Reasons for opposing the papal visit to Scotland & England of Pope Benedict XVI:
1. Financial. The argument is well put by the report in the Belfast Telegraph of an online survey done by the public theology think tank Theos:
More than 75 per cent of Britons think the taxpayer should not contribute to the cost of Pope Benedict XVI's forthcoming visit to Scotland and England, according to a survey published today. An online poll of 2,005 adults has shown 77% do not agree that the taxpayer should help shoulder the bill for the four-day trip even though it is a state visit. A similar proportion - 76% - rejected taxpayer funding for the visit on the grounds that he is a religious figure.
The findings were issued by Theos, the public theology think tank, as the Pope is due to arrive in Edinburgh on September 16, the first Papal visit to Britain since Pope John Paul II's 1982 trip. The survey, conducted in August, shows widespread apathy in Britain towards 83-year-old Pope Benedict's arrival with 79% saying they have "no personal interest" in his visit.
Nearly one in four - 24% - agreed with the statement "I don't approve of the Pope's visit to Britain" with just under a half, or 49%, disagreeing.
Read the rest of the article here.
The cost for the pope's visit to Britain is ever increasing. Hard pressed taxpayers will have to contribute as much as £12m towards the four-day event. This is an increase of £4m on previous estimates.
No other religious/political leader would get treatment like this!
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