The Persecution of Monsignor Charles Pope

Msgr. Charles Pope

Monsignor Charles Pope, a Catholic priest in Washington, D.C., who is a popular blogger and noted homilist was recently blocked from using the social media site Facebook. Facebook says it prefers its users assume their "everyday names" so that people recognize who they’re communicating with. Monsignor Charles Pope has held his title in the Catholic Church for 10 years. (Monsignor is an honorific form of address granted to individuals who have rendered valuable service to the Church.) Msgr. Pope was surprised when Facebook told him, after six years using the social-networking service, they didn’t think he was using his real name.

Last year, Facebook apologized to those in the gay community who were blocked due to the "real name" policy wherein Facebook chief product officer Chris Cox said the following:

I want to apologize to the affected community of drag queens, drag king, transgender, and extensive community of our friends, neighbors, and members of the LGBT community for the hardship that we've put you through in dealing with your Facebook accounts in the past.

Our policy has never been to require everyone on Facebook to use their legal name. The spirit of our policy is that everyone on Facebook uses the authentic name they use in real life. For Sister Roma, that’s Sister Roma. For Lil Miss Hot Mess, that’s Lil Miss Hot Mess. ...

Given the acceleration of the dictatorship of relativism and the attending cultural Gestapo it inspires, perhaps George Orwell said it best (from Animal Farm):

All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.

Monsignor Pope contributes to the Archdiocese of Washington's excellent blog where he posts frequently. His Facebook page is here, his Twitter feed here. Below is a speech he gave in the East Room of the White House about the power of our prayers.