The Pope is going to Carnaby Street!

Why would he go there? Well, to recruit unhappy Anglicans it seems.

The pope also has a delicate path to tread during his four-day-trip to England and Scotland in relations with the Church of England after his offer last October making it easier for disaffected Anglicans, unhappy over women ordination and gay bishops, to convert.

The leader of the world's best known group of pedophiles has other problems: Cardinals who think Brits are barbarians.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, who retired last summer as the head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, caused a stir this week when he told the German magazine Focus that landing at Heathrow Airport was like landing “in a third world country.” He also criticized the “aggressive atheism” of Britain.

Funny how any time a mission from Rome, as far back as the Emperor Claudius, arrives and finds the British just seem to have their own religious thing. Some don't have any at all.

Maybe the Brits are barbarians. Gawds know, I spent enough time trying to eat the compost they call composite rations. In any case, at least some of them behaved in an "appalling" manner in the lead up to Benny's visit and to be honest, I can only applaud. Back in April a Foreign Office memo appeared with many brilliant suggestions.

The paper was attached as one of three "background documents" to a memo dated 5 March 2010 inviting officials in Whitehall and Downing Street to attend a meeting to discuss themes for the papal visit.

Themes! Acers stuff.

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 helpline for abused children.

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.

All good ideas. Although I have to admit that I was not aware that the Vatican had not yet apologized for the Spanish Armada. Given that the Pope is supposedly just a continuing line of one person then it would be proper to arrest him and toss him into The Tower... wouldn't it?

Back then even the bishops were speaking.

Bishop McMahon said he hoped it was meant to be "light hearted".

But he added: "That in itself can be dangerous if these memos move around the departments, they tend to gain momentum."

But they gain no more momentum than memos from Vatican cardinals (who go on to become Pope) attempting to cover up the criminal behaviour of Catholic priests.

Pope in the Valley . . . .

This rendition was apparently neglected by bennie's PR staff:

(Click to Enlarge)

Can't imagine why . . . .

H/T "The Olde Goat"

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)

Bennie Boo-Boo . . . .

Per McClatchy:

Here's another reason why popes don't get married
Lisa Zagaroli | McClatchy Newspapers - April 15, 2008 11:04:31 AM

WASHINGTON — Fallibility even lies with the pope, or his press office anyway.

The daily Vatican press release issued Tuesday noted that Pope Benedict XVI had departed from Rome en route to the United States.

“U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife Nancy will welcome the pope as he descends from his aircraft,” it said.

Oops. The president is married to a woman named Laura.

Perhaps they were thinking of the Reagans?

Way to go with the social graces, Grace . . . .

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)

Great. Just Great . . . .

From Reuters today:

Florida lawmakers pass take-your-guns-to-work law
Wed Apr 9, 2008 - By Michael Peltier

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - Most Florida residents would be allowed to take guns to work under a measure passed by Florida lawmakers on Wednesday.

The bill, allowing workers to keep guns in their cars for self-protection, was approved by the Florida Senate by a vote of 26-13. It now goes to Republican Gov. Charlie Crist to sign into law.

_______________


The measure exempts a number of workplaces including nuclear power plants, prisons, schools and companies whose business involves homeland security. (Emphasis mine - Ed.)

Yeah.

Let's be sure to exempt those businesses involved in homeland security.

That would just be wrong.

56 more days 'til we load the U-Haul and get the hell out of here.

But who's counting ? ? ? ?

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)

Oh, Joy. Waiting With Bated Breath . . . .

Get out the popcorn.

Reserve your seats.

Per Reuters today, Bennie's heading our way.

Pope aims to heal sex abuse wounds on U.S. trip
Wed Apr 9, 2008 9:27am EDT

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict will seek to heal wounds from a sexual abuse scandal that shook the Catholic Church in the United States, during his first trip there as pontiff next week, the Vatican's number two said.

"The pope will talk about it -- talk about it in a specific way," Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, told Fox News in an interview to be broadcast on Wednesday.

"The pope, along with the Church's priests, will naturally seek the path toward healing and toward reconciliation."

The sexual abuse scandal started in Boston in 2002, when Catholic leaders were discovered to have moved priests who abused minors to new parishes instead of defrocking or reporting them to police.

The scandal later spread to almost every U.S. Catholic diocese.

