Pro Bono
NEW YORK, USA, August 3 (CNA) - For years, the exact nature of the religious beliefs of Bono, lead singer songwriter of the band U2, have eluded fans and music experts. But now, in an interview published in the new book Bono in Conversation by Michka Assayas, the Irish superstar makes some very strong statements about Christ, grace and the nature of salvation.
Although the Irish-born mega star professes to be a Christian, and although many of his song lyrics reflect it, some say Bono's actions, "rock star antics" and various statements contradict this.
The interview however, throws some new light onto the faith of a musician who grew up watching first hand the bloody battle between Catholics and Protestants which wracked northern Ireland for years. Bono grew up in Dublin with a Protestant mother and a Catholic father.
Perhaps in light of this, Assayas asks Bono if he thinks "appalling things" happen when people become religious. The singer responds by showing the deep personal relationship the Christian faith calls believers to with God, rather than the violent extremism the interviewer seems to be prodding to.
At one key point in the interview, Bono talks about the difference between Karma and Grace, a difference which he says, is a "mind blowing concept...that keeps me on my knees."
"At the center of all religions" Bono tells his skeptical interviewer, "is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics-in physical laws-every action is met by an equal or an opposite one."
"And yet," he says, "along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that. . . . Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff."
Unwilling to divulge the "stuff" in question, Bono admits "I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge...It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity." [Source]
As a long time U2 fan (since the October album) it is pretty cool to see grace explained like this. If only he would stop hawking embryonic stem-cells at their concerts.
Known as 
This is great, thanks!
I thought I had read somewhere long ago that he was a Born Again Christian. At any rate, shilling for embryonic stem cell research closes you from grace... AND it's bad Karma, I should think, for those who believe in that.
October, and the trees are stripped bare,
of all they wear--what do I care?
May our Lord bless Bono and all the U2 band members (yes, even Edge).
If only he would stop helping abortion loving politicians get elected in my country.
Bono advocates for embryonic stem cell research?! D'oh!
Bono may be just misguided on that issue.
Uhh no Jonathan thats not it. He is "pro-choice" and supports the movment against catholic churches for not proscribing condoms for homosexuals and those who are promiscous. And you shoulda heard what his wife said about having to many kids. I think she has 2.. However why I really hate him is cause he isnt to bright. Another stupid rock star getting into polotics. And then theres the little issue of him dragging Delores into the whole condom thing. They were selling condom key chains on the cranberries website but I noticed they had stopped. He is not a good guy. A wolf in sheeps clothing and sooner or later he is gonna have to talk about what he really believes and people will see his little fangs. Or did you think Ireland joining the EU and them almost immediatly forcing the Irish to pay for abortions was an accident. Bono was the biggist force behined that. Why oh why do we listen to rock stars.. And you know I suspect Enya is pro-choice too but atleast she stays quite and doesnt lend her name to the ORGs like Bono does.
On Planned Parenthood's website U2 is listed as a financial supporter.
So let's see here, if this was a political candidate who supported abortion (Planned Parenthood) and promoted embryonic stem cell research, most Catholic bloggers would probably be calling the candidate evil incarnate and calling for people to vote against that candidate.
If this was a large corporation giving to Planned Parenthood or supporting embryonic stem research, we would be calling for a boycott of the store / product / corporation.
But heck, it is U2 and Bono supporting these causes, we can remain long time fans of the boys from Dublin...after all, its only music.
Sounds a bit hypocritical, doesn't it?????
My point is not to chastize anyone who remains a fan of U2, but rather to point out that it is a slippery slope you venture down when you begin discounting everything about a candidate, company or person just because of one or two views a person or company holds. You have to take things in total.
I don't suspect that Curt Jester or other U2 fans (myself included...I have some of their music on LP's, that is how long I have been a fan) are going to stop listening to their music based on their view on abortion or embryonic stem cells, anymore than I would quit shopping at a store that donates money to Planned Parenthood, or anymore than I will discount a candidate just becasue he is pro-abortion. You have to consider the totality of the situation.
John B,
I forbid my husband to buy US stuff we avoid abercrombie and anyone else we know who supports abortion. Including johnson&johnson and I have 5 kids to shampoo and I myself require contacts. Almost all of those are made by j&j. It cost more money shopping to support life but Its worth it. I will never vote for a pro-abortion candidate. That means that little creep frist in the next election. You can leave the slot blank you know.
Same here Josephine.
I still really like U2's music but I just don't buy it.
I guess it's also wrong to buy any novels by Hemingway because he was an adulterer, or Jean Paul Sartre because he was a Communist? That would make it tough for Catholic writers and scholars. At least they've gotten rid of the Index.
Bono grew up in North Dublin(Finglas), some fifty miles from the Northern Ireland border,
and one hundred miles from Belfast.
