Open Letter to Jorge Mario Bergoglio

This may be the silliest thing I have ever done, but I sent it.

Dr. Stephen Z Montsaroff

711 23^rd Ave E

Seattle, WA 98112

United States of America

Thursday, 15 January, 2015 (24 Tevet, 5775)

His Holiness, Pope Francis

Apostolic Palace

00120 Vatican City

You Holiness:

I understand, through the reporting of Nicole Winfield of the Associated Press, that you stated that there were limitations on the freedom of expression, and that explicitly:

It’s normal. It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.

I further understand, from subsequent comments from the Vatican press office (as reported by Nicole Winfield), that this statement "is in no way intended to be interpreted as a justification for … violence and terror".

While I accept those statements, I would like to request, in this open letter, that you take actions to demonstrate your sincerity.

I note that Matthew 6:2-6:5 and Matthew 23:2-15 clearly insult another (my) faith.  I append the Catholic Home Bible translations of those texts as reference.

In the past, representatives of your religion have 'asked' my people to remove phrases from the Talmud that they found insulting or blasphemous.

In light of this, I would suggest that you might wish apply the same strictures to your organization and its publication, and remove the offending sections from your standard texts.

An alternative, (which I personally prefer) would be to state that your earlier statements were not appropriate, and that you understand that the right to free expression includes the right to be offensive, sacrilegious, and insulting.

Either of these two acts would reinforce this Papacy's reputation for fairness and honesty.

With every best wish. Sincerely yours,

Stephen Montsaroff
Matthew 6:2-6:5

6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 23:2-23:15

23:2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.