Public funds should not be used to fund the Pope’s State visit to the UK in September, which will involve many religious activities, the British Humanist Association has said today. The BHA has responded to comments by the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, where he welcomed the Pope’s visit during financial hard times as it would give people the “resource of faith”.
Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, said, ‘The numerous, costly and exclusive religious activities that the Pope will undertake in September are completely illegitimate for a State visit, and one that the British people are being asked to pay for. If some religious leaders and people believe that the Pope’s visit will help them through financial hard times through his proselytising of religious faith and other religious activities, then they should pay for the visit themselves. The Pope’s visit should be either a state visit where the Vatican’s policies can be scrutinised, or a private religious visit, but it cannot be both.’
Notes
For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips on 07540 257101.
The British Humanist Association is a founding member of the Protest the Pope campaign which is organising events this year to protest the state visit.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the non-religious and campaigning for an end to religious privilege and discrimination based on religion or belief.