Carla Bruni Criticizes Pope Benedict XVI

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telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/5345389/Carla-Bruni-criticises-Pope-Benedict-XVI.html
France’s First Lady said that the Church’s teachings had left her feeling “profoundly secular”.
She departed from her post’s traditional religious neutrality to accuse the Pope of “damaging” countries in Africa with his stance on birth control.

The Italian-born former supermodel risked angering believers in France and beyond by declaring that the Pontiff’s proclamations showed that the Church needed to “evolve”.

In March, the Pope sparked controversy while on an Africa tour by saying that the AIDs pandemic which has crippled the continent “can’t be resolved with the distribution of condoms; on the contrary, there is the risk of increasing the problem”.

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy said: "I was born Catholic, I was baptised, but in my life I feel profoundly secular.

"I find that the controversy coming from the Pope’s message – albeit distorted by the media – is very damaging.

"In Africa it’s often Church people who look after sick people. It’s astonishing to see the difference between the theory and the reality.

“I think the Church should evolve on this issue. It presents the condom as a contraceptive which, incidentally, it forbids, although it is the only existing protection,” she told Femme Actuelle, the women’s magazine.

The comments will cause Mr Sarkozy embarrassment in a country where, despite the separation of Church and State, a majority of the population was born Catholic.

André Roux, a constitutional historian said: "It’s unprecedented for a first lady to criticise the Pope. Charles de Gaulle’s wife was very Catholic and would never had taken up position, remaining very discreet. The same was true of Bernadette Chirac, who never gave her opinion on religion or international affairs.

"Even Danielle Mitterrand, the wife of François Mitterrand who was not a believer and aired her political views, never attacked the Pope.

“In my view, there is a certain obligation to keep counsel when one is the wife of a head of state, such comments are not opportune. Given her public position the effects of her comments risk carrying more weight than just the personal views of Carla Bruni.”

Mr Sarkozy wrote in a 2005 book The Republic, Religions and Hope: “I acknowledge myself as a member of the Catholic Church”, even if his religious practice was “periodic”.

When he visited the Pope in Rome shortly after his election in 2007, he left his then girlfriend Miss Bruni – a single, unmarried mother – in Paris to avoid embarrassment.

After becoming Mr Sarkozy’s third wife last year Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy has campaigned against the spread of Aids in Africa. The Pope’s stance against the use of contraceptives in Africa was roundly criticised in France – including by many Catholics. Some 43 per cent of them wanted the Pontiff to step down, according to one poll.
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My IQ plummeted after reading this…
 
It’s very “en vogue” to criticize the Pope and true Catholic teachings right now. It won’t last for too long. Things always have a way of “equaling” themselves out.
 
Stupid is as stupid does!

She is quite well know for making asinine comments to the press. She already embarrassed her husband more than once with her off the wall comments.
 
As soon as I came upon the word ‘supermodel’, I thought, ‘no wonder…an airhead!’

So what if she’s Catholic. I bet she knows more about the catwalk and promiscuity than being a Catholic. And a job of a supermodel usually requires a condom if ya know what I mean. Yeah, she would defend it alright…
 
Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy said: "I was born Catholic, I was baptised, but in my life I feel profoundly secular.
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That is not something of which to be proud.

To me, a statement like that just makes her comments on the faith all the more worthless.
 
Reminds me of Dr. Drew Pinsky’s study on Celebrity Narcissism. What has she done that makes her think that her opinion on the issue matters?
 
*After becoming Mr Sarkozy’s third wife last year Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy *
 
I think people do this stuff hopping for instant approval, and given the state of religion in France she most likely got it

Decades ago, a very saintly priest once said to us, pray for France they are about as far from God as you can get…This was in the 1970’s and just think how much worse things have become since then…
 
this is my favorite part…

"The Pope’s stance against the use of contraceptives in Africa was roundly criticised in France – including by many Catholics. Some 43 per cent of them wanted the Pontiff to step down, according to one poll. "

That sheould tell you something about the state of france’s catholics if they believe the pope is going to step down over them not liking his abortion stance…
 
I rather think some of these so called French Catholics haven’t seen the inside of a church since they were baptized as a baby, and know zilch about being a Catholic
 
redrosetea said:
I rather think some of these so called French Catholics haven’t seen the inside of a church since they were baptized as a baby, and know zilch about being a Catholic
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We’ve met a few devout French Catholics, but the majority do seem to have spotty Mass attendance.At least they still identify themselves as Catholics. There’s hope.
 
Havard said:
Reminds me of Dr. Drew Pinsky’s study on Celebrity Narcissism. What has she done that makes her think that her opinion on the issue matters?
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Forgive my crudeness, but in this case it’s “whom”, not “what”.

I didn’t even know she was a model (or heard, but didn’t care). That’s her first taste of celebrity. However, now that she’s with Sarko, all of a sudden she thinks that her opinion carries some sort of weight, because she’s a “first lady” – as if political wisdom comes part and parcel with the matching rings and monogrammed towels.

Marriage to Sarko makes her no more a political maven than marrying Paul McCartney would make her a Beatle.

It’s unfortunate, however, that the media gauge the relevance and weight of someone’s opinions by the importance of who they sleep with.
 
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