As violence spreads across the world, Editor & Publisher has the best take yet on why most U.S. news outlets won’t re-publish the satirical images.

Editor & Publisher: NEW YORK–As a collection of controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad circulates online and through some European publications, prompting numerous acts of violence abroad, nearly all U.S. newspapers have chosen not to publish the cartoons.

Although most American papers have covered the issue, with many running Page One stories, most contend the cartoons are too offensive to run, and can be properly reported through descriptions. While some have linked to the images on the Web, others are considering publishing one or more of them next week. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Inquirer has complained that The Associated Press should at least distribute the images and allow members papers to make the call. | story

ABC is one of the very few to do so. | video (there’s a commercial)

Update: Check out the way Truthdig’s Mr. Fish depicted Jesus in a cartoon.
Is it offensive, an exercise in free speech, or both?