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Church Forgives Lennon
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 27, 2008
Modified Nov 27, 2008
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 27, 2008
Modified Nov 27, 2008
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This week reports have been coming in that the Vatican has forgiven John Lennon, which, you know, may have been more appropriate before he died 28 years ago. Lennon’s 1966 remark that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus” was regarded by certain religious folks as "the ultimate blasphemy." Beatles records burned! Sensational headlines ran in the papers! Everyone overreacted! However, "with semi-official Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano using the 40th anniversary of The White Album to expunge Lennon of his sins," it seems all has been forgiven. Well, goddammit, that took long enough didn't it! Their reasoning? “[This was] showing off, bragging by a young English working-class musician who had grown up in the age of Elvis Presley and rock and roll and had enjoyed unexpected success”.
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forgiveness
jesus
john lennon
L’Osservatore Romano
Lennon
vatican
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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