Junior civil servants in the UK Foreign Office have sent a disgusting letter to the Holy Father. In it they said he should open an abortion clinic in the UK and bless a same sex marriage. But this is accompanied by threats from two leading athiests who claimed they will arrest the Holy Father when he arrives in the UK for "crimes against humanity". Some English Catholics have expressed their disgust against the way the leader of their church was treated. Full story below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8642404.stm

Scruffy2Donut (Cavan) - Posts: 1112 - 25/04/2010 19:01:32    628745

No different to the 'anti-clerical' feelings here!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 25/04/2010 19:21:41    628792

Total disgrace! Imagine if we did that about the queen?

Orlaith (Derry) - Posts: 4282 - 25/04/2010 19:28:56    628813

these junior lefties, in the foreign office have some cheek.
but think about it what kind of background do u think these idiots hail from. j.b.brigade.
do u think 4 one minute that a rabbi or muslim leader would be treated like this , no , they would not upset the rabbi [ labour would only lose their brown envelopes] another thing we need another guy fawkes 2 deal with the athiests.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 25/04/2010 19:30:28    628819

guy fawkes: the only man to ever enter the english parliament with honest intentions.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 25/04/2010 19:42:49    628854

Scruffy2Donut
County: Cavan
Posts: 370

628745
Junior civil servants in the UK Foreign Office have sent a disgusting letter to the Holy Father. In it they said he should open an abortion clinic in the UK and bless a same sex marriage. But this is accompanied by threats from two leading athiests who claimed they will arrest the Holy Father when he arrives in the UK for "crimes against humanity". Some English Catholics have expressed their disgust against the way the leader of their church was treated. Full story below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8642404.stm

That is simply a blatant lie. The UK foreign Office DID NOT send a 'digusting' letter to the head of the Catholicism, It was a memo leaked from a private meeting. Please get your facts straight.

JuanVeron (Westmeath) - Posts: 1866 - 25/04/2010 19:49:00    628873

juan veron.
the uk foreign office intentions were clear, there is no smoke without fire .
i have just read the link . its digusting and flammable.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 25/04/2010 19:57:33    628893

I wouldn't over react people. This was undoubtedly an insult and the British F & C Office will now be shitting a brick. It was obviously a junior flunkie throwing out a few smart ass comments as these brain storming sessions can go like that in the Civil Service but obviously he/she has been rumbled and reported by someone who realises this one has gone too far. This is not unique to Britain as anyone who works in any country's foreign affairs/diplomatic corps will confirm and I wouldn't put it down as necessary anti-Catholic feeling in Britain; there are over 5 million Catholics in England alone so it is a big important constitency there. I suggest folk go and read a book by the Irish journalist Eamon Delaney. He worked in the Irish diplomatic service and his book is full of stories like this; it's a very good read. Furthermore the British Ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican) is a fella called Frances Campbell from Newry Co. Down. The BBC recently showed a 3 part documentary on his service there, he is rated as one of best Ambassadors to the Holy See and is the main man in the Pope's visit to Britain this year. No better man to sort things out so you can all relax.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 25/04/2010 20:29:42    628948

ulsterman.
in all respect if this was another faith leader , do u think that they would not react.
this has not been the first time.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 25/04/2010 20:40:57    628970

ta

I am not underestimating the offence and wouldn't deny that there are those within the British Establishment who are indeed anti-Catholic but I just think this is some idiot trying to be smart who has been rumbled. Let's not forget that Tony and Cherie Blair are now both Catholic as is Nick Clegg's wife. I have heard stuff on the radio about Jews and the Chief Rabbi in Britain and the Islamic faith is also taking a real battering in countries like France, Switzerland and Denmark. The Pope, Vatican and Catholics are no different nor is the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams; you want to see the abuse he gets in the British media. It comes with the territory unfortunely and it's no coincidence this has been leaked, these things always end up coming out.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 25/04/2010 20:53:02    628993

ulsterman.
fair enough thank u 4 the reply. its just not on.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 25/04/2010 21:01:19    629014

In fairness the Pope has made himself a very very easy target with the Vatican's idiotically vague responses to child abuse by members of the clergy in various countries. At the same time, there would be serious disciplinary action against a civil servant who made such flippant suggestions to ridicule some of the core values of Islam or Judaism (whether you agree with them or not).
Imagine the outcry in the English papers if an Irish civil service memo was leaked that suggested that the British Queen be invited to an Irish language mass to commemorate victims of the famine, the placement of toilet rolls with the union jack on it in public facilities to coincide with her visit or a sponsor Betty Battenburg German sausage festival? The editors of The Sun and Daily Mail would need medical assistance.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 26/04/2010 10:25:17    629265

The pope is the head of the worlds most corrupt insular institutiuon
the sooner they are eradicated from Irish Society the better
Church OUT

Hillstreetblue (Dublin) - Posts: 163 - 26/04/2010 11:07:47    629333

Henry VIII got the ball rolling on this one....

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 26/04/2010 11:33:13    629364

From bbc article: "It (the memo) suggests Benedict XVI could show his hard line on the sensitive issue of child abuse allegations against Roman Catholic priests." No wonder the Vatican are outraged. Malcolm McMahon, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nottingham, was astonished and angered by the proposals. He said: "It's outlandish and outrageous to assume that any of the ideas are in any way suitable for the Pope."

This pandering to the pope from the UK Government is embarrassing. Maybe someone should create a revised memo applauding the pope's homophobic, sexist, anti-choice, anti-science, pro-paedophile stance. Ratzinger should be arrested on his arrival in the UK on a UN or ICC warrant for crimes against humanity. The Vatican is not even a state recognised by the UN, yet Ratzinger is trying to use his status as "head of state" to avoid prosecution.

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 26/04/2010 12:12:55    629433

The same memo also suggested

1. A papal line in condoms
2. A duet with the Queen
3. An audience with the two most famouns british catholics - Wayne Rooney and Susan Boyle
etc etc,

Honestly speaking Ive laughed at more offensive jokes

madasbutter (Mayo) - Posts: 872 - 26/04/2010 12:26:16    629453

A very junior Civil Servant compiles a joke in bad taste attacking a German, and some on here demand a Jihad.

Alex Ferguson attacksthe entire nation "typical Germans" and that is ok.

Could someone please tell me the bit I am obviously missing?

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 26/04/2010 13:18:12    629569

most english ppl do not give a hoot about religion

stranmillis29 (Antrim) - Posts: 788 - 26/04/2010 13:22:03    629582

I am Irish and I am anti Catholic Church. I think the "pope" should be arrested and thrown in jail

Mikeynora (Limerick) - Posts: 888 - 26/04/2010 13:37:07    629611

Once again people that have no belief in religion are the ones getting most annoyed by the Papal visit. I couldn't particulary care either way, I found the leaked memo quite amusing

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 26/04/2010 14:44:47    629746