Pope calls for solidarity with Haitis earthquake victims

[thesnake52000]

"The Catholic Church will take immediate action, through its institutions and charities to help with first aid the people in that region."

Did you watch the video?

[thesnake52000]

Seriously? You think this guy wishes death on those who support gay marriage? The Catholic Church does not even advocate death for the worst of crimes, even murder!

Iraq is hardly a "Christian" nation by any stretch. Benedict has certainly been critical of the war.

Christians make up only a small percentage of those killed or hurt in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Of course, it was Pope John Paul II who contributed to this relief effort, as Benedict had not been elected yet.

[Paulwhoisvegan]

Human rights campaigners also argued that the pope's attempt to protect his church's freedoms would mean denying other people their basic liberties. "[This is a] coded attack on the legal rights granted to women and gay people," said activist Peter Tatchell. "His ill-informed claim that our equality laws undermine religious freedom suggests that he supports the right of churches to discriminate in accordance with their religious ethos."

[Paulwhoisvegan]

Not all of the faithful, though, approved of the pope's interference in British politics. "As a Catholic, I am appalled by the attitude of the pope. Religious leaders should be trying to eradicate inequality, not perpetuate it," said Simon Hughes, a Labour member of the European Parliament. "Instead of criticizing the U.K.'s plans to improve its legislation, the pope should ensure that existing E.U. legislation is properly applied in the Vatican."

[Paulwhoisvegan]

Many members of the pope's British flock -- together with some leading figures in the Church of England -- backed Benedict's statement, believing that the government is trying to re-engineer their religion via legislation. By taking away the church's ability to decide who it can hire, the new law was placing "unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities," the archbishop of Westminster, the Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, told the BBC.

[Paulwhoisvegan]

"[The pope is] not getting engaged in party politics," said the archbishop, the highest Catholic authority of England and Wales. "But he wants his reasoned voice -- formed by the treasures of the Christian heritage which is deeply embedded in our culture -- to be heard."

[Paulwhoisvegan]

The controversy around the pope's statement marred what should have been a day of celebration for Britain's Catholics. Benedict's trip is a sign that after years of decline, the church is on the rise again in the majority Anglican country. In 2008, about 861,000 Roman Catholics attended Sunday mass each week, while 852,000 Church of England members turned up for Sunday worship -- despite the fact that about 5 million

[Paulwhoisvegan]

LONDON (Feb. 2) -- On Monday, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would travel to Britain this year, the first papal visit to the country since 1982. But not everyone here will be happy to see him. Because on the same day Pope Benedict confirmed his visit, probably in the fall, he condemned British legislation intended to protect gay rights as a violation of "natural law" -- a claim that has outraged politicians, human rights campaigners and moderate Catholics.

[Paulwhoisvegan]

The pope made the comments during a speech to 34 English and Welsh bishops gathered in Rome. "Your country is well-known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society," he said. "Yet, as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs."