Vatican 'forgives' John Lennon

Vatican 'forgives' John Lennon
By David Willey
BBC News, Rome
Saturday, 22 November 2008

A Vatican newspaper has forgiven the late English singer John Lennon for saying four decades ago that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

In an article praising The Beatles, L'Osservatore Romano said Lennon had just been showing off.

Lennon told a British newspaper in 1966 - at the height of Beatlemania - that he did not know which would die out first, Christianity or rock and roll.

At the time, the comparison sparked controversy in the US.

BBC NEWS | Europe | Vatican 'forgives' John Lennon

Much has been made of Lennon's "Jesus episode." And he's being forgiven by the Vatican now, because they don't seem to understand what it was that he actually said, nor the context. After the controversy raged, the Beatles held a press conference where Lennon explained that he had no idea what he was apologizing for, because his remarks had been taken wrong. It's actually a remarkable thing to see. But he said that he was sorry, anyway, because his manager had asked him to. And it was then mostly forgotten about, the actual remarks, as well as his explanation.

What initially happened to kick it all off, was he said that it was a shame that the Beatles were bigger than Christ, and if such idolatry persisted, Christianity would die. John often spoke with incredulity about his own fame. He said they were "only a band." He wasn't boasting. And he wasn't joking, or "showing off," as the Vatican now claims.

The Beatles often joked amongst themselves that the US was "the land of [mis]interpretation." Remarks are taken out of context here. People go up in arms about the littlest thing, often misunderstood. No one bothers to read the whole piece. They'll pick up whatever it is that they want to. A song about a children's playground ride becomes an anthem for murder. And a truthful remark about the crazy infatuations of teenagers, has people suddenly burning the objects of those infatuations, when someone remarks about it.

What a nutty country we were then. And we haven't changed a bit. But, I didn't expect this tripe from the Vatican. Or maybe it does suit them. I forgive them for it.