Both Ringo Starr and the Vatican have spoken- decades after the Vatican informed the world that the Beatles’ message was “satanic” rather than peaceful or non-political, the Vatican’s newspaper has now forgiven the Beatles and Ringo Starr is not impressed.

L’Osservatore Romano. the Vatican’s newspaper recently said that,

It’s true, they took drugs; swept up by their success, they lived dissolute and uninhibited lives But, listening to their songs, all of this seems distant and meaningless. Their beautiful melodies, which changed forever pop music and still give us emotions, live on like precious jewels.

Ringo Starr talked to CNN and said that forgiveness  was not really necessary and his quote speaks volumes about his thoughts on the matter:

Didn't the Vatican say we were satanic or possibly satanic -- and they've still forgiven us? I think the Vatican, they've got more to talk about than the Beatles?

Obviously,  Ringo Starr is making  a specific reference to the Vatican’s cover-up scandal, which has to be the most pressing matter for the Vatican right now, as well as the most recent black mark on the Church.  I doubt the public will be fooled by the Church’s diversionary tactic either.


The Church was first angered by the Beatles in the 60‘s after John Lennon claimed that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus and made other disparaging comments about the Catholic Church; however, given the fact that the Beatles were the most popular contemporary music artists at that point in time, I can totally understand John Lennon’s point about the Beatles' relative popularity to Jesus. The results of a straw poll might not have proven that the Beatles were in fact more popular than Jesus, but fortunately people weren’t forced to choose between the two.

I haven’t yet heard the reactions from  Paul McCartney about the Church’s new forgiving attitude toward the band, but calling someone “Satanic” one day and lauding them the next might not be the best way to “forgive” someone. I also doubt whether this ploy will really take the public’s eyes away from the sex scandal as much as the Vatican may have hoped.  And, unless Lennon is resurrected, I won't be hearing from him any time soon either.