Plan B Forum

Gob wrote:That was the Pope? That old fella living in the art gallery?

Dougal: God, I've heard about those cults Ted. People dressing up in black and saying Our Lord's going to come back and save us all.
Ted: No, Dougal, that's us. That's Catholicism.
Dougal: Oh right.

Ted: I'm not a fascist. I'm a priest. Fascists dress up in black and tell people what to do. Whereas priests......More drink!


Father Dougal McGuire: I've never met a celebrity before.
Father Ted Crilly: You met the Pope.
Father Dougal McGuire: Did I?
Father Ted Crilly: Yes, do you not remember that time we were in Rome?
Father Dougal McGuire: That was the Pope? That old fella living in the art gallery?
Father Ted Crilly: The Vatican, Dougal! The Vatican!
Father Dougal McGuire: Still, he's not a celebrity in the true sense of the word.
Father Ted Crilly: He's God's representative on Earth, Dougal!
Father Dougal McGuire: You'd think he'd be taller.
Father Ted Crilly: You mean, like a giant?

Speaking at a conference for sex abuse survivors in Islington, north London, Dr Margaret Kennedy pointed out that the Pope would travel with the "accolade and dignity" given to a head of state.

But she added: "Sadly we are not afforded the same respect or dignity or status.

"Many survivors have to almost live in fear, shame, guilt because when they report they are made to feel like pariahs, disloyal, aggressive, money grabbing, false allegations and so on.

In a conference room in north London, the 20 people gathered to share their experiences of abuse at the hands of Catholic priests call themselves "survivors".

But there is a clear feeling that for many the ordeal is far from over.

People talk of lives damaged or destroyed and a lack of respect and care for the victims of abuse.

They believe that Church leaders have been long on talk, but short on action.

A case in point is the book they are putting together of the stories of abuse survivors. They want to hand it to the Pope directly, but have been told that won't happen. For many that smacks of the Church trying to limit discussion and exposure of the issue - after years of covering up the abuse in the first place.

"We don't want words anymore from the Vatican, we want action.

"The actions have not happened - concrete, discernible decisions about who is going to care for survivors of clergy abuse.

"What are they going to do to repair our lives?"

Dr Kennedy, who is the founder of Minister And Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS), said survivors were writing accounts of their own experiences of abuse and messages to the Pope in a book she hoped to present during his visit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11267301

loCAtek wrote:At 71.6%, the UK is mostly a Christian country.

In most of the countries covered, well over 80% said they believed in God or a higher power. In Nigeria the figure was 100% and in the US 91%, with the UK scoring lowest at 67%.

loCAtek wrote:He was formally invited by the PM, so it's a state visit.

Big RR wrote:Stoat--if there is a benefit to the country the pope is visitng, then I think taxpayers footing the bill is appropriate. If not, I fail to see why they should. IMHO it's like the mayor of a small town visiting than a real head of state.

loCAtek wrote:Well, interest(majority or non, in this case: majority) should be entertained, if not allowed,