... to Protest the Pope?

[stubbornhubby]

A friend of mine told me at the weekend that this will make me an extremist...anyway we had a long thread about this in July and a few people said they'd be keen, like me, to wave a banner as he parades around the country.

There's a big march in London on Sat 18th, Hyde park Corner @ 1.30pm
details here
www.protest-the-pope.org.uk/

Also, if you live in SW London, a Small demo in Strawberry Hill on Fri 17th @9am. (NB official visti website says you will not be able to see the pope arrriving/departing SMUC - I think he must be using helicopter. Or apparating )

[2shoes]

oh goodie, so not only do we spend millions on his visit, we now have to spend more on policing cos of protesters!!!

[amidaiwish]

he is arriving in strawberry hill by unmarked car. whizzed straight into the college. they haven't even changed the bin/recycling collection day (friday) so i don't think your protest will have much effect there imo.

[TheLadyEvenstar]

What is the problem with the pope visiting?

One of my greatest childhood memories was the popes visit in 1982

[RJRabbit]

You're not asking whether you're being unreasonable, just advertising your protest, so I'm not sure this is the right place for you.

[tokyonambu]

"What is the problem with the pope visiting?"

I think raping children is bad, and I am nervous of people who make excuses for it. Bernard Law cannot leave the Vatican to visit any country with an extradition treaty with the US, but the pope doesn't see a problem with this. I also think that in 2010 there are enough people who are not contaminated by the Hitler Youth that you don't need to choose a former Nazi to run your club.

The claim that the Vatican is a state and therefore the pope's visit is that of a head of state is laughable. It's smaller than the Isle of White. Bruce Springsteen can attract a large crowd to outdoor and stadium events, without needing to close parts of Birmingham, and the police (properly) invoice the organisers; no-one suggests he's the head of state of Asbury Park. The pope is playing a few gigs, and his fans should pay for the costs through their tickets, just like any other entertainer.

[abr1de]

Where did the pope make an excuse for child rape? Also, membership of the Hitler Youth was compulsory.

You will have to do much better than that.

[Mingg]

Please not another thread about the pope

[tokyonambu]

"Where did the pope make an excuse for child rape?"

"A Church trial of the priest was halted after he wrote to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger pleading ill health."

A canonical trial authorised by Cardinal Ratzinger's deputy was halted after Fr Murphy wrote to the future pope asking that proceedings be stopped, despite objections from a second archbishop.

The accused priest said in the letter that he was ill and wanted to live out the remainder of his time in the "dignity of my priesthood".

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8587082.stm


"Also, membership of the Hitler Youth was compulsory."

He could have refused. That might have unpleasant consequences. Isn't that what moral leadership is about? He's happy for raped women to be forced to carry children to term, so clearly he's OK with other people being morally brave.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_resistance

[AnnaAlHaqq]

"I also think that in 2010 there are enough people who are not contaminated by the Hitler Youth that you don't need to choose a former Nazi to run your club."

Brush up on your general knowledge of history before you post daft things like this

[Tootlesmummy]

Tokyo sorry but whether you like it or not the Vatican is a state so he won't be expected to pay for policing etc and is no different to Sarkozy or anyone else visiting.
Please stop the Nazi stuff as well, it's offensive as well.

[tokyonambu]

" is no different to Sarkozy or anyone else visiting."

Sarkozy doesn't do gigs in parks charging £25 for tickets. If he did, it wouldn't be a state visit.

[Tootlesmummy]

He is a head of state, end of.

[noddyholder]

We cannot afford this crap, the visit or the protests although if I had to choose one to use my taxes on it would be the protest- narrowly.

[sanielle]

Please dont make this in to another catholic/pope good/bad thread we have enough of those.


The question is she being reasonable to protest.


No Yanbu. Protesting is an important right in any free country and if you feel strongly about somethign you should do it.


I bitched about catholicism in the other thread but I have to say when in Germany I saw the pope visit Munich. Was curious and wanted to see the pope mobile.

[mayorquimby]

"Also, membership of the Hitler Youth was compulsory."

He could have refused. That might have unpleasant consequences. Isn't that what moral leadership is about? He's happy for raped women to be forced to carry children to term, so clearly he's OK with other people being morally brave.
"

As someone who thoroughly dislikes the pope I think that this is one of the worst arguments people can bring to the table when trying to criticise him. It just smacks of desperation for something to criticise him for when there's plenty of valid things that he deserves to be lambasted for, but being forced by the Nazi regime to join the Hitler youth and not being brave enough as a child to say no and face the nasty consequences is not one of them.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

So now you are complaining that Catholics are helping cover the cost of the visit?

Despite being Catholic YANBU, everyone has a right to protest about things they feel strongly about and I fully support that right.

did have to raise a wry laugh at radio 4 on a side issue where some christian group in the States are going to burn the Koran and the person who wants to do it said something along the lines of 'if we don't protest they might burn the flag' as if that were somehow worse. (poor quote I wasnt very awake yet)

[CerealOffender]

i think he is a nobbo and am incandescent taht we have to fund his visit.

[sanielle]

There are so many reasons to not like the pope but the Hitler Youth thing is NOT ONE of THEM. It was the fucking equivalet of the boyscouts in its day. And was not an option. Children do not decide their parents decide, the government decides.

[DBennett]

You have a right to protest.
Go ahead.

[amidaiwish]

yes go ahead but not in strawberry hill. it will be most inconvenient for me

[slug]

OhYouBadKitten The estimated cost of the Pope's visit to the taxpayer is currently running at 70 million. Now, given the current financial situation, where we are all being asked to make savings, why should the taxpayer, very few of whom are Catholic, to pay for the visit of the head of an organisation that is responsible for:

Opposing the distribution of condoms and so increasing large families in poor countries and the spread of HIV/AIDS

Promoting segregated education through so called faith schools

Denying abortion to even the most vulnerable women

Opposing equal rights for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people

Demanding that Catholic organisations within the UK are able to circumvent equal opportunities legislation and discriminate in employment against gay employees.

Failing to adequately address the many cases of abuse of children within its own organisation

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.

Which is why so many of the UK taxpayers are opposed to his visit?


Would you diagree with people not wanting to pay for a state visit by Mugabe or Kim Jong Il?

[AnnaAlHaqq]

I'm sure neither the Pope nor Catholics will mind you protesting. That's the thing about catholics they're not prone to burning efigies in the street or stoning each other to death love em, the are more prone to tutting and making cups of weak tea.

Nobody could ever claim Catholicism is exiting, it's a bit of a PR disaster really

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

slug - am not going to get into a debate, its been done to death!

[wildmutt]

Go ahead dear. It's your right to protest so feel free to go and make a nuisance of yourself.