Sarah Silverman: Sell the Vatican, feed the world
Sarah Silverman, America’s most controversial comedian, has made a modest proposal. She wants Pope Benedict XVI to sell the Vatican and use the proceeds to end world hunger.
The Catholic League has described her remarks as“filthy” and “pathological”.
But Fr James Martin SJ thinks Silverman has a point:
Of course Pope Benedict XVI could not “sell” any of the treasures of the Vatican, the same way that your local archbishop couldn’t sell off the cathedral at a whim; they are not his, they are the church’s. And the church is not simply the hierarchy but the entire people of God. Much in the same way the Ken Burns TV series “National Parks” hammered home the idea that the national parks are everyone’s property, the treasures of the church are the property of all Catholics.
Still, perhaps Ms Silverman, in her post-modern, potty-mouthed way is on to something. Like Jesus was. Sell the Vatican? Well, maybe not everything but perhaps a statue or two?
PS You can listen to Silverman’s monologue on YouTube. But I think I better follow Fr Martin’s lead and not link to it because of its risqué content.
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