” Christian baptist, Christian Pentecostal, Christian Catholics! So, @puckspice if you are such a perfect Christian, why come into this forum of “imperfect, despicable” catholics? do not hurt your own feelings by doing this, go back to your very perfect “church” with your very perfect pastors…really! and I do not mean to insult, but you “Christians” (and I know many) are only finding excuses to find mistakes on Catholics, please remember there is only one God, and please with your History degree ( I am working towards a doctoral in education by the way) leave us alone, we defend our faith and the ones in it, the way we want! Thank you for passing by these forum of insulting, imperfect catholics, and now, let’s go back to the real topic of it!!!!!

“puckspice,”
Did it ever occur to you that you shame Christ with your intolerant atacks on Catholics?
Of course not.

In case anyone can’t see it, Puckspice has not attacked Catholics, only unbecoming behavior by Catholics that deserves to be criticized, and has been criticized by Catholics (including me) almost since this combox began.

I am on the brink of doing something I haven’t done in all my time blogging at the Register: shutting down a combox. Frankly, I probably should have done it a long time ago. Weigh your words, people.

And after all, we should all just ignore Sarandon’s comments…in fact we are just giving her publicity and importance. Can you imagine how many people insult our religious denomination and our faith and our Pope? why give them an importance they do not deserve. I bet Pope Benedict forgave her already and he can’t care less if she apologizes…leave everything in God’s hands and he will put everything and everyone in his place.

@Steve D. Greydanus - Thank you for monitoring your blog. I wish I could say the same for all bloggers appearing on the National Catholic Register. I was the recipient of an extremely vulgar and blasphemous comment on another blog. I had to report it because it remained there for the longest time. I expect comments to be respectful even if people do not agree and exemplify Christian charity. Thanks so much for doing your “job” to make sure your blog is a reflection of that.

Amy: God, not I, expects Christians to exemplify Christian charity. My expectations are more modest: I expect a modicum of decorum, courtesy and avoidance of overt rudeness or incendiary language. Looking over this combox, I’m gratified to see that many readers did meet this expectation, although many others didn’t.

I totally agree with your call for decorum & civil language.  But I do find it interesting that you are willing to allow so many opposing views on what should or shouldn’t be done…& I applaud that.  I tried to answer an article written on another site stating their position that she has nothing to apologize for.  And strangly enough, they wouldn’t post my comments at all…  No vulgarity, no hate. Just disagreement.  And apparently that was enough to warrant them silencing me.  Super ironic to censor responses to an article about free speech.  So you guys are doing a pretty good job from where I’m sitting.

grrnal: Awhile back I did a 10-part series on redefining marriage (I still owe the world one more installment), and we had every point of view imaginable. I welcome opposing points of view, as long as people refrain from personal attacks. That’s what the combox is for.

So “puckspice” has “only [attacked] unbeccoming behavior by Catholics,” while those Catholics who complain about his unbecoming behavior are wicked?
Head he wins, tails we lose.
(And note that I’m only commenting on hypocritical complaints about complaining, not making a personal attack.)

Don Schenk: Perhaps a quick recap will help.

1. Susan Sarandon called the pope a Nazi—twice. A vicious, ignorant, unbecoming personal attack.

2. Many people, including the ADL, criticized Sarandon’s behavior and called on her to apologize. I also criticized her behavior. Such criticism is NOT a personal attack on Sarandon, and not unbecoming at all.

3. In this combox some people echoed the above-mentioned criticism of Sarandon’s actions—some very charitably expressed (mentioning praying for her, etc.). Not unbecoming at all.

4. Other people in this combox attacked Sarandon personally using harsh, vicious, uncharitable, unbecoming language (“trollop,” “mentally unhinged” and worse)—attacks as unwarranted as Sarandon’s attack on the pope, and in a way worse since those attacking Sarandon were doing so from a stance of Christian identity, ostensibly in defense of the Holy Father who would certainly not want to be defended in this way.

5. Several people, including myself, MarylandBill and puckspice, objected to the uncharitable and unbecoming personal attacks on Sarandon.

