He said he did not think Catholics would be upset by the memo as they “are used to getting a bad press”.
via BBC – Foreign Office apologizes for Pope ‘condom’ memo
All I can respond is yeah, you would think they’d be used to it; but if they are, then things have truly gone wrong.
(I think Grover off Sesame Street is a Catholic priest in training. He asked a young boy if he could play a ‘love game’ with him, and keeps giving him hugs. Benedict XVI, get a hold of Grover’s agent. You’ve got a potential employee.)
The Foreign Office has apologised for a “foolish” document which suggested the Pope’s visit to the UK could be marked by the launch of “Benedict” condoms.
This is the overview of the article. It is about a memo written by the Foreign Office that suggests radical and ridiculous ideas. Though they are jokes, they created even more bad publicity for the Catholic church. (Personally, I thought they were a step in the right direction.)
I think “Benedict” condoms is a great idea; useless, but entertaining. My guess is that the condoms have holes in the reservoir tip, resembling the holes in the Catholic doctrine.
Called “The ideal visit would see…”, it said the Pope could be invited to open an abortion clinic and bless a gay marriage during September’s visit.
Again, jokes; however, are the employees culminating these “ideas” Catholic, because I didn’t think Catholics had such a sense of humor. Interesting…
If they are not Catholics, maybe the Pope should consider some personnel changes to people who may actually care about change. Question: How many Catholics does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Change?
The Bishop of Nottingham said, if anything, it was “appalling manners”.
The Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon said: “I think it’s a lot worse that we invite someone into our country – a person like the Pope – and then he’s treated in this way.
I think it’s a lot worse many priests are molesting innocents – people like young children – and they have yet to be disciplined. The fact you are all joking and yucking it up, while you’re not even trying to remedy the situation your corrupted religion is facing, is absolutely sickening.
It suggested 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 help line for abused children.
I must not get the joke here, because this is not a bad idea. A help line for children to blow the whistle on more sick priests that deserve the gas chamber. Better yet, let’s install the “eye for an eye” concept (as I wish we did in America) and imprison these men with high-risk sex offenders and white supremacists. Sounds like a solid plan.
The document went on to propose the Pope could apologise for the Spanish Armada or sing a song with the Queen for charity.
It listed “positive” public figures who could be made part of the Pope’s visit, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair and 2009 Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle, and those considered “negative”, such as Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and prominent atheist Richard Dawkins.
“Hey guys, when should we start coming up with ideas for Catholicism’s reconstruction?”
“Um… some one get Susan Boyle on the phone. The pope and Susan can sing “les Miserables” in German, in front of the queen; afterwards, the pope can apologise for the Spanish Armada.”
“That’s gold. Let’s do it. Amen.”
“The individual responsible has been transferred to other duties. He has been told orally and in writing that this was a serious error of judgement and has accepted this view.”
I have a feeling there was more than one individual responsible for these ideas. Secondly, “…this was a serious error of judgement and has accepted this view.” Sounds like he was re-educated in Room 101. I love Big Brother. I love the Catholic Church. I love Big Church. I love Catholic Brothers.
A source told the BBC News website the individual since moved to other duties had called the group together for “some blue-skies creative thinking about how to make the visit a success”, but their discussions had become “a joke that has gone too far”.
If you’re Catholic and/or working for the church, you have no blue-skies ahead of or above you. You are doomed, and I am waiting to see how many years lapse before Catholicism finally crumbles down to nothing more than ashes after a house-fire.
Bishop McMahon said he hoped it was meant to be “light-hearted”.
I don’t care if it was meant to be light-hearted or offensive, god damnit you should be fired for wasting company time and not coming up with one, single, measly, reasonable explanation of how to begin remedying the current Catholic situation. You are failures in life…
“I think it’s a joke that has gone wrong – light relief that has gone out of control. And I think Catholics will just take it like this, you know, that they’ll think about it today and then they will forget about it.”
You better damn well hope so. I hope the people do not allow this to escape their memories.
But he added: “In the Catholic church we are used to forgiveness, it’s part of our culture to forgive people’s mistakes.”
I don’t think the Catholic church is in any position to forgive others’ mistakes and sins. Just because we are all sinners, does not mean that gives us reason to sin. We still must live life with a the utmost and steadfast ability to act as God would, right?
The Pope himself has been accused of being part of a culture of secrecy and of not taking strong enough steps against paedophiles when he had that responsibility as a cardinal in Rome.
However, his supporters say he has been the most pro-active Pope yet in confronting abuse.
I haven’t heard of any executions, expulsions, exiles, or any other ex-type verbs, so no, strong enough steps have not be taken. I have nothing else to say except I must go vomit. Child molestation going unpunished does not sit right with me…
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