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Maybe Pattern could arrange to have the Pope take those pedophile priests back with him to Rome.

Jesus says

"It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones"

I have quite a lot of time for Patten, but I think he is only in charge of the 'State' part of the visit. I think that all of the pastoral parts of the visit are down to the catholic church in England to sort out.

Last I read costs to the church for the pastoral side had doubled to £14M and they still had not confirmed venues for any of the three set pieces. It has the risk of becoming a shambles although Patten will no doubt have the state elements sorted fully.

I wouldn't expect the problem of paedophile priests to be on a state visit agenda, savedbygrace. It does, however, seem very strange to me that millions of pounds of taxpayers' money will be spent on this visit - a visit by a man whose precise role in the paedophile priest scandal remains unclear. Images of the Pope blessing the faithful in Britain will make me think of the harm caused by Catholic paedophile priests - the lives of countless innocents torn asunder.

Perhaps, Newlach, you should broaden your imagination and your historic memory.

Yes, Newlach, use your imagination to picture that scene from history when Mussolini created the Vatican state in 1929 and gave the Pope a bribe of more than 1 billion lire to buy the support of the Catholic church. When you think of the Vatican state as a Fascist creation, then the claims of arch-cover-upper Ratzinger that his visit must be treated and funded as a state visit become all the more objectionable.

That's what you meant, isn't it, McCamley C?

I think the Pope reads this blog. And the 1690 an' all thon blog (the home of Ulster Scots on the web of course). Heck, he might even read the Church of Jesus Christ Atheist blog. One does have to wonder - surely he doesn't believe all the stuff he puts out? I have talked to a few priests who genuinely seem to believe in god, but many more clearly don't.

He should come, get his eyes opened, and hopefully apologise.