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Cingal · 02-02-2010, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Pope in attack on UK equality law

The Pope has urged Catholic bishops in England and Wales to fight the UK's Equality Bill with "missionary zeal".

Pope Benedict XVI said the legislation "violates natural law" and could end the right of the Catholic Church to ban gay people from senior positions.

The Pope has confirmed he will visit the UK this year, the first since Pope John Paul II in 1982.

The government said the bill, which is currently going through Parliament, would make the UK a fairer place.

And gay rights campaigners have condemned the Pope's comments.

'Unjust limitations'

The Pope told the Catholic bishops of England and Wales gathered in Rome: "Your country is well-known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society.

"Yet, as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs.
“ We believe everyone should have a fair chance in life and not be discriminated against ”
Government Equalities Office spokesman

"In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed."

Religious leaders have voiced concern that the Equality Bill may force churches to employ sexually active gay people and transsexuals when hiring staff other than priests or ministers.

No official itinerary has yet been drawn up for the Pope's visit but officials at the Vatican and in the UK told the BBC it was likely to take place in September.

A spokesman for the Catholic Communications Network said further details were expected in early March.

The Pontiff is expected to visit Birmingham - as part of the planned beatification of Cardinal John Newman - and Scotland.

'Ill-informed claim'

The National Secular Society said it would mount a protest campaign made up of gay groups, victims of clerical abuse, feminists, family planning organisations and pro-abortion groups among others.

President Terry Sanderson said: "The taxpayer in this country is going to be faced with a bill of some £20m for the visit of the Pope.

"A visit in which he has already indicated, he will attack equal rights and promote discrimination."

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said the Pope's comments were a "coded attack on the legal rights granted to women and gay people".

"His ill-informed claim that our equality laws undermine religious freedom suggests that he supports the right of churches to discriminate in accordance with their religious ethos," he said.

"He seems to be defending discrimination by religious institutions and demanding that they should be above the law."

A spokesman for the Government Equalities Office said: "The Pope acknowledges our country's firm commitment to equality for all members of society.

"We believe everyone should have a fair chance in life and not be discriminated against. The Equality Bill will make Britain a fairer and more equal place."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/8492597.stm

Published: 2010/02/02 04:10:24 GMT

© BBC MMX

TLDR version: The Pope has spoke out against an Equality Bill going through UK Parliament as it would no longer allow the Church to ban gay people from senior positions. (This applies to headmasters in religious schools and all that kind of stuff.)

So. Discuss.

zipykido · 02-02-2010, 06:58 AM

Meh, Pope is obligated to stand against gay rights, abortion, and all that other fun stuff. Not the biggest surprise there.

Groteske · 02-02-2010, 07:01 AM

Why would an openly gay person want a senior position in a Church or Church related association?

I mean gay men like being gay, and just the idea of working for a cult that hates you is kind of ridiculous. It's like if Anne frank worked for Hitler.

xlmfaoroflx · 02-02-2010, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groteske

Why would an openly gay person want a senior position in a Church or Church related association?

I mean gay men like being gay, and just the idea of working for a cult that hates you is kind of ridiculous. It's like if Anne frank worked for Hitler.

Lol.

Atheism is so much easier...

Alivada · 02-02-2010, 07:23 AM

It's because the pope is an idiot, still not allowing contraception even though it could save lives.

Anyway I doubt the parliment will listen, religion doesn't have to much hold over it any more.

TrueElements · 02-02-2010, 07:23 AM

Pope has spoken, game over.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alivada

It's because the pope is an idiot, still not allowing contraception even though it could save lives.

Anyway I doubt the parliment will listen, religion doesn't have to much hold over it any more.

LOL WUWT???
The pope is different from most religions.
Put says dont be gay you DONT be gay. What pope says goes,always.

WerewolfX · 02-02-2010, 07:37 AM

i'd rather be gay than a child molester.

sinnful · 02-02-2010, 08:19 AM

Nothing like a forum full of religion hating crazies that act just as bad as the religious crazies. While gays deserve equal rights, it is not a governments place to start dictating the beliefs of a religion.

Paladuck · 02-02-2010, 08:25 AM

Certainly a sticky issue. When the law of a secular government conflicts with the beliefs of a religion...who wins out?

It's easy to condemn the Catholic Church since they don't have the best of reputations (well, I guess they never had), but its kind of a thorny issue.

Civil · 02-02-2010, 10:49 AM

This bill displeases me.

02-02-2010, 06:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
zipykido Eriond's Egotist Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,770 Reputation: 47	Meh, Pope is obligated to stand against gay rights, abortion, and all that other fun stuff. Not the biggest surprise there. __________________

02-02-2010, 07:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Groteske OnRPG Elite Member! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Holocaust Prison Posts: 7,333 Reputation: 196	Why would an openly gay person want a senior position in a Church or Church related association? I mean gay men like being gay, and just the idea of working for a cult that hates you is kind of ridiculous. It's like if Anne frank worked for Hitler. __________________ You put stuff in your mouth, right? Last edited by Groteske; 02-02-2010 at 07:03 AM. Reason: Got the thesaurus.

02-02-2010, 07:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
Alivada OnRPG Elite Member! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 5,130 Reputation: 162	It's because the pope is an idiot, still not allowing contraception even though it could save lives. Anyway I doubt the parliment will listen, religion doesn't have to much hold over it any more. __________________

02-02-2010, 07:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
WerewolfX OnRPG Elite Member! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hwee cap-toored eet fohr kay-ohss! Posts: 14,716 Reputation: 265	i'd rather be gay than a child molester. __________________ Claimed by the lovely miss Zilo

02-02-2010, 08:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
Paladuck Roon's Rogue Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Pond Posts: 4,270 Reputation: 260	Certainly a sticky issue. When the law of a secular government conflicts with the beliefs of a religion...who wins out? It's easy to condemn the Catholic Church since they don't have the best of reputations (well, I guess they never had), but its kind of a thorny issue. __________________

02-02-2010, 08:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
sinnful Raiyne's Rock Band Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,167 Reputation: 69	Nothing like a forum full of religion hating crazies that act just as bad as the religious crazies. While gays deserve equal rights, it is not a governments place to start dictating the beliefs of a religion.

02-02-2010, 10:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
Civil Raiyne's Rock Band Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Happy Jack Posts: 2,197 Reputation: 37	This bill displeases me. __________________

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