Apology over Pope 'condom' memo
The Foreign Office has apologised after a document suggested the Pope's visit to Britain should be marked by the launch of "Benedict" brand condoms.
The junior civil servant responsible was put on "other duties", it said.
Entitled "The ideal visit would see..." the paper suggested the Pope be invited to open an abortion clinic and bless a gay marriage during September's visit.
It was obtained by the Sunday Telegraph. Foreign Secretary David Miliband was said to be "appalled".
UK Ambassador to the Vatican, Francis Campbell, has met senior officials of the Holy See to express regret on behalf of the government.
The paper was attached as one of three "background documents" to a memo dated 5 March inviting officials in Whitehall and Downing Street to attend a meeting to discuss themes for the papal visit.
It suggests Benedict XVI could show his hard line on the sensitive issue of child abuse allegations against Roman Catholic priests by "sacking dodgy bishops" and launching a helpline for abused children.
The official responsible said in a cover note: "Please protect; these should not be shared externally. The 'ideal visit' paper in particular was the product of a brainstorm which took into account even the most far-fetched of ideas."
An investigation was launched after some recipients of the memo objected to its disrespectful tone.
A Foreign Office spokesman said the department was "deeply sorry" for any offence the document caused.
"This is clearly a foolish document that does not in any way reflect UK government or Foreign Office policy or views. Many of the ideas in the document are clearly ill-judged, naive and disrespectful," he said.
"The text was not cleared or shown to ministers or senior officials before circulation. As soon as senior officials became aware of the document, it was withdrawn from circulation.
"The individual responsible has been transferred to other duties. He has been told orally and in writing that this was a serious error of judgment and has accepted this view."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/u ... 642404.stm
Published: 2010/04/24 21:17:14 GMT
Benedict brand!
Benedict brand!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Benedict brand!
Transferred to other duties???
This kid should be promoted to the top!!
This kid should be promoted to the top!!
Re: Benedict brand!
I have to admit, I thought the same thing when I read the article. I was just too 
to post it! 
to post it! For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: Benedict brand!
A little honesty, not a bad thing really.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”