Last July the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $660 million to 500 victims of sexual abuse dating back as far as the 1940s.

The German-born pope, who visits Washington, New York and will address the United Nations during the April 15-20 trip, will raise the sexual abuse of minors in an address at St. Patrick's Cathedral on April 17, Bertone said.

Whoopee.

Hope his fashion sense has improved . . . .

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)

bennie and the Jetset ? ? ? ?

From ABC News today:


Pope to get image makeover from director
Posted December 16

Italian film and opera legend Franco Zeffirelli says he has agreed to become an image consultant to Pope Benedict XVI.

The pope does not have a "happy image", Zeffirelli tells Italian daily La Stampa in an interview published today.

"Coming after a Pope as telegenic as John Paul II is a difficult task," he said.

Zeffirelli says Pope Benedict, elected in 2005, "comes across coldly, which isn't suited to his surroundings" and added that his wardrobe "should be reviewed". * (Emphasis added, ed.)

* No shit, Sherlock . . . .

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)

B- B- B-Bennie And The Jerks . . . .

From the BBC today:

Pope 'refused audience for Rice'
By David Willey - BBC News, Rome

Pope Benedict XVI refused a recent request by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss the Middle East and Iraq, Vatican sources say.

The Pope refused a request for an audience during the August holidays.

Senior Vatican sources told the BBC the Pope does not normally receive politicians on his annual holiday at the Castelgandolfo residence near Rome.

But one leading Italian newspaper said it was an evident snub by the Vatican towards the Bush administration.

Christian rights

There are at least two reasons why Pope Benedict may have decided peremptorily against a private meeting with Ms Rice.

First, it was Ms Rice who just before the outbreak of the Iraq war in March 2003 made it clear to a special papal envoy sent from Rome, Cardinal Pio Laghi, that the Bush administration was not interested in the views of the late Pope on the immorality of launching its planned military offensive.

Secondly, the US has responded in a manner considered unacceptable at the Vatican to the protection of the rights of Iraqi Christians under the new Iraqi constitution.

The Bush administration has told the Vatican that as coalition forces have not succeeded in securing the whole territory of Iraq, they are unable to protect non-Muslims.

Instead of meeting the Pope, Ms Rice had to make do with a telephone conversation with the Vatican's number two, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was visiting the US during August on other business.

It's gotta make one wonder who's left in the world that will talk to this crowd . . . .

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)

Possible "Brand": 660 Million $ettlement . . . .

From Reuters today:

Catholic Church avoids abuse trial with LA deal

By Adam Tanner Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:45PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said on Sunday it would pay people who were sexually abused by priests as children a record $660 million, although some victims regretted it meant church leaders would not face questioning in court.

Facing trial on Monday over abuse allegations dating as far back as the 1940s, the Archdiocese agreed to pay 508 victims the largest-ever group settlement.

And later in the article:

"What we would have seen is the horrors with the reality that hundreds of children were sexually assaulted, raped, sodomized by priests when the leadership of the church knew."

J. Michael Hennigan, attorney for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, said the church would fund about $250 million of the $660 million settlement. The rest will come from insurers including Chubb, AIG, Allianz and Fireman's Fund with whom the church holds general liability policies as well as several Catholic religious orders.

Hennigan expects payments by the end of the year, with the church selling nonessential real estate assets, including the Los Angeles Archdiocese headquarters, to raise the funds.

If the Archdiocese meets that schedule, the payments will come ahead of a 2008 trip by Pope Benedict to the United States announced on Sunday.

Yes, that would be the same dude formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (how appropriate) referred to below: (From The Guardian)

Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry

Confidential letter reveals Ratzinger ordered bishops to keep allegations secret

Jamie Doward, religious affairs correspondent Sunday April 24, 2005 The Observer

Pope Benedict XVI faced claims last night he had 'obstructed justice' after it emerged he issued an order ensuring the church's investigations into child sex abuse claims be carried out in secret.

The order was made in a confidential letter, obtained by The Observer, which was sent to every Catholic bishop in May 2001.

It asserted the church's right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached adulthood. The letter was signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was elected as John Paul II's successor.


Yeah, let's make sure the Archdiocese pays that $ettlement off before Her Highness arrives. For goodness' sake, we wouldn't want her to have to face something she thought was "behind closed doors" all these years.

bennie, you've got a lot to answer for.

