Animation depicting pope giving Nazi salute draws ire in Canada

Published: 2005-05-31

OTTAWA (CNS) -- An animated cartoon depicting Pope Benedict XVI marching toward a statue of Mary, then giving a Nazi salute along with the caption "Heil Mary," is degrading and insulting to Catholics, said the Catholic Civil Rights League. The cartoon was posted on rabble.ca, an online progressive news magazine, published by author and commentator Judy Rebick, former president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. "The Catholic bashing at that level is unacceptable," said Joanne McGarry, executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights League. McGarry said that the league is examining its options on whether to file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission under hate crimes legislation. However, she said the league's preferred approach is "constructive dialogue."

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