• public_image_ltd@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    In Germany there has been a court ruling that it is allowed to call the catholic church a “Kinderfickersekte” which translates to “child raping cult”.

    It was only a lower court and the church choose to not object against it probably because they were smart enough to fear the additional publicity this would get if a higher court would confirm it. https://taz.de/Gotteslaesterung-ist-kein-Problem/!5067953/?t

    • Deceptichum@quokk.au
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      3 months ago

      Germans really need permits for everything.

      Here we don’t need to be allowed to call them that, we just can.

      • Thorry84@feddit.nl
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        3 months ago

        With allowed it doesn’t literally mean allowed. It means being able to publicly call them that without the church being able to sue for defamation.

        Free speech is a thing in Germany, you can say pretty much what you want. But if you go around and accusing people of fucking kids, there’s going to be consequences.

      • public_image_ltd@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        We say in Germany everything that is not explicitly allowed is forbidden. And this is just a little bit exaggerated, but not much.

      • fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc
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        3 months ago

        I think in most countries the church would hit you with a cease and desist notice if you called them a child raping cult.

        That’s not exclusively German.

          • fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc
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            3 months ago

            I’m not defending the church in any way, merely pointing out that they are a litigious organisation and it’s probably easier to take legal action than to stop raping children.

        • AndrewZabar@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          They could try to get cease and desist all they want, there’s a constitutional right in most countries that protects such speech.

          • fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc
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            3 months ago

            By “most countries” I’m pretty sure you mean “the United States”, and your constitutional right does not protect you from civil slander or libel cases.

              • fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc
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                3 months ago

                If there’s “a” church then there’s “the” church.

                It doesn’t need to be an international organisation headquartered in the vatican city. It could be equivalent to your local knitting club. If you say mean things about an organisation you can expect them to take legal action to stop you.