The Danish Cartoons Reconsidered: Catholic Social Teaching and the Contemporary Challenge of Free Speech

The Danish cartoon controversy was extremely problematic for Muslims. But the publication of the cartoons also raised profound normative questions about speech for the Catholic Church as well. This article addresses the cartoon controversy in light of the Catholic social teaching's tradition on speech. In particular, the article addresses the issues of offensive speech; the relationship of speech and the secular; and the normative prioritization of the rights to the free exercise of religion and to freedom of speech.