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Vatican to Beatles: I Wanna Hold Your Hand


beatles.JPGLast month, we reported that the Vatican jumped into the ever-controversial game of naming the Top-10 rock albums of all time. It was a list that contained classics from the likes of Santana, U2 and Pink Floyd. And the number one rock album, in the Vatican’s eyes? None other than The Beatles’ Revolver. Which may have seemed a bit odd to those who remember the dust-up over John Lennon’s “We’re bigger than Jesus” quip way back in 1966.

For those of you who haven’t got a clue of what I’m talking about, here’s what the mop-haired rocker said:

“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and I’ll be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first—rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.”

I’m kind of wondering what John may be thinking about it all today. But, in any case, now that I’ve reopened old wounds (and offended all you Fab Four fans), let me tell you the latest. The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, recently paid tribute to the band on the 40th anniversary of the group’s breakup and put out the news that everything is officially, well, groovy.

“It’s true they took stupefying substances; overwhelmed by success they lived dissolute and uninhibited years; in an excess of boastfulness they even said they were more famous than Jesus; they had fun launching mysterious messages, even Satanic, according to improbable declarations. Sure they weren’t the best example for young people at the time, but neither (were they) the worst,” the newspaper said, according to the Catholic News Agency translation. “But, listening to their songs, all of this seems distant and meaningless. Their beautiful melodies, which changed forever pop music and still gives us emotions, live on like precious jewels.”

You see? Time does heal all wounds. And it gives us emotions, as well. All together now: They love you, yeah, yeah, yeah. … Wait. Hold up a mo.

Uh, your holiness, sir? There’s a Mr. Jagger on the phone.