is this true?

[stjosephtomasi]

Did the pope recently make President Sarkozy, who is “pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, and married invalidly to an actress” an honorary canon of St. John Lateran?

And if so, is that scandalous?

 

[Wowbagger]

It is a tradition dating back to Henry IV in the 1580’s that the leader of France is, ex officio, the “first and only” honorary canon at St. John Lateran.

The tradition began when Europe was more or less Christian. Were I pope, I would now review that policy, because it may be scandalous nowadays. But it’s not like Pope Benedict woke up one day and said, “Hey, I know! I’ll make a supporter of the wild orgy of death that is modern Europe a major member of my home church!” So it’s not as bad as you thought.

 

[Dale_M]

Did the pope recently make President Sarkozy, who is “pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, and married invalidly to an actress” an honorary canon of St. John Lateran?

Yes, Sarkozy is an honorary canon of St. John Lateran, but it didn’t happen recently. It happened two years ago.

On Dec. 20, 2007, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was inducted as an Honorary Canon of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, a traditional privilege of the French head of state since the era of Henry IV in the 16th century.

ncronline.org/node/12092

However, I am not sure that the pope was involved. I haven’t seen mention of the pope, and a photo accompanying one blog shows Sarkozy with a cardinal. I’d think a photo of Sarkozy with the pope would be of more interest.
teaattrianon.blogspot.com/2009/03/honorary-canon.html