The Hype About Tomorrow

It's not my intention with this post to upset any of my Roman Catholic readers, but I do think the hype surrounding the Pope's visit to the UK, which starts in Scotland tomorrow, hasn't done the Catholic religion any favours.

The BBC announced earlier that 65,000 will turn out to hear the head of their church speak, yet there have been several articles which contradict this number. The capacity has been reduced from 100,000 to 85,000 according to the BBC a few days ago, and now 65,000 because of the slow take-up of tickets.

Tonight Channel 4 broadcast an item stating that Catholics priests, who have served prison sentences of over 12 months for child abuse, are still within the confines of the church and entitled to use their titles. The Catholic church insists these men are no longer involved in communities but they miss the point don't they? Why do they think they, as a religion, are better equipped to deal with child abusers than our police and probation services?

Pope Benedict was part of the hierarchy of the Catholic church when these decisions were made yet there are no records that he protested. Survivors have called for the Pope to hand over all information regarding child abuse within the church, but I feel they're onto a loser. The Catholic church has no intention of coming clean where their priests are concerned. Why should they? If they did decide to do so then they would be signing a warrant for their own demise and nobody is foolish enough to do that - least of all the biggest religion business in the world.

A key Pope aid has pulled out of the visit to Britain after calling the UK a 'third world nation'. In an article for the German magazine Focus, headline 'Third World Land' Cardinal Kasper hit out at the atmosphere of 'aggressive atheism' in Britain and said 'Christians were at a disadvantage. When you land at Heathrow you think you are in a Third World land." No wonder he's opted out of the performance.

Will this state visit boost the Catholic church's coffers? In the short term yes because 65,000 people have paid to hear him speak in Glasgow and he intends to do another couple of shows in England before he returns to the comfort of his empire, but I do feel that many Roman Catholics now have doubts about their religious leaders. Who wouldn't, when they refuse to allow women anywhere near their hallowed halls? What do their fear from having women present in their hierarchy? So many questions and yet no answers.

At least this visit to the UK will ensure this is paid in full.

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The Vatican and the Silly Civil Servant

It has been arranged for some time that the Pope, Benedict the XVI, will visit Scotland in September.

Now, after a silly youngster in the Foreign Office recorded all suggestions of a brainstorming session entitled: 'The Ideal Visit should see', the Vatican are threatening to cancel the visit.

This is the full content of The Ideal Visit should see memo:

Launch of Benedict condoms

Review of Vatican attitude on condom use

Bless a civil partnership

Reversal of policy on women bishops/ ordain women

Open an abortion ward

Speech on equality

Statement on views over adoption (change of stance

Training course for all bishops on child abuse allegations

Harder line on child abuse - announce sacking of dodgy bishops

Vatican sponsorship for network of AIDS clinics

Meet young unemployed people

Apologise for ...

Canonise/pseudo canonise a group

Announce whistle blowing system for child abuse cases

Go to job centre

Debate on abortion

All catholic school should be free entry to all

Speech on democracy

Vatican and C of E funded committee on Dialogue

Launch helpline for abused children

It is understandable why the Vatican, or anyone of the Roman Catholic religion would be taken aback by some of the ideas, but to take offence to the degree of considering cancelling the event is an overreaction. Many will be looking forward to this visit yet some Roman Catholics are still bewildered as to why no one in the Vatican took serious action against priests who interfered with children.

The taxpayers are paying for this visit, not the Vatican which, as we all know, is the wealthiest business in the world.

I should like to think a few of the hundreds of robed men who inhabit the palatial buildings around St Peter's Square had a bit of a chuckle at the whole list. If not they should get out more. As for the Vatican and the threats of being so grossly offended, I suggest some pray for a sense of humour - it's a splendid characteristic.

A message to the silly civil servant - beware, the Righteous are out to get anyone who doesn't follow their rules.

source

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The Vatican and Generations of Damaged Children

It has taken me some days to write about the Pope's attitude to many years of child abuse within the priesthood. My memory sped back to the 60s when I worked with a lovely Irish woman. We became friends and I was invited to her wedding in Co. Waterford.

During an evening out prior to the wedding her husband-to-be disclosed he was not continuing with his 'conversion' to Catholicism. We were a small group and knew each other well, so he was comfortable enough to say his wife-to-be and himself had decided not to have children. None of us questioned their decision as I suspect we acknowledged they had their own private reasons.

A few days before the bride-to-be set for her family home in Co. Waterford, where she had been brought up with three sisters and two brothers, we had a quiet night out for dinner. Both of us had quite a bit to drink and suddenly the conversation came round to why my friend had decided she didn't want children. The reason was along the lines of "I'm not having any Father interfere with my child if I have a son and I'm not prepared to take the chance to have one."

It seemed, as she was the closest to the younger boy, he had taken her into his confidence not so long before and told her the local Father had interfered with him. My friend immediately told her mother and father only to be rebuked for 'bringing the Father's good name into disrepute'. The consequences for her and her younger brother were severe. This was the 60s remember and to Irish Catholics it was a great sin to speak ill of any of the clergy.

The wedding was as festive as most weddings I've attended although there was a distinct coolness between the bride, the bridegroom and her parents, who appeared quite disinterested in the whole affair.

We kept in touch for quite a few years and often she would mention how badly treated her younger brother was by her family. He was more or less shunned and finally joined the Navy. As far as I know my friends never had children. She couldn't break away from the Catholic church because the religion was so ingrained.

Until the 60s I was quite unaware of the differences between catholics and protestants; I had little interest as religious bigotry didn't exist in the east of Scotland - it still doesn't to any degree.

But the story of one of the Vatican's employees, reputedly said to be the biggest business empire in the world, causing so much pain to one child, made me wonder just how much pain these hundreds of not thousands of children have suffered for decades. These men and women who inflicted unbelievable suffering and hid behind the cloaks of the Vatican are abhorrent, yet the Vatican protects them.

Last week the present Pope said sorry - such an easy word. Generations of children had their childhoods destroyed by perverted adults in the pay of the Catholic church and most have escaped scot free.

It's time the Catholic church did away with mandatory celibacy and permitted its employees to have a normal life. It never ceases to amaze me how priests can advise their flock in all aspects of family life when they've had no experience themselves.

Of course there are men and women within the Catholic church who are good law-abiding people, but there were also far too many used the church to fulfil their sickening objectives. The Vatican has some of the most intellectual brains within its walls. None was able or interested in exposing these disgusting individuals. Like all big business, one couldn't be seen to rock the boat, could one?

Reuters reports a Polish priest is now fingerprinting children when they attend church. The reason given is that if they attend 200 masses they will be free from the obligation of having to pass an exam prior to their confirmation. "It saves standing in a line to get the priest's signature in our confirmation notebooks," said one child. I agree with Michael Baumann, while this all seems harmless enough, it is pretty creepy.

The German Catholic church has set up a help line for those who are concerned about abuse past and present. I don't see Ireland or the UK making, what I consider a long overdue effort to make amends. The whole matter shows how much the Vatican cares for the welfare of their flock. Not one iota. Their flock are there to generate money and for no other reason.

That's why I detest organised religion. It does as much harm as good.

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