As has been widely reported Pope Benedict XVI will be making a visit to the UK. God's biggest fan's impending arrival in the UK has caused many secular groups and non-Catholics call for his visit to be boycotted, or even refused. A petition setup by The National Secular Society already has 19,324 entries and counting. The main reasons for raising awareness on this visit, are outlined thus; "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ask the Catholic Church to pay for the proposed visit of the Pope to the UK and relieve the taxpayer of the estimated £20 million cost. We accept the right of the Pope to visit his followers in Britain, but public money would be better spent on hard-pressed schools, hospitals and social services which are facing cuts." Difficult to argue with such lucid rationalism. This is also foreshadowed by the Pope's comments on UK equality laws (specifically rights afforded to homosexuals). The Times Newspaper has an article on this, and how his pal and fellow God enthusiast The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster has tried to defend the Pope's comments. Click here to sign the petition. Please use the comment section to voice your views.
I wouldn't describe myself as religious. I don't agree with modern religion; it's caused too many wars. However, I do believe in a, probably Christian, God. So my views are not one of an atheist or agnostic but of someone with faith.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Pope is nothing more than a Bishop with too much power. No man should ever have as much power as has been designated to the Pope. This man should not speak for the entire Catholic church. He CERTAINLY should not do it with £20million of tax payers money.
Fair point. I think that's what most people are asking. Rather than engaging in a neverending theological debate in regards to Religion, most rational minded people would not deny the pope his visit, only ask he does it on his own money. Like any of us taking a holiday! lol
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