In September, the pope will be making the first official visit to the UK since pope John Paul II’s visit in 1982. Coming at a time when the pope has been astoundingly intolerant of women, homosexual people and trans people as well as when secularists have been increasingly disturbed by the Catholic church’s efforts to force their beliefs on non-Catholic citizens of countries the world over, this visit is meeting a lot of opposition.
However, added to that, the costs of this visit are quite astounding. Latest figures talk of £10-£12m ($15-$18m) excluding security! When the security is included, the cost to the country is calculated to be as high as an eye-watering £100m ($150m)! I think that it’s quite right that people of all walks of life are upset by this visit!
Today, though, Tory minister, Christ Patten dared to suggest that protesters should show tolerance to the pope!
The pope has called trans and gay people ‘contrary to natural law’. He has worked to continue the church’s opposition to the use of condoms, helping the spread of HIV across the world and helping to keep poor women in the preferred position of pregnant subservience. Further, he has proven to be completely against the rights of women with his opposition to women in positions of authority within the church. He has been implicated in keeping priests who have abused children out of the hands of the law.
Whilst I would honestly hate to see ugly scenes during this visit (that helps nobody), you ask us to be tolerant, Mr. Patten? I suggest you ask the pope to show that very same tolerance to the millions his church is subjugating and hurting.
For more balanced commentary (sorry, I can’t be balanced about this), please read here:
Pink News – Anti-Pope protesters urged to show tolerance
Reuters UK – Britain seeks show of restraint during pope visit
For funnier commentary, please read here:
The Spoof – Number 10: “Pope won’t escape axe”
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- Quite lovely: Christian LGBTI affirmation
- Just so perfectly written
- What’s in common between an ex-con and a trans person?
Tags: Catholic church, pope, UK
I have to admit to agreeing with SOME, maybe ONE or TWO things the pope says BUT in my humble opinion he has no authority. From that statement you will have gathered that I am not a Catholic! If one looks to Scripture (whether as a believer or not) one will see that those (in any denomination) who ‘lord it’ over the rest of the believers are going against God’s Word. They are only believers who have particular ‘gifts’ in the church (lower case intended). One might be a shepherd or a teacher, one may be a pastor or a guide, one may be one who encourages, one may be a helper and so on. All these gifts are equal in the church and nobody has the right to treat the rest of the church as if they were subservient. Bishops, Archbishops, priests, pastors are no greater than the rest of us (in the church). When they parade about in their robes having a presumed ‘holiness’ that the rest of us supposedly do not have because we have not been ‘ordained’ are an affront to God. They lead ‘holier than thou’ lives and are completely the opposite to that which God intended. They lack humility but they command respect! They lay down the laws which often conflict with Scripture. Probably many of them are not Christians at all. They are lost sheep who misguide the flock. They masquerade as those in authority and the blind bow to them. Disrobe them and sit alongside them in the congregation and see what their reaction would be. I’ll wager they wouldn’t like that. No, for me, the pope has no authority whatsoever but the British public, at least the Catholics, will see things differently. But they are blind to the Truth and the rest are too weak to resist. The real head of the Church is Christ Jesus, not the pope! It is Christ whom we should be making welcome, not a usurper. Sorry for my soapbox comments Emily but I have to say what I feel is the truth. Love
Shirley Anne xxx
Shirley Anne´s last blog ..Life’s a long song………
I won’t comment on a lot of what you said since I believe quite strongly in religious tolerance and as a non-Christian, I don’t feel it is my right to comment. I believe in letting people believe in what they wish. What I don’t believe in is religions and religious people making people of no faith or other faiths follow their beliefs and that’s the problem with the pope: He is pushing his discriminatory beliefs on people the world over and is agitating for countries to take the Catholic church’s viewpoint. I’m not catholic, I live in a secular country and yet his beliefs are being pushed on me.
When it comes to what people believe, however, I am happy for Catholics to follow their leader, just as I am happy and supportive of you to following your beliefs. I follow mine and would never dream of telling someone else that my beliefs are the ‘right’ ones. What I have a problem with is a church forcing non-believers to follow their rules and for a secular country going through extensive austerity measures to have to pay such an exorbitant sum for the visit of a religious leader, a visit which is of interest to only a minority of people.
I would imagine both Catholics and non-Catholics alike will be staggered by the size of the bill envisaged for this visit, particularly in an environment when there are many jobs at risk and austere measures ahead. As a non-religious soul, I have no problem with dignatories visiting the UK, but if they do, it should be at the expense of that religious body, in this case the Catholic Church.
On the issue of demonstrations, it is natural that Chris Patten would request restraint, being the prime minister’s special representative for the papal visit. However, in expressing such a wish he is effectively acknowledging that the visit will be controversial as a consequence of the intolerance shown by the Pope and Papal Office.
My view of a true religion is one that promotes love and understanding. The Pope, speaking for the Catholic Church has not embraced those ethics, but rather sought to antagonise. If a Muslim cleric had voiced but some of the statements he has uttered, there would be an angry outcry. Why should he be treated any differently?
I categorically do not want my taxes being spent on this visit. In addition, if he does visit, I do hope that decent people do demonstrate their disgust. He would be well advised to remember that people in glass houses should not throw stones!
Selyna x
Strangely, I agree completely!
Isn’t it good that you’re my girlfriend? 
Yes, it’s horrible that such intolerance is accepted from him and yet frowned upon from others, just as it is horrible that your tax pounds are being spent on a visit which you have absolutely no interest in. Why should the secular British population have to pay for the visit of one religion’s leader? Just think what this money could be spent on in this time of budget cuts!
What made me right this post, however, was the anger I felt that Chris Patten demanded tolerance from the anti-pope protesters yet he didn’t feel the need to demand the same of the pope. Double standard, maybe?
It does show how influential the pope (or any other dignitary) is. I agree that we should not as a nation offer any financial support other than what would seem curteous for any person of his (assumed) stature. A couple of thousand pounds should cover it! LOL
Emily, you need have no fear from the pope. He can preach till his eyes drop out. It is his prerogative. All you have to do is take no notice! LOL. I appreciate though that the real danger is that the majority of people might take notice and consequently act upon what they hear. That’s what democracy is all about. I have no such fears. Perfect love casts out all fear. Love to you
Shirley Anne xxx
Shirley Anne´s last blog ..The Simpsons
The government is usually quite quick to ban anyone known to be preaching intolerance and here we are in a situation where it is going to cost, very rough estimate, enough to fully treat about 5,000 of us and give us back the lives he so despises!
Yes… It’s sickening, isn’t it?