To think the taxpayer shouldn't be paying £8 million towards the pope's visit?

[wannaBe]

Reported on bbc this morning that the catholic church is asking for bigger donations from its members to fund the pope's visit, and then went on to say that part of the cost is being covered by the taxpayer!

They then had a bishop on who claimed that the vatican is in financial difficulty really?

Now if the catholic church wants to pay for the pope's visit and if its members wish to contribute to this that is up to them.

But as a non catholic I don't see why I should indirectly have to pay for it, or for any other religious leader for that matter.

They could sell some of the immense number of artworks and nicknacks they've got lying around. Or property.
St Francis had the right idea.

It depends what it's for. If it's hotel bills and the like, then it's not appropriate. If it's the cost of policing the crowds etc, then I would imagine that it's par for the course when anyone of his standing visits the UK.

I'm not remotely interested in religion, and am surprised that anyone, Catholic or otherwise, would want him here given everything that's gone on in the last few years, but there you go.

Totally agree, and I say that as a practising Catholic. If he wants to come over for a jolly then fine, but he should raid his own piggy bank.

Reading the OP has made me uncharacteristically cross.

Financial difficulties, are arse

I agree that if catholics are happy to foot the cost then that's entirely up to them, but it has really pissed me off that such an evil fucker could be funded by the tax payer.

MY arse, not are arse.

See, I told you I was cross

Isn't (or wasn't) the Catholic Church, the richest church in the world???

If it's going to cost £8m for someone to come and visit us, perhaps the invitation ought to be reconsidered.

Otherwise they are going to have to come up with some natty merchandising ideas; Pope on a Rope, Pope Pourri... etc

Cross? Pope? Geddit?

LMHF I have a feeling Pope on a Rope was done when JP2 came to the UK in '82...

I think the cost to the taxpayer is due to his role as Head of State.

Catholics are being asked to contribute to the 3 open-air masses.

YANBU - Would we pay the same amount for Mugabe to visit? Or anyone else for that matter - Obama?
I think the Church has said it'll fork out half the cost (7mil) if we put in the other half - but I still think it's outrageous, as it certainly wouldn't be done for ANYONE else.
Just to find a simile - what happens when the Queen goes abroad?

ha ha ha!

rockbird

Am I going to have duck from the flaming from catholics now, do you think? I should be safe until about lunchtime, as I assume they're all in church this morning.

The old gags are always the best Rockbird...

Well, as I said I'm RC and usually wade into these threads all incense blazing but I think it's a bloody cheek so you're fine so far.

Too lazy busy to go to early mass today...

YANBU
Just read that it's going to cost 15 million on teletext

Oh good, a catholic on my side!

Anyway, wasn't st francis a bit of sponger? I will hold my hand up to almost complete ignorance of christian saints, but I was watching the bumbling vicar on How to Live a Simple Life on friday night, and I think he said that st francis lived along the lines of having nothing, and god would provide through other people. So that's ok then

I'm probably just a bit wound up having watched Michael Moore's film last night about capitalism

We do pay for other heads of state to visit but iirc its not that much. I think Bush was £4million. They bring their own private security but the host country foots the bill for extra policing etc. and the Queen doesn't have to pay for her own dinner when she is away. Most heads of state visits would be of an economic advantage but I don't see how anyone will benefit from this. I'm a Catholic and I don't want him to come. I cried when he was elected.

Mass doesn't start until 10.30 here as the priest does mass in his other church at 9am.

It's because he's a visiting head of state same as any other.

We have entertained plenty of heads of state who have dubious records on various things. It's nothing new.

I am sure there will be protests when he is here.

Yes, but if he got turned down he didn't make you pay by other means.
I was thinking more of him annoying Pope Innocent III.

'St. Francis of Assisi?s Initial Reception with the Pope

Arriving in tattered rags and bowing before the Pope, all the Pope?s legates appeared disgusted by his appearance.
The Pope told St. Francis that he, too, once wished to live the gospel ideal when he was young. But realized it was not possible as he grew older and followed his path in the church.

St. Francis of Assisi replied that if we are to say that it is not possible to live the Gospel, then why do we have a church? Those present were shocked at his blunt and aggressive approach. The Pope stood up and walked out.'

I wonder how much president Hu cost. There was a lot of extra policing for that.

quite possibly tsc. But I guess that other heads of state haven't been (knowingly) fraternising with paedophiles and covering up child abuse which is why the cost of their visits hasn't previously caused such anger.

Perhaps though this is the time to evaluate just how much the taxpayer should be contributing to these visits and how necessary some of them even are.