The Popes visit to Britain.

[Damocles]

Hehe.

 

[PrestwichPeteMcfc]

He's spiritual leader of five million Catholic Britons. Only right he should visit.
He's also head of Vatican City, which is a sovereign state, hence why it's a state visit.

Ok, technically it is called vatican city, but in no real definition of the word is it a city.

But by every definition it's a sovereign state. Which is why I see a state visit as no problem. We've had state visits from unpopular/controversial leaders many times before - like Bush, he wasn't elected either!

 

[lloydie]

I can't see the point of it all myself. Who's interested in him? What's his purpose?

What does everybody else think?

I think you must be pretty ignorant.

With regard to the Pope, however, let me refer you to my post on last week's thread on the exact same subject:

This thread will no doubt continue to be nothing more than a playground for the usual rag-tag collection of anti-papists, iconoclasts and atheists.

I'm pleased to say that I've seen a lot of the old prejudices disappear in my lifetime, but who'd have thought that anti-Catholicism would survive for almost half a millennium - from the reign of Henry VIII into the electronic age?

Maybe there are valid reasons to object to the Catholic church and it's teachings.
I for one find it pretty distasteful and I don't regard myself as any of the above, but if you feel like the Pope or your church is beyond criticism or accountability then that's your prerogative. Just don't expect an organisation that operates an entrenched discrimination against women, gays and non catholics to be given an easy ride from those who choose to exercise their critical faculties.

 

[bammy blue]

Hehe.

hahahahahaha!!!!!!!

 

[lee-mcfc]

Hehe.

haha!

 

[Stillsy]

Hehe.

HAHAHAHAH

 

[hertsblue]

Just hope he doesnt land at Hackney Marshes like Messi or he will be whisked off for security reasons

 

[Blue-Eyes]

The total cost to the British taxpayer is £12m, mainly in policing and security costs.

Is this money well spent?

Should, for instance Muslims and Church of England's, in theory, be footing some of this bill?

or

Should we be seeing this as an honour and worth the £12m?

For me (Christened CofE with a catholic mother), I'd imagine that the money could have been better spent elsewhere. I understand that this is a big deal for Catholics but I don't think this should be funded by the taxpayers, especially at a time when spending is being reviewed and cuts in public services are inevitable.

Any thoughts?

 

[tonea2003]

I welcome him to Britain.

I'm actually agnostic and don't really care for religion, but if it makes millions of Brits of the RC faith happy and will touch their lives in some way, then more power to him.

Whilst the allegations and convictions of paedophilia against the Church are horrific, in the same way that we don't blame all Muslims for Al Qaeda, we shouldn't blame the whole RC Church for those.

absolutely but i don't think british taxpayers money should be used to fund this visit. the catholic church should be putting their hands in their pocket.

 

[Hez]

The total cost to the British taxpayer is £12m, mainly in policing and security costs.

Is this money well spent?

Should, for instance Muslims and Church of England's, in theory, be footing some of this bill?

or

Should we be seeing this as an honour and worth the £12m?

For me (Christened CofE with a catholic mother), I'd imagine that the money could have been better spent elsewhere. I understand that this is a big deal for Catholics but I don't think this should be funded by the taxpayers, especially at a time when spending is being reviewed and cuts in public services are inevitable.

Any thoughts?

I agree. I can understand why it's a big deal for Catholics and that's fair enough but the Church isn't exactly short of money so I don't see why it should cost us for him to visit.