Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In not wanting The Pope to visit uk at the taxpayers expense?

558 replies

Alouiseg · 06/07/2010 07:40

Apparently The visit wil cost 12m pounds. That's 12 million pounds to be pinched from other budgets. For a man who has been responsible for covering up crimes against children.

My MP will receive an email today and I will make my abhorrence very clear.

OP posts:
FreddoBaggyMac · 07/07/2010 20:24

I know someone who has seen him in real life Victoria and he apparently has lovely twinkly eyes, so perhaps that makes up for him being less cuddly looking

I really think the security people will need to be in your house with him to fend off stray mumsnetters so I do hope you have lots of room and a big oven. Shop bought cake really would not do for such an ocassion...

victoriascrumptious · 07/07/2010 20:32

Oh wow really? I'm jealous. Tell me more (if there is more)

I knew of a lady (not Catholic or even Christian) who met John-Paul II because her hubby was involved in something to do with a charity. She said JP talked to her and her legs went wobbly and she felt weird and tingly all over.

victoriascrumptious · 07/07/2010 20:33

I don't know how to cool though Freds so it would have to be Mr Kipling.

FreddoBaggyMac · 07/07/2010 20:50

No there's no more, just the twinkly eyes

I just assumed that you'd be cooking all the time with a name like victoriascrumptious... but I know in the gospel at church on Sunday Jesus said 'Eat what is set in front of you' so perhaps you could quote that to the Pope if he objects to Mr. kipling (which I'm sure he won't)?

edam · 07/07/2010 20:53

math - interesting use of the word 'free' there. Thing is, his visit certainly isn't free. I'm paying for it, as are lots of other people including many who don't want him over here at all and object to him parading around when he has, at best, failed to protect children, much less atone for his own wrongdoing and that of his Church and so many members of that Church.

If he ordered the Church to give up all abusers and all information it holds about abusers to the police AND made a massive, sincere, public apology AND offered proportionate compensation to the victims throughout the world I would have no objections to his visit.

If you've done something wrong, you confess, apologise and try to put it right. That's what I was taught in my CofE school and by my atheist parents. Amazing that someone who holds himself up as a Christian leader can't show this basic level of decent behaviour. Even when he's been caught out!

unfitmother · 07/07/2010 20:56

May I come for tea, I'll bring cake?
Will have to be shop bought though couldn't bake to save myself!

victoriascrumptious · 07/07/2010 21:00

You are very welcome to come along. I'm sure His Holiness would love to see you. Could you bring some sausage rolls rather than cake though - we need to cover all angles

mathanxiety · 07/07/2010 21:01

Oh hardeharhar, you know what I mean by 'free'.

My ancestors and all the ancestors of Irish Catholics paid whopping amounts that they could ill-afford, for the support of the established Church of Ireland, the doors of which they never darkened. Much more than 12 million pounds I'd calculate.

I think he has done pretty much everything on your wish list. He has ordered the church to co-operate fully with civil authorities wrt child abuse allegations, he has issued a public apology, including one specifically to the Irish. Individual dioceses are responsible for reparations to victims and some have gone broke doing this. There are protocols in place to ensure as much as possible that children are never again abused by members of the clergy. What more do you want??

FreddoBaggyMac · 07/07/2010 21:08

He wants the Pope's head on a plate Mathanxiety... which is why we have to fork out all this money in security costs!

FreddoBaggyMac · 07/07/2010 21:12

Sorry Edam may be a 'she'... I always assume people are men on here when they're not on my side - I think it's just all the past arguements with unquietdad, I think everyone who is against me in life is really him in disguise...

unfitmother · 07/07/2010 21:25

Consider the sausage rolls covered!

victoriascrumptious · 07/07/2010 21:27

gloria in excelsis deo! etc etc

Gromit78 · 07/07/2010 21:36

I just have a couple of facts to point out here.

  1. The pope was invited by the state and the government will pay for any state business. That's only fair as we are the hosts who invited him.

2)The pope is also coming to offer pastoral support to Catholics and it is the Catholic church in England and Wales that will be fitting the major part of the bill.

Collections have already been made with parish churches.

babybarrister · 07/07/2010 22:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

victoriascrumptious · 07/07/2010 22:19

Oh fgs he's a very lovely Holy man who's appearance here will make a great number of people happy.
We don't here a peep when the UK plays host to people like Idi Amin and his ilk

babybarrister · 07/07/2010 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sessypoos · 08/07/2010 01:01

I think he should come over if he wants, but as we are poor now he should not expect all the security la-di-da. Afterall I dont hire bodyguards for my friends when they visit, though I do provide cake.

If someone was to take a potshot at him (perhaps an abused child?) after all he's done, it would really be a terrible shame.

But if people like him very much, we can always have him arrested. Then we could keep him here all the time the UK would be so blessed, with his sparkly eyes n all.

TechLovingDad · 08/07/2010 01:13

To cut costs, my work is cutting down on people travelling to other offices for meetings. They have paid for a top notch video conferencing suite, instead. We could use that.

Or Skype.

Sessypoos · 08/07/2010 01:26

As for the child abuse cases, the law has often been a problem for the church. There used to be a separate court for people linked with the church (priests etc), it was a complete nightmare because they used to let people off for murder!

So, this is really just a continuation of the churches imorality, as an organisation that thinks itself above the law. I really dont think we should encourage them by paying for all this excessive 'security', and certainly not at the taxpayer expense.

AngelsOnHigh · 08/07/2010 06:56

For the same reason we have to pay for the Queen to visit OZ. Why? The sooner we become a republic, the better.

thumbsucker · 08/07/2010 11:12

If the Catholics want to see him, why don't they stump up the cash for a flight and go over there. Definitely don't think UK tax payers should pay for this. It's outrageous!

MerryMarigold · 08/07/2010 13:55

I think the Church of England should pay for it, they have tons of cash and I'm sure they are all best buddies in today's liberal climate.

Come to think of it, is the Church of England still linked to government somehow and if it is, why isn't it paying off some of our huge debts? They are loaded.

abr1de · 08/07/2010 15:56

Sessy, in England, abusing priests in the church are reported to the police. And have been, in our diocese, for years now. There is no question of being above the law. Each church in our diocese has a child protection policy pinned up by the door with details of what to do if you have grounds for concern.

Wigglesmummy · 08/07/2010 17:06

If he needs to talk to Dave and Nick then he can use the phone.
If its to meet the Catholic faithful then they can pay.
And if he is at as much of a risk as other people who cover up crimes against children then he should perhaps think carefully about coming here at all. (Please understand I don't condone it, but suspect that some of the cost is a response to assessment of his risk given the Catholic churches stance on crimes against children)

clazi · 08/07/2010 18:48

I find it incredibly disappointing that there are so many people who use these forums to spout their selfish, me me me, attitudes. What is the problem here? World and religious leaders visit countries all of the time with none of this fuss.This is just an excuse for a bit of catholic bashing. It's not acceptable to denigrate other faiths but if you're catholic then it's ok? Despite the fact that it is the World's most popular religion. When will people learn to live and let live? The pope's visit will cost each of us less than a cup of tea on the high street and will bring a lot of people, whose faith is important to them, joy and happiness. We don't tar every muslim with the brush of terrorist so please don't insinuate that every catholic or catholic priest is a pedophile, it's clearly not the case. If you are one of the sad people who intend to boo him shame on you. I hope you can then have the conversation about tolerance and peace with your own children without feeling like a total hypocrite.

Swipe left for the next trending thread