Pope must be open to scrutiny during official state visit

25 May 2010

The Pope’s religious activities during state visit were outlined in the Queen’s Speech and by the Coalition Government today. The Pope’s visit should be either a state visit where the Vatican’s policies can be scrutinised, or a private religious visit, but it cannot be both the British Humanist Association has said today.

Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, said, ‘The numerous, costly and exclusive religious activities that the Pope will undertake in September are completely illegitimate for a State visit, and one that the British people are being asked to pay for. The Pope is either making an official State visit, in which case the Vatican and the Holy See should be scrutinised on their damaging doctrines, or he is making a private, pastoral visit to proselytise. They cannot have it both ways.’

Ms Phillips continued, ‘In the pre-election Leaders Debate, David Cameron and Nick Clegg both said that they disagreed with the Vatican on a number of key issues, including its views on homosexuality, science, and contraception. The BHA and our partner organisations will be working throughout the visit to raise those issues and the Pope’s damaging opposition to universal equality and human rights.’

Notes:

Read the Queen’s Speech reference, and detail of the visit from the Government on the Number 10 website http://www.number10.gov.uk/queens-speech/2010/05/queens-speech-papal-visit-50692

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