This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8492597.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pope in attack on UK equality law | Pope in attack on UK equality law |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Pope has urged Catholic bishops in England and Wales to fight the UK's Equality Bill with "missionary zeal". | 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. | 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 come to the UK this year, the first papal visit since John Paul II in 1982. | The Pope has confirmed he will come to the UK this year, the first papal visit since John Paul II in 1982. |
| The government said the bill, which is currently going through Parliament, would make the UK a fairer place. | 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. | And gay rights campaigners have condemned the Pope's comments. |
| 'Unjust limitations' | '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. | 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. | "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 href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7465&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| "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." | "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 could force churches to employ sexually active gay people and transsexuals when hiring staff other than priests or ministers. | Religious leaders have voiced concern that the Equality Bill could 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. | 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. | 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. | The pontiff is expected to visit Birmingham - as part of the planned beatification of Cardinal John Newman - and Scotland. |
| 'Ill-informed claim' | '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. | 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." | 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". | 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. | "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." | "He seems to be defending discrimination by religious institutions and demanding that they should be above the law." |
| What the Pope is doing is trying to encourage the bishops to keep their resolve in very fluctuating morals in cultures and societies today Robert MickensRome correspondent, The Tablet | What the Pope is doing is trying to encourage the bishops to keep their resolve in very fluctuating morals in cultures and societies today Robert MickensRome correspondent, The Tablet |
| But Catholic MP Ann Widdecombe said: "This isn't a debate about homosexuality, this is a debate about religious freedom." | But Catholic MP Ann Widdecombe said: "This isn't a debate about homosexuality, this is a debate about religious freedom." |
| She told BBC Radio 5 live: "If a faith teaches, as major faiths do, that something is wrong, then quite clearly you cannot have somebody who believes that it's right actually occupying a very senior position. | She told BBC Radio 5 live: "If a faith teaches, as major faiths do, that something is wrong, then quite clearly you cannot have somebody who believes that it's right actually occupying a very senior position. |
| "That we have accepted as natural justice for a very long time." | "That we have accepted as natural justice for a very long time." |
| She added: "Nobody else is saying that the teachings of the Catholic Church should influence what non-Catholics do - this is about allowing Catholics to pursue their own faith." | She added: "Nobody else is saying that the teachings of the Catholic Church should influence what non-Catholics do - this is about allowing Catholics to pursue their own faith." |
| Robert Mickens, Rome correspondent at the Catholic newspaper The Tablet, said the Pope's position was "nothing really new - this is part of the classic Catholic teaching on human sexuality". | Robert Mickens, Rome correspondent at the Catholic newspaper The Tablet, said the Pope's position was "nothing really new - this is part of the classic Catholic teaching on human sexuality". |
| "What the Pope is doing is trying to encourage the bishops to keep their resolve in very fluctuating morals in cultures and societies today." | "What the Pope is doing is trying to encourage the bishops to keep their resolve in very fluctuating morals in cultures and societies today." |
| 'Prejudiced employers' | 'Prejudiced employers' |
| He added: "It's not that the Pope is wading so much into the particulars of British society or British law - I think this is very much a piece of his longstanding teaching." | He added: "It's not that the Pope is wading so much into the particulars of British society or British law - I think this is very much a piece of his longstanding teaching." |
| Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, who sits on the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said all Britons - including Catholics and gay people - were protected by UK equality laws. | Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, who sits on the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said all Britons - including Catholics and gay people - were protected by UK equality laws. |
| "Religious people can be reassured that there is nothing in the Equality Bill which imposes gay priests on religions, but it does protect the general workforce from prejudiced employers," he said. | "Religious people can be reassured that there is nothing in the Equality Bill which imposes gay priests on religions, but it does protect the general workforce from prejudiced employers," he said. |
| A spokesman for the Government Equalities Office said: "The Pope acknowledges our country's firm commitment to equality for all members of society. | 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." | "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." |