I see nothing uncharitable or unbecoming about such criticism, including puckspice’s criticism. Puckspice objected to language like “trollop” and “mentally unhinged,” calling it “despicable.” It IS despicable. Puckspice did not attack anyone personally, but objected to objectionable behavior.

Criticism of objectionable or offensive behavior is not itself objectionable or offensive. It was right for the ADL (and me) to criticize Sarandon’s offensive behavior and call on her to apologize. It is right for puckspice (and me) to object to offensive behavior in this combox, such as calling Sarandon a “trollop.”

There is no reason for anyone to take offense at puckspice’s criticism, and no basis for attempting a tu quoque rebuttal claiming that puckspice is somehow being just as intolerant or unbecoming as the people he/she is criticizing. Puckspice was right, and those who attacked Sarandon personally would do well to take his/her words to heart and repent of their un-Christian sentiments and behavior.

@ Steven D. Greydanus - “God, not I, expects Christians to exemplify Christian charity. My expectations are more modest: I expect a modicum of decorum, courtesy and avoidance of overt rudeness or incendiary language.”
I’m confused by your response - isn’t that Christian charity?

Amy: Christian charity generally entails a modicum of decorum, courtesy and avoidance of overt rudeness or incendiary language—but it is not limited to that.

Put the other way around, just because you exhibit a modicum of decorum, courtesy and avoidance of overt rudeness or incendiary language does not mean you are exemplifying Christian charity (though it’s a good place to start). The bar for charity is much higher than that.

But like I said, it is God who expects charity of us. My expectation in this combox is more modest.

I agree whole heartedly with what MarylandBill said: “The sad thing is, that the comments of Ms. Sarandon indicate the sort of world we are being brought to.  We all know what Ms. Sarandon said about Pope Benedict is wrong, but lets assume for the moment that the next Pope might be a former Communist, or have been a vocal supporter of some oppressive regime in the third world when he was young.  Should a few years supporting such a group, if since repented, still be used to summarize an entire man’s life?  Particularly if they have spent 2/3rds of that life (if not more) in service to Christ’s people?”

The Apostle Paul is a perfect example of an individual who committed horrible acts, or at least gave his approval of them, i.e. the torture and murdering of Christians. Remember, Paul/Saul, held the cloaks of those that stoned Saint Stephen to death. Yet after submitting to the will of Christ, Paul became one of Christendom’s most beloved and prolific leaders. I am sure Ms. Sarandon would never vilify an Islamic terrorist; she may even hold him up to hero status. However, dare not hold firm to the teachings of Jesus without being targeted by these Hollywood types.

The pope was a model of strength and character, even as a young boy. Most of us cannot say the same; but thankfully through Christ’s blood that was shed on the cross; many of us have become new creations.

I am tired of listening to the garbage that comes out of Hollywood and the actors.  Who makes them important enough to listen to anyway.  Sarandon is ignorant of who Pope Benedict is and what he represents, and his hardships in his life.  Why don’t the Hollywood types go play with their little toys and keep their gibberish to themselves.

@ShirleyBremer:  I think most of the people in this discussion agree with the frustration that is felt in your comments.  I wrote early on in this discussion of the same thing.  I, however, think that it is unproductve to blame the ignorant(even the willfully ignorant) people that spout this nonsense from the pedestal that WE placed them on.  This incident, along with countless others, is an opportunity for me to examine MY priority list in MY life.  Who is really important? Who’s opinions do I value? And who I’m willing to spend my time and money on, and who is a “star” to me. I think, as I wrote earlier, that we have placed the ridiculous amount of importance on these “stars”... when there are so many other people ACTUALLY IN OUR LIVES that deserve this attention.  In much the same way that you tell them to “keep their gibberish to themselves”, I say: We should put away “these things of a child” and be adults.  Then there would be no one for them to spout their nonsense to.

Ms Sarandon, along with so many other misguided souls, need our prayers for conversion of heart. Imagine the good that could be done if a converted heart was as vocal…

Jesus said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.  That’s Hollywood for you.  They seem to have no idea what they do to our young people by the atrocious examples that they set. Is it no wonder that so many of our young people who idolize them, go wrong and are in so much trouble? There is so much entertainers could do for our children and country if they acted with some common sense and with less idolatry of themselves.

