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Vatican Forgives Lennon for Jesus 'Boast'

Reuters

posted: 221 DAYS 9 HOURS AGO

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VATICAN CITY (Nov. 23) - The Vatican's newspaper has finally forgiven John Lennon for declaring that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, calling the remark a "boast" by a young man grappling with sudden fame.

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Lennon Clarifies

The comment by Lennon to a London newspaper in 1966 infuriated Christians, particularly in the United States, some of whom burned Beatles' albums in huge pyres.

But time apparently heals all wounds.

"The remark by John Lennon, which triggered deep indignation mainly in the United States, after many years sounds only like a 'boast' by a young working-class Englishman faced with unexpected success, after growing up in the legend of Elvis and rock and roll," Vatican daily Osservatore Romano said.

The article, marking the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' "The White Album," went on to praise the pop band.

"The fact remains that 38 years after breaking up, the songs of the Lennon-McCartney brand have shown an extraordinary resistance to the passage of time, becoming a source of inspiration for more than one generation of pop musicians," it said.

Lennon was murdered in New York in 1980.

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Anything Beatles

This is a Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008. file photo of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney as he waves during a concert in Tel Aviv, Israel. McCartney says it's time an experimental Beatles track saw the light of day. McCartney says he wants to release "Carnival of Light," a 14-minute experimental track the Fab Four recorded in 1967 but never released. The band played the recording for an audience just once, at an electronic music festival in London. It reportedly includes distorted guitar, organ sounds, gargling and shouts of "Barcelona!" and "Are you all right?" from McCartney and John Lennon. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

British singer Ringo Starr receives the Diamond Award during the 2008 World Music Awards ceremony in Monaco, Sunday Nov. 9, 2008. Ringo Starr got this award on behalf of legendary group, The Beatles, for selling more than any other recording-artist in the history of the music industry. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

** FILE ** In this Feb. 9, 1964 file photo, The Beatles perform on the CBS "Ed Sullivan Show" in New York. (AP Photo, file)

Authors Howard Massey and Geoff Emerick autograph items for guests of the Here, There & Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of THE BEATLES event at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel on October 16, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Frederick Breedon/WireImage.com

Author Geoff Emerick autographs a book for a guest of the Here, There & Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of THE BEATLES event at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel on October 16, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Frederick Breedon/WireImage.com

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney waves during a concert in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008. After a 43-year wait, Paul McCartney performed his first concert in Israel on Thursday, kicking it off with the familiar Beatles' song "Hello, Goodbye" to the joy of tens of thousands of cheering fans. McCartney billed the concert "Friendship First," saying he is on a mission of peace for Israel and the Palestinians.(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

2008-11-23 10:00:40

Dan Steinberg, AP

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Seanidraconis

09:52 PMNov 26 2008

OK might be a little slow. first sentance states the vatican newspaper forgives does that mean the rest of the vatican is still pissed? not that I care. JC is Ok, That Church sucks and the beatles are way better

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Benthreronce

09:24 PMNov 26 2008

Piss on the Nazi Pope!

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MisterBusha

09:09 PMNov 26 2008

Illumind . I'm sure my alleged sins are real in your mind, but if you pray for me real hard, then that will fix everything, just like it always does ...right?

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ANNK1

08:51 PMNov 26 2008

John Lennon was amazed at the craziness that accompanied the Beatles tour....his comment was an unfortunate expression of his astonishment and confusion. He was aghast that his words affected so many in so many different ways. This confusion and its aftermath followed him until his death.

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Illumind

08:48 PMNov 26 2008

Mist: at least one of my alleged sins>>>>>>Are you saying that your sins are 'alleged' and not real?

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MisterBusha

08:25 PMNov 26 2008

I feel so much better now that the ugly guy in the Vatican that wears a dress and a beenie has finally forgiven John Lennon. I hope with all my heart, that someday, decades after my death, some weirdo in designer Italian shoes will forgive at least one of my alleged sins.

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Benthreronce

08:13 PMNov 26 2008

H Fifth - I can't interrept it but he seems pissed!

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Nylaet03

08:06 PMNov 26 2008

Well now, think about it. We live in a world where child molesters, wife beaters, murders, rapist, liars, adulters, drug and alcohol abusers, money greed, and mean spirted envious people, exist in large numbers. Jesus isn't all that popular.. he wasn't all that popular when he was strung up on the cross to die a horrific death for us. He wasn't popular when he rose up to Heaven.... certainly not his teachings of love, kindness and patience. I believe in my whole heart, he will be popular when God decides Jesus will come back and live on earth with us.

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Dlhmpow

07:56 PMNov 26 2008

Sad, one more attempt by the Roman Religion to attempt to be relevant. It gives a bad name to TRUE Christianity. Perhaps the Rat Singer, the Pied Poper should focus on the log in his OWN eye. From 1981 until his acceptance as the leader of the Roman Religion (of idols), Rat singer held the office of "Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith " (formerly known historically as the Holy Office of the Inquisition). One of the responsibilities of this office is to "promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith and morals." Where was Ratsinger at when all the pedophilia within the Roman religion was openly being hidden? Or when the scandal became public, where was the "righteous indignation" of Ratsinger? His "apology" for the sins of "others" while on his tour for fame in the US was WOEfully inadequate as to his OWN guilt. Woe Matt 23) to the Roman Religion and those that blindfully follow the tune of the Pied Poper in a misplaced attempt to know Christ, the only way to th...

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Vietnamvet1374

07:49 PMNov 26 2008

THE GUY IS DEAD ,,WHO CARES WHAT THE POPE DID OR DOES.MAYBE HE SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE CHILDMOLESTERS THAT THEY ARE COVERING UP FOR

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