Lets look at the popes visit as an opportunity to

[Keef]

Those affected by the issue will not thank people for making a joke out of it.

Says who? They may be all too pleased about jokes that show up their abusers for what they are. I may be wrong of course, but then, I wouldn't presume to speak for a group of people, just because I felt uncomfortable about something.

[*Bob*]

The worst of these incidents are no laughing matter, but on a wider note Catholics seem (to me) to have often sported a good sense of humour about their own religion and Christianity in general.

I remember the only proper churchgoing Catholic family we knew as a child taking the whole family en masse (ho ho) to see Life of Brian when it was weleased.. I mean, er, released.

Which doesn't mean I don't think the world would be better-off without all such manner of medieval nonsense. Because I do.

[edcam]

Huguenot Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Mind you, on many of those criteria you could also

> exclude Obama.

>

> Probably not the child abuse, but you could trade

> Pius XII for state-sponsored terrorism.

>

> You also can't hope to explore negotiated

> solutions if you haphazardly start excluding heads

> of state from your country. You tend to end up

> with a quid pro quo and a complete breakdown in

> communication. Nah gid fa naahbody.

Compare him with Obama?! Hardly!

I don't think anyone is saying he should be excluded from the country, if Catholics want to see him then they have the right to. It's more about the fact that he shouldn't be advocated by our government/politicians and that we shouldn't be spending a penny of public money on this morally bankrupt cult leader.

[Mick Mac]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Those affected by the issue will not thank people

> for making a joke out of it.

>

> Says who? --- ME

They may be all too pleased about jokes

> that show up their abusers for what they are. I

> may be wrong of course, ------------ YEP

[Keef]

Wow Mick, I'm impressed. I wish I had the power to speak for a whole bunch of people, and to know their thoughts. You're some kind of superhero.

[Mick Mac]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The Pope, as a citizen of Europe and the leader of

> a religion with many adherents in the UK, is of

> course free to enter and tour our country.

>

> * However, as well as a religious leader, the Pope

> is a head of state and the state and organisation

> of which he is head has been responsible for:

>

> 1. opposing the distribution of condoms and so

> increasing large families in poor countries and

> the spread of AIDS

>

> 2. promoting segregated education

>

> 3. denying abortion to even the most vulnerable

> women

>

> 4. opposing equal rights for lesbians, gay,

> bisexual and transgender people

>

> 5. failing to address the many cases of abuse of

> children within its own organisation.

>

> 6. rehabilitating the holocaust denier bishop

> Richard Williamson and the appeaser of Hitler, the

> war-time Pope, Pius XII.

>

> * The state of which the Pope is the head has also

> resisted signing many major human rights treaties

> and has formed its own treaties (?concordats?)

> with many states which negatively affect the human

> rights of citizens of those states.

>

> * As a head of state, the Pope is an unsuitable

> guest of the UK government and should not be

> accorded the honour and recognition of a state

> visit to our country

I agree. 100%.

[Mick Mac]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Wow Mick, I'm impressed. I wish I had the power to

> speak for a whole bunch of people, and to know

> their thoughts. You're some kind of superhero.

Thanks Keef.

[Ridgley]

Great >:D

[Brendan]

> * As a head of state, the Pope is an unsuitable

> guest of the UK government and should not be

> accorded the honour and recognition of a state

> visit to our country

Fair argument but one that could be made just as compelling for a number of other countries that have made state visits.

[Jah Lush]

True Brendan, but I can't think of any other countries that have a deity coming over here on a state visit.

[mockney piers]

That may be pushing it a bit far, clearly you have him confused with Prince Philip

[Brendan]

I want to be a god in the South Pacific too.

[Jah Lush]

mockney piers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That may be pushing it a bit far, clearly you have

> him confused with Prince Philip

Arf! That is too funny.

[Brendan]

Things are getting really fuked now. We just got an all users email at work entitled, Warning: Road closures tomorrow due to Paypal (sic) Visit.

[Jah Lush]

Ha! Idiots.

[DJKillaQueen]

Just watched the news...nearly choked when the Pope said that secularism and atheist extremism (whatever that is) were bad for mankind (or words to that effect). Reminded of me when I was 17 and the bishop of Liverpool came to speak to my sixth form. He said that those without faith couldn't have any morality. I stood up and shouted BS accross the room...and then recounted everything bad (since as far back as my knowledge of history would allow at that time) bad in the name of religion, finishing with Northern Ireland, as it was the 80's. 'Is that what you mean by morality' I asked. The headmistress hung her head in embarassment.....and the bishop? Well let's just say he wasn't expecting that.

[Mick Mac]

thats what i call bashing the bishop.

[DJKillaQueen]

Ha Ha.....very good lol.

[waynetta]

I'm fed up of all this pope and catholic bashing.you'd never get away with doing this with any Muslim imans or suchlike if they were visiting this country.

[DJKillaQueen]

Err I think Muslim imans do get equally criticised when they have equally controversial baggage attached to them. The difference is that we don't spend ?20m on bringing them here to visit us.

[titch juicy]

He's not he Messiah; he's a very naughty boy

[pearcesa]

... be told that if you are an atheist that you are similar to a Nazi!

Please someone send that man back in his stupid 'Pope Mobile' back to Rome! >:D<

[edcam]

DJKillaQueen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Err I think Muslim imans do get equally criticised

> when they have equally controversial baggage

> attached to them. The difference is that we don't

> spend ?20m on bringing them here to visit us.

I'm starting to fall for you DJKQ! X

[Jah Lush]

Get yer coat, You've pulled.

[Keef]

Reminded of me when I was 17 and the bishop of Liverpool came to speak to my sixth form. He said that those without faith couldn't have any morality. I stood up and shouted BS accross the room...and then recounted everything bad (since as far back as my knowledge of history would allow at that time) bad in the name of religion, finishing with Northern Ireland, as it was the 80's. 'Is that what you mean by morality' I asked.

Did you then go on to run your student union at Uni?