Condoms, pink mitres at anti-pope protest
Thousands of protesters opposed to Pope Benedict XVI and his state visit to Britain marched through London today, slamming the Church over sex abuse, gay rights and a range of other issues.
A coalition of demonstrators united under the "Protest The Pope" banner started marching at the edge of Hyde Park, where the pontiff was to later hold an open-air prayer vigil for an estimated 80,000 Roman Catholics.
An early police estimate said up to 3,000 people were at the rally, while organisers claimed up to 10,000 took part. It is the biggest demonstration during the pope's four-day state visit to Britain.
With drums and whistles sounding, demonstrators marched through central London to the Downing Street residence of Prime Minister David Cameron.
Some were dressed in priest outfits, while others blew up condoms into balloons and one woman wore blown-up condoms as earrings.
Many protesters wore homemade pink mitres -- the pope's hat -- bearing slogans condemning his stance on human rights and child abuse by Catholic priests.
They chanted "Shame on the pope" and "Protect the children, not the pope".
"We want to send a message to the pope that many British people disagree with all or part of his teaching, on women rights, gay equality and the use of condoms," one of the march's organisers, rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, told AFP.
"We are a mix of very different people, Catholics and non-Catholics, we are united in protesting againt the pope's visit. He shouldn't be honoured by a state visit," he added.
Pope Benedict today expressed his "deep sorrow" for the "immense suffering" of children sexually abused by Catholic clerics and later held a private meeting with victims.
Demonstrator Barbara Dorris, from St. Louis in the United States, held a banner with a photograph of herself aged seven at Holy Communion. She said she was abused at that age by a priest.
"We've heard apologies but he hasn't taken any action. He has apologised time and time again but he hasn't done anything," she said.
Sue Cox, 63, addressed the rally, saying she was abused by a priest in her home aged 10, and again at 13.
"Just to say sorry is not adequate," she told AFP.
"They need to open their secret files to the authorities, to independent scrutiny, and start making amends to all those people they've damaged."
The rally was organised by a mix of groups, including the British Humanist Association (BHA) and the National Secular Society.
BHA chief executive Andrew Copson told AFP: "It's fine for the pope to come here as a religious leader. It's the fact that it's a state visit that we primarily oppose."
Benedict is the first Pope to make a state visit -- at the invitation of the monarch -- to Britain.
Catholic Women's Ordination organiser Pat Brown said: "We want a more inclusive church, including divorced people, gays and women priests."
Adele MacDonald-Hewson, 62, called for the Catholic Church to open its doors to women priests. "I think we should have a woman for pope," she said.
The Vatican said it was "neither surprised nor shocked" by the demo.
"We know there are groups who criticise the Pope and the Vatican, and they have the right to voice their disagreement," spokesman Federico Lombardi said.
He stressed that "a big part of the population is very happy to see the Pope".
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Andrew Farrugia
Sep 19th 2010, 19:46
And yet they have the gall to describe themselves as HUMANISTS! Did you watch that particular individual interviewed on Sky News? Sounded so robotic, mechanical, devoid of any kind of emotion! Reminded me of some Soviet era apparatchik. Let them wallow ......
Tommy Lee
Sep 19th 2010, 08:32
Thousands of protesters should read as 'Thousands of miscreants'. England has been run by miscreants for decades hence the state it is in. These miscreants blame the Catholic stance on condoms for some of the worlds sexual disease problems yet deny it is their own promiscuity that is to blame.
Peter Tatchell is a known advocate of paedophilia and his quotes on the subject can be found quite easily with any internet search.Obviously he is a hypocrite too.
I am no Catholic and am not here to defend that faith but I do wonder why these same people do not protest the same against Islam as we all know what happens to Homosexuals in Muslim countries.
The Catholic Church has made a monumental mistake by not dealing with Paedophile Priests correctly and have given the Godless enough ammunition over the years to seriously damage The name of Christ.