Well said, and she should apologize and make some kind of restitution!

Be real!! The whole world knows he is a Nazi!! What is you’re problem.?  Shame on him for denying the truth and shame on her IF she apologizes for saying the truth….let the woman be!!

@Sylvie cana - Always nice to get a good troll response every once in a while. Grow up!

@Sylvia: My husband was DRAFTED into the Army in WWII…fought in five battles in Europe. DRAFTED means you HAVE TO GO. I was in high school at the time and knew exactly what was going on. In fact we had a Debarcation camp built near my home town in N.Y.  Pope Benedict was born the same year as I was 1927 and he was DRAFTED into the German Army, just as my husband was drafted into the U.S. Army. Before you or Sarandon have anything to say, you should study your history. Unfortunately most people in my children’s and grand children’s generation know very little about WWII.

I wonder how these people making excuses for Sarandon’s idiotic statements would have fared living through what the pope lived through. How much resistance would you be capable of putting up in those circumstances?  How much danger would put yourself in to do what’s right instead of what’s expected?  History doesn’t exactly paint a picture of a robust resistance to the nazis from the citizens of Germany, and yet, they were there, risking more than most of us had ever had to, to do the right thing.  The “whole world” doesn’t “know” they were nazis.  And at least one member of the “whole world”  needs to do a little research before speaking for the rest of us. 
If I accidentally fed a troll, I apologize.  But neither Susan Sarandon or Sylvie Cana speak for me.

@Grrnal:Yes, Sarandon has a right to free speech, but some of us get tired of Catholic bashing, especially when it is an untruth.  I am pleased to know you do not think as she does.  I am sure, as you stated, that living in Germany during WWII was hard on many of the Germans also and many went through a great deal. I heard much from my husband, who was in Germany for a while after the war ended. If people remember history, the Pope at the time was also crucified by the media and yet He and the Catholic Church did a lot for those who were trying to escape from the Nazi world.

@sue (old): for the record, I also am BEYOND tired of people bashing Catholics.  It just seems easier to maintain my composure to look at a bigger picture… and also to look at what I can do in my own life to be a positive counterpart to the “willfully ignorant”, and their negative point of view.  It amazes me that the simplistic overview of society always paints people of faith as the bullies, the ones forcing their point of view on everyone.  Yet, I don’t go around “preaching” to everyone, demanding that everyone, or anyone for that matter, conform to my beliefs.  But on a daily basis, I forced to endure attacks on my beliefs from all sides…unprovoked attacks.  From disrespectful jokes and ridicule, to outright calls for the destruction of my church…. anyway, before that loss of composure referred to earlier shows it’s ugly head, let me just say: WE MUST STAY VOCAL… positive, but vocal.

First let me state that I am Greek Orthodox, not Catholic. But in spite of our differences, I can only defend Pope Benedict XVI as a deeply spiritual man, humble, and a world leader who has shown an active interest in all refugees. Susan Sarandon is one of those Hollywood snobs who think very little and talk way too much. She is a talentless hack who has used her sexuality on more than one occasion to push her convoluted and infantile political agenda. Hollywood may be a “dream factory”; it is clearly not a “brain factory”. The less publicity a idiot like her gets, the better off the rest of us are; pray for her. She has a long way to go.

She works in Hollywood. That explains all. Besides in a few years no one will remember there was a Susan whatever her name was. In fact I don’t think I bothered to give her any money by attending any of her films of which I do not remember any at all.In fact there is very little that comes out of Hollywood I bothert to pay attention and see.