But we can wait 'til after you pay up . . . .

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)

Branding catholocism - What Will They Think of Next ? ? ? ?

From today's Toronto Star:

Benedict the Brander muscles his message
The Pope's focus on Catholic fundamentals scares reformers but works miracles, marketers say

Catherine Mulroney Special to the Star July 14, 2007

Call him the Bill Gates of the Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI, leader of more than 1 billion Roman Catholics worldwide, is no stranger to controversy. Last Tuesday, he reasserted the primacy of the Catholic Church, stating it is the one true church. This following his approval of the broader use of the Latin Mass, has set critics' tongues wagging and refocused attention on church politics and practise.

Benedict's edicts, issued just before his summer vacation, have naysayers expressing concerns about everything from the political correctness of claiming church supremacy to fears it will soon become impossible to attend mass in the vernacular.

But numbers tell a different tale regarding his appeal to a core population of Catholics. The Vatican's financial statements for 2006, Benedict's first full year as pope, show a huge leap in donations to the papal charity known as Peter's Pence, ($101 million U.S. in 2006 versus $64.4 million the year before) in 2006, and the numbers of faithful flocking to St. Peter's Square in Rome are soaring. While marketing is likely the last thing on the Pope's mind, experts in that worldly field say Benedict's actions serve very powerfully to brand the Catholic Church in the eyes of the world, bringing a muscular "take-it-or-leave-it" approach to church positioning.

"Benedict is very progressive about his brand," says Patrick McGovern, vice-president of Blade Creative Branding, a Toronto-based marketing agency, who gives the Pope credit for clearly expressing the values a core constituency holds dear. "If everybody is wishy-washy, (the institution) will wash away."

For many people, belonging to a church with a unique chain of command leading up to the papacy has great appeal and reassurance, McGovern argues. Windows has Bill Gates. The Catholic Church has Benedict."








I'm putting my money on Bill Gates.








At least he has better fashion sense . . . .

(Cross-Posted at Moving to Vancouver)

Here endeth the lesson...

This will help cement relations among the faithful.

The Vatican issued a document Tuesday restating its belief that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church of Jesus Christ.

The 16-page document was prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a doctrinal watchdog that Pope Benedict used to head.

Yes, well, nothing like promoting your own agenda.

Formulated as five questions and answers, the document is titled Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church.

It says although Orthodox churches are true churches, they are defective because they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope,

"It follows that these separated churches and communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation," it said.

The document adds that Protestant denominations — called Christian Communities born out of the Reformation — are not true churches, but ecclesial communities.

Five questions.... oh yeah! Here they are!

Actually, this looks like an amazing feat of navel-gazing and self-affirmation. Given all the problems in the world, the most important thing the Roman Catholic Church can come up with is that anyone who isn't playing their game is wrong?

The decree comes days after liberal Catholic and Jewish groups spoke out against the Pope's move to authorize the wider use of a traditional Latin mass.

The Tridentine mass includes a prayer for the conversion of Jews. Its use was restricted following the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965.

Pope Benedict issued a decree last week authorizing its broader use in an effort to reconcile with followers of an ultratraditional excommunicated bishop.

Sounds like Ratzinger is trying to compete with George W Bush and Steve Harper as a "great uniter".

Of course, all of this is significant only if it matters to you. And there are a lot of Roman Catholics who don't pay all that much attention to the edicts handed down by the Roman Catholic Church.

There has been a wide and increasing defection of Roman Catholic women from the traditional teaching of their Church on the subject of birth control over the past two decades and a resulting convergence of Catholic and non-Catholic contraceptive practices. By 1970, two-thirds of all Catholic women were using methods disapproved by their Church; this figure reached three-quarters for women under age 30. Considering the fact that most of the one-quarter of young Catholic women conforming to Church teaching had never used any method, the percentage of those deviating may well reach 90 as these women grow older and the problems of fertility control become more important.

Much of this increasing deviation has been among the more educated Catholics, who were formerly the most faithful adherents to Church teaching. The change between 1965 and 1970 was especially striking for Catholic women who had attended college.

Perhaps the most significant finding is that the defection has been most pronounced among the women who receive Communion at least once a month. Even among this group, the majority now deviates from Church teaching on birth control; among the younger women in this group, the proportion not conforming reaches two-thirds.

That was written in 1973. Irrelevance, thy name is ....