True Christians have no worry when seeing mass crowds of Godless Miscreants as they know too well that "narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it".? Matt 7:14
Ray Micallef
Sep 20th 2010, 03:05
@Tommy Lee
They are blaming the church for the diseases, cause of the latest stunt by the Pope. In case you didn't know, he preached against using condoms, cause they are unholy or something. He directed the talks to Africa, since there has been a recent campaign to promote condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS, and the unnecessary birthing or more children, who will eventuality die of starvation.
While sure, not so many people protest against Muslims, most Muslim people are pretty normal, and what you see in the media are cases done by extremists which is a VERY small percentage of the Muslims. The main spokespersons or leaders of these group, speak openly against Muslims, often carrying out debates with key people in the Muslim faith.
Also if you really like to quote the bible, i suggest looking up some of the quotes about woman, and gays, and slaves, etc.
Of course as the people changed, the church had to ditch parts of the bible, and parts of its believes (less 'miracles' and limbo mainly) in order not to loose its grip on believers (money)
Louis Gialanze
Sep 18th 2010, 20:10
Britain is now the land of bigots par excellence manifestly anti catholic and agressively atheist. In the words of The Economist such abuse would not be allowed if it were directed towards muslims. Where has the 'Great' gone to?
Patrik Larsson
Sep 20th 2010, 06:15
Since when is a peaceful demonstration abuse? Are you saying it shouldn't be allowed? Lets say you are right in that a demonstration against muslims would not be allowed, would that be something you agree with?
edward hayman
Sep 18th 2010, 19:59
dear Christian, please don't be misled by only noting the negatives of this visit, i have seen most of the visit on tv and it is proving to be better than some expected in the light of recent events, the uk is not of one religion and people have different views, even in Malta. please use your computer and try to see the whole picture,you may be surprised, i hope many people in Malta will do the same
Ray Micallef
Sep 20th 2010, 02:46
@Christian Ellul
If you think that non believers are to blame for making the country a mess, you should really look at the high standards of life in some of the most atheist countries. You do not need religion for morals and ethics, anyone in the right mind has them. They can also be nourished in the family, with ought the belief that 'the guy who loves everyone' will send you for everlasting pain. Do you see animals praying? No. Do you see them killing other animals for fun which is morally wrong? No, hmm i guess nature is wrong then, not you.
@Jason Borg
The church has been losing followers at an 'alarming' rate (not that alarming to me). Even in Malta which is a really Christian country. The church has, finally, started to loose people. which for them means money (you know people who left whole lands to the church instead of leaving it to the family when they died, or donations).
Ray Micallef
Sep 20th 2010, 02:54
@edward hayman
"the uk is not of one religion and people have different views"
Exactly and given this, you think it is fair that the taxpayer's money (19 million of them) is spent so the pope can go to the UK, talk to the people that his 'employees' ruined, and he covered up, and not do anything about it? Even tho 40% re not Christian, and that nearly half of these Christians do not agree how the church handled the abuses?
The pope wanted 'tolerance'? as he said before the UK visit. Would you tolerate a group of people that abused your kids, and tried to hide it, then when it came to the surface, they say 'sorry'?
@Louis Gialanze
I have seen more damage done by a single christian, who is to be of an example to the whole church, then by all atheist at any time, whose actions were driven by religion. Also you used 'bigots', haha like the church is #1 in tolerance, especially woman, poor people, gays non believers, and any other religious people.
Jason Borg
Sep 18th 2010, 19:38
Iktar ma jitfgħu ħmieġ u tajn lejn il-Papa, iktar jiġbed nies lejh. Xejn inqas minn trijonf fir-Renju Unit.
Christian Ellul
Sep 18th 2010, 18:46
Seeing this i thank god i live in Malta.
Dear protesters, you see...in the world you live in, were everything is taken for granted and everyone is left to do what he wants without any morals/ethics to his guidance...what you get is exactly what YOU have, a country that lost it's identity...England!