Italians Seek to Close Website Showing Pope as Nazi

[Ian David]

Italians Seek to Close Website Showing Pope as Nazi

Fri Apr 29,12:29 PM ET

ROME (Reuters) - Rome judicial authorities sought a temporary injunction Friday against an Internet site which carried doctored photographs of Pope Benedict dressed in a Nazi uniform.

The crude photomontages of the head of former German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the body of a man wearing a swastika armband and standing in front of a Nazi flag were posted 10 days ago on the Italian branch of the international news and opinion site, Independent Media Center ( http://www.indymedia.org ).

Rome investigating magistrate Salavtore Vitello said in a statement the pictures violated a national law prohibiting defamation of the Catholic Church. Vitello said he was also considering taking action against the owners of the site for insulting the authority and honor of the Pope himself.

Ratzinger served in the Hitler Youth, a Nazi paramilitary organization, in World War II when membership was compulsory for young Germans.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050429/od_nm/pope_injunction_dc;_ylt=AgbEPMIaM1xRm_LTsTtWlcGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2YnFncG91BHNlYwNvZA--