public_image_ltd@lemmy.world 4 weeks 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 4 weeks 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 4 weeks 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 4 weeks ago
We say in Germany everything that is not explicitly allowed is forbidden. And this is just a little bit exaggerated, but not much.
killingspark@feddit.org 4 weeks ago
I mean that’s completely wrong as far as laws go. Socially that’s pretty much true
fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc 4 weeks 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.
OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 4 weeks ago
If they don’t like being called that they could always… stop raping children.
fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc 4 weeks 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 4 weeks 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 4 weeks 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.