General of Darkness
15th September 2010, 02:31 PM
Well no shit.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11317441
Pope aide pulls out of trip after 'Third World jibe
The Vatican said the cardinal was pulling out of the visit solely on health grounds A senior Papal adviser has pulled out of the Pope's UK visit after saying arriving at Heathrow airport was like landing in a "Third World" country.
Cardinal Walter Kasper reportedly told a German magazine the UK was marked by "a new and aggressive atheism".
The Vatican said the cardinal had not intended "any kind of slight" and had simply pulled out due to illness.
The UK Cabinet Office said his views were personal and not representative of the Vatican or bishops in the UK.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
They are saying it is ill health, but I wonder if that is the fact. I wonder if he has been dropped because he is an embarrassmentâ€
End Quote
Clifford Longley
The Tablet
The German-born cardinal was quoted as saying to the country's Focus magazine that "when you land at Heathrow you think at times you have landed in a Third World country".
He also criticised British Airways (BA), saying that when you wear a cross on the airline "you are discriminated against".
'Talking nonsense'
In 2006 a BA employee was told to stop wearing a cross at work. She took the case to an employment tribunal claiming religious discrimination, but lost, also losing her subsequent appeal.
BA changed its uniform rules in 2007, allowing staff to display a faith or charity symbol.
Vatican sources said Cardinal Kasper - who stepped down in July as the head of the department that deals with other Christian denominations - was suffering from gout and had been advised by his doctors not to travel to the UK.
They also said his "Third World" comment referred to the UK's multicultural society.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11317441
Pope aide pulls out of trip after 'Third World jibe
The Vatican said the cardinal was pulling out of the visit solely on health grounds A senior Papal adviser has pulled out of the Pope's UK visit after saying arriving at Heathrow airport was like landing in a "Third World" country.
Cardinal Walter Kasper reportedly told a German magazine the UK was marked by "a new and aggressive atheism".
The Vatican said the cardinal had not intended "any kind of slight" and had simply pulled out due to illness.
The UK Cabinet Office said his views were personal and not representative of the Vatican or bishops in the UK.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
They are saying it is ill health, but I wonder if that is the fact. I wonder if he has been dropped because he is an embarrassmentâ€
End Quote
Clifford Longley
The Tablet
The German-born cardinal was quoted as saying to the country's Focus magazine that "when you land at Heathrow you think at times you have landed in a Third World country".
He also criticised British Airways (BA), saying that when you wear a cross on the airline "you are discriminated against".
'Talking nonsense'
In 2006 a BA employee was told to stop wearing a cross at work. She took the case to an employment tribunal claiming religious discrimination, but lost, also losing her subsequent appeal.
BA changed its uniform rules in 2007, allowing staff to display a faith or charity symbol.
Vatican sources said Cardinal Kasper - who stepped down in July as the head of the department that deals with other Christian denominations - was suffering from gout and had been advised by his doctors not to travel to the UK.
They also said his "Third World" comment referred to the UK's multicultural society.