Berlin, Germany, Oct 2, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Cardinal Karl Lehman, president of the German Bishops’ Conference, criticized the media this week for its double standard regarding Christianity and Islam.
“At times one has the impression that artists, journalists and intellectuals, who have no qualms over confronting Christianity and don’t shy away from ridiculing it, treat Islam with much care and even trepidation,” Cardinal Lehmann told the weekly “Focus.”
The cardinal added that free expression in art and the media, coupled with respect for religious sentiments and symbols should require that all religious are treated equally.
“Mutual tolerance,” he said, “is the necessary foundation of a society that is proud of its freedom of expression in the arts and in the media, as guaranteed by the Constitution.”