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Petition against Pope's UK visit Petition against Pope's UK visit
(about 1 hour later)
A petition protesting against Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Britain later this year is to be handed in to Downing Street by the National Secular Society.A petition protesting against Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Britain later this year is to be handed in to Downing Street by the National Secular Society.
It calls on the prime minister to disassociate himself from the Pope's "intolerant views". It calls on the prime minister to exempt taxpayers from funding the visit.
It will be the first papal visit to the UK since John Paul II in 1982.It will be the first papal visit to the UK since John Paul II in 1982.
He is expected to visit Birmingham - as part of the planned beatification of Cardinal John Newman - and Scotland. Dates for the trip have not been set.He is expected to visit Birmingham - as part of the planned beatification of Cardinal John Newman - and Scotland. Dates for the trip have not been set.
The Pope was formally invited to visit the UK by Prime Minister Gordon Brown last February. Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy also invited him to visit ScotlandThe Pope was formally invited to visit the UK by Prime Minister Gordon Brown last February. Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy also invited him to visit Scotland
Sceptical publicSceptical public
The petition states: "We urge the prime minister to make it clear that his government disagrees with the Pope's opposition to women's reproductive rights, gay equality, embryonic stem cell research and the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV. The petition states: "We the undersigned, petition the Prime Minister to ask the Catholic Church to pay for the proposed visit of the Pope to the UK and relieve the taxpayer of the estimated £20 million cost.
"We ask the prime minister to express his disagreement with the Pope's role in the cover-up of child sex abuse by Catholic clergy, his rehabilitation of the Holocaust-denying bishop Richard Williamson." "We accept the right of the Pope to visit his followers in Britain, but public money would be better spent on hard-pressed schools, hospitals and social services which are facing cuts."
BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Piggot said Roman Catholics were trying to improve the way they get the Church's message across to an increasingly sceptical public in preparation for the visit. BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said Roman Catholics were trying to improve the way they get the Church's message across to an increasingly sceptical public in preparation for the visit.
Articulate Catholics are being trained as spokesmen and women to answer some of the awkward questions about contraception and Aids, homosexuality, and the meaning of sainthood in the 21st Century that his visit is likely to prompt.Articulate Catholics are being trained as spokesmen and women to answer some of the awkward questions about contraception and Aids, homosexuality, and the meaning of sainthood in the 21st Century that his visit is likely to prompt.
He said they know the visit represented a great opportunity, but also something of a danger.He said they know the visit represented a great opportunity, but also something of a danger.
Focus attentionFocus attention
Pope Benedict is a relatively conservative figure who has not been afraid to reinforce the Church's traditional teaching on controversial issues such as abortion, equality for gay people and research on stem cells.Pope Benedict is a relatively conservative figure who has not been afraid to reinforce the Church's traditional teaching on controversial issues such as abortion, equality for gay people and research on stem cells.
Our correspondent said: "So secularists have also spotted an opportunity. They can see the potential for creating a coalition of people unhappy with the traditionalist Christian message in a variety of limited fields.Our correspondent said: "So secularists have also spotted an opportunity. They can see the potential for creating a coalition of people unhappy with the traditionalist Christian message in a variety of limited fields.
"The Pope might not exactly be a stick with which to beat religion, but his visit will focus attention on areas which the National Secular Society suspects will inspire scepticism as much as faith.""The Pope might not exactly be a stick with which to beat religion, but his visit will focus attention on areas which the National Secular Society suspects will inspire scepticism as much as faith."
No official itinerary has yet been drawn up for the visit, but officials at the Vatican and in the UK told the BBC the visit was likely to take place in September.No official itinerary has yet been drawn up for the visit, but officials at the Vatican and in the UK told the BBC the visit was likely to take place in September.
Further details are expected early in March, a spokesman for the Catholic Communications Network said.Further details are expected early in March, a spokesman for the Catholic Communications Network said.