MarketNeutral
23rd April 2010, 09:22 PM
POPE Benedict was a surprise player in Britain's televised leadership debate but not in a way the pontiff would have enjoyed.
Gordon Brown and his two challengers for the prime ministership lined up to criticise the Pope and the Catholic Church on issues ranging from abortion and contraception to gay rights, embryo research and the covering-up of child abuse by priests.
The three party leaders were asked about the Pope during a section of the Sky TV debate that was devoted to foreign affairs, and their criticism of the church was the one area of virtually total consensus in their 90-minute debate.
No questions were asked about China, the Middle East, Iran, Russia or nuclear disarmament but Sky's debate organisers selected an audience member's question about the Pope's plans to make a state visit to Britain in September.
The questioner asked: "If you win the election, will you disassociate your party from the Pope's protection over many years of Catholic priests who were ultimately tried and convicted of child abuse, and from his fierce opposition to all contraception, embryonic stem cell research, (fertility) treatment for childless couples, gay equality and the routine use of condoms when HIV is at an all-time high?"
All three leaders said they welcomed the 83-year-old Pope's visit but that was the only good news they had for the church.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/british-leaders-join-forces-against-pope-benedict-xvi/story-e6frg6so-1225857615621
Gordon Brown and his two challengers for the prime ministership lined up to criticise the Pope and the Catholic Church on issues ranging from abortion and contraception to gay rights, embryo research and the covering-up of child abuse by priests.
The three party leaders were asked about the Pope during a section of the Sky TV debate that was devoted to foreign affairs, and their criticism of the church was the one area of virtually total consensus in their 90-minute debate.
No questions were asked about China, the Middle East, Iran, Russia or nuclear disarmament but Sky's debate organisers selected an audience member's question about the Pope's plans to make a state visit to Britain in September.
The questioner asked: "If you win the election, will you disassociate your party from the Pope's protection over many years of Catholic priests who were ultimately tried and convicted of child abuse, and from his fierce opposition to all contraception, embryonic stem cell research, (fertility) treatment for childless couples, gay equality and the routine use of condoms when HIV is at an all-time high?"
All three leaders said they welcomed the 83-year-old Pope's visit but that was the only good news they had for the church.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/british-leaders-join-forces-against-pope-benedict-xvi/story-e6frg6so-1225857615621