Bono watched the troubles at a safe distance,
on TV like most people. Never the less, he wrote a song "Bloody Sunday", about the North.
I think this is a common problem with Pop/rock artists. They use their "imagination", to entertain, instead of using an "informed" conscience, to tell the Truth.
This in problematic in preaching on the subject of morality on a global scale, without authority, as Bono does.
This is vital for someone with such access to a "public conscience".
ie Even if they do not tell you what to think. They certainly are telling you what to "think about" !
PS. I Grew up on border. lived in Belfast for 11 years, incl before ceasefire. Now living in Dublin, to keep an eye on Bono ;-)
Enjoy the Curt Jester Blog. Keep it up.
If you can find good "evidence" of a Bono-Planned Parenthood connection, and send it to my address
at sparxz@excite.com, I will do my best to get it into the Catholic newspapers here.
I have had stuff in before.
Evidence? You mean like press releases or the notes taken from the EU councels. Or the stuff about him supporting Marie Stopes' effert at condom distribution? I dont have any idea how to get ahold of the EU documents but Ill gladly look for Marie Stopes info and press releases on the net.
The Supply Initiative
... on HIV/AIDS in Africa, led by Bono. ... with many different actors in southern Africa to meet ... Marie Stopes International, Marie Stopes International is very active ...
rhsupplies.org/resources/rdb_tyth.php?part=rtheme&id=5&stype_id=1 - 101k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages
Heres one. I dont know how to do links though.
http://www.ippfwhr.org/publications/serial_issue_e.asp?PubID=33&SerialIssuesID=71
And this. The IPPF is the international planned parenthood federation. They beg for money for aids and poverty and send suction machines and IUD coils instead of real help.
http://www.torontofreepress.com/2005/cover012805.htm
And here.
Or you could just take his word for it:
MJ: U2 doesn't seem to tackle the kind of politics that might truly trouble or alienate their fans. In the film you go on about apartheid and then ask, "Am I bugging you?" Just about everyone in the U.S. Is opposed to apartheid. Yet you never speak out on issues like abortion, Israel and the Palestinians, the death penalty, AIDS, gay rights. Let's talk about some of those. How do you feel, for instance, about abortion?
BONO: I just have my own ideas. I believe that it's a woman's right to choose. Absolutely.
MJ: Have you ever talked about that in concert? Or in any context?
BONO: No.
MJ: And that is the kind of thing that might alienate some fans....
BONO: If I had been inspired to write a song about it, they would get it in the eyes, just like [supporters of apartheid] do on "Silver and Gold." I will admit that we are attracted to issues that unify people rather than divide them.
http://www.u2station.com/news/archives/1989/05/pure_bono.php
He doesnt want it out there that he want abortion legal everwhere, not just in Ireland but he will sure give his dime to kill off the little Irish kids.
A wolf in sheeps clothing.
To the person who posted the IFPP link:
Moron. There is nothing in here to suggest that Bono supports the IFPP directly. It mentions the DATA program which is strictly debt relief.
To the person who posted the Toronto Free Press link:
It barely mentions Bono at all. It's an article on Gates and his background, which did include a father who was high up in the PP corporate ladder. The only reason Bono is mentioned at all is because he and Gates are working together through DATA, which, again, is a debt relief program.
Rob,
I hope to God your not Catholic. You should be ashamed calling people names on the internet. I posted all of those links for the purpose of showing that he is in fact involved, now take a moment and look at all the other links. I dont care if it barley mentioned him, he is for forcing the Irish GoV to support abortion for both Marie Stopes I and UN pop fund.. Do you know I wont have been catholic for a full year until Easter. I was raised a pagan and my faith is not quite a solid as a person who has been for ages. Complete anonimity+normal guy=jerk should not apply for those who believe in Christ. If I were you I would seriously reconsider my words. How many will you have to answer to for causing thier faith to fall. How many cruelties to your own brethern will you have to apologise to when you get to heavan. I mean dude watch you mouth you dont know who is on the other end of that I connection. Act Online as you would to those whom you see offline. We may not be able to see you but God can.
Check with American Life league. They have lists of the celebrities who donate to Planned Parenthood.
I note only that the quote from Bono (when he was 28?) is the only remark he's ever made publically regarding abortion. This remarks predates a period of life which he understands as a wandering toward a richer sense of grace. There ought to be some charity here, and rather less judgementalism. Give the man a chance to grope his way toward God, as he's done publically for a long time, and better, I venture, than many.
ivsagqkel clhbpz gvmuckl wjumqea vjndlpht lwjgzhq mflihs
ivsagqkel clhbpz gvmuckl wjumqea vjndlpht lwjgzhq mflihs
ivsagqkel clhbpz gvmuckl wjumqea vjndlpht lwjgzhq mflihs
ivsagqkel clhbpz gvmuckl wjumqea vjndlpht lwjgzhq mflihs