When our Pope was a young boy, really young, he had to go into the service, just as my husband did during WWII [drafted] Here is a true story about my WWII paratrooper husband. He had been up 36 hours, waiting for a night without a moon, so they could jump in Southern France, also eating C-rations for energy. When they finally jumped in the dark, morning came and there were chutes all over the place when each soldier was suppose to bury their chute. Also some guys were hung-up in trees and had to be cut down. After he and some other guys buried so many chutes they got tired and decided to find there camp. When they arrived the Sgt. ordered my husband to guard a German prisoner who was captured. My husband so was tired, so hungry all he wanted to do was eat and sleep and he said he could have shot the guy and be done with it.  So he sat down and in a while he calmed down and looked at this prisoner and thought “My God he is just a young kid like me (19yrs) and he probably has parents at home worried about him as mine does about me”  So he got up, went to the camp fire, poured a cup of coffee and handed it to the prisoner. Too bad we don’t have more people like him in the entertainment world who could set decent examples to our young people. My husband new the difference between an enemy and a human being, that is why he was a good soldier.

It pains me to hear from an actress I have so admired for years the horrible accusations she made against the current Pope.Although extremely talented Ms. Sarandon lacks knowledge about the facts of her accused, and I surmise she says things for shock value to perhaps gain attention or even worse that she believes the things she says without bothering to check her facts. I believe she does much more damage with her slander than she can ever appreciate, as I also believe she’s not really interestred in the truth, but her own agenda.  Shame, shame on you !!!!!

Why should we pay attention to a woman that rarely makes a movie, and who abandoned the Faith long ago? Why she thinks she has a right to criticize Catholicism and the Pope is beyond me, except that it must get her the attention she craves.  I do not see her hesitate to call names though. Too sad!

After experiencing WWII and the communism that invaded Hollywood and other entertainment industries, I would never admire an entertainer. They are doing the same thing today with their progressiveness, [sexual revolution, etc.] thinking it is good when all they do is set a bad example to the young people.  [I know there are some good entertainers, but they know who they are and I am not speaking of them.] They like the “shock factor”, anything to be noticed. Talk about Obama’s “money differential”, entertainers, sports players and politicians make too much money but they don’t seem to think so, they will cut our SS and medicare to make up for the mistake of the rich CEO’s. When is Congress going to take a pay-cut! It all dribbles down to the taxpayer again.

Susan Saradon is part of the evil that comes out of todays Hollywood. If she would give of herself and not promote her selfish ideas she would truly be blessed.Stand up for Christ.Stand up for Pope Benedict. Susan needs to go to confession-daily.

Sarandon is a lapsed Catholic who’s pro-choice, lived with Tim Robbins without the benefit of marriage and had three children out of wedlock. She’s frequently bashed the Church with her negative comments and has no interest in the truth because it allows her to continue to make her stupid remarks. Why do we give her a forum anyway?

the pope is a !@#$%  !@#$%  who [DELETED]

!@#$%  the pope

[BLASPHEMY DELETED]

[BLASPHEMY DELETED]

Um ... didn’t I read in the news that Christopher Hitchens died yesterday???

#thepopeblahblahblah:
So you troll 4 month old stories????  You do know you can act like a jackass in front of people regarding issues being discussed TODAY, right???  It’s the internet, no one is going to hunt you down…. be a man, stop being a punk.

I am sorry but Sarandon is name calling our dear pope,vicar of Christ.  I pray that the Holy Spirit enlightens her & that she will apologize for her statement.  Once they have the podium hollywood stars suddenly say something evil or offending especially to Catholics & seem to think they are above everyone else.  Ms.Sarandon, humility is the answer be humble & apologize to the pope & catholics, she does have a problem.  Tsk,tsk!

I’m actually quite surprised that the ADL made any statement at all: aren’t they on record as being against an awful lot of what the church teaches? If so, they deserve credit for their honesty.

Amy (from October) since I have been the altar server coordinator for over twenty years, I thought I might mention that Altar servers wear black Cassocks and a square, not round neck, white SURPLICE.

Such foolish comments are best ignored.

Consider the source.Hollywood.It is very offensive to have our Holy Father being denigrated but paying attention to those Movie star types possesses the same kind of intelligence who publish tabloids like The National Enquirer.Fellow Catholics rise above that!Stand firm and steadfast.

Stuff like Susan’s comments used to bother me, but the bishop of Harrisburg recently made similar hateful comments about public schools being Nazi like which were far worse considering his position. How insulting to Catholics teaching in public schools. Doubly ridiculous since many parochial and public school teachers are friends and colleagues in the same professional organizations.