The Catholic Church in Scotland last night accused the Foreign Office of a lack of respect and Vatican sources warned the papal visit to the UK could be cancelled after the publication of an internal memo mocking Pope Benedict.
The Foreign Office was forced to issue a public apology to the Vatican while Sir Peter Ricketts, the permanent under-secretary, contacted Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, to apologise personally for any offence caused by the document.
The memo joked the Holy Father could open an abortion clinic, launch a range of condoms or sing a charity duet with the Queen. The document also suggested Benedict XVI could show his hard line on the sensitive issue of child abuse allegations against Roman Catholic priests by “sacking dodgy bishops” and launching a helpline for abused children.
And last night a senior Vatican source said the incident could threaten the papal visit in September, saying: “It’s possible the trip could be cancelled as this matter is hugely offensive.”
The Holy See is playing the matter down and reporting the visit will go forward as planned.[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7634296/Popes-visit-to-Britain-will-go-ahead-despite-offensive-memo-says-Vatican.html]Source[/url]
It really demonstrates just how puerile the apparatchiks are in the government. Can you imagine what sort of “brainstorming” session actually produced that spiteful childish list?
Really pathetic.
And of course a representative of Hamas would be welcomed with open arms. Go figure.
When I was at Merrill Lynch we were always told that we were never never never to create or write any internal document, piece of software, etc. etc. that was intended to be “funny” in any way whatsoever, so matter how much it was intended only to circulate among a small group. When people have their life savings invested with you, there are is a very small range of humor on the subject that they are going to appreciate. And it is a rule (must have an official name of some sort) that the more sensitive an internal document is, the more likely it is to be made public. Training which has, throughout life, served me in good stead. 🙂
Apparently a 23 year-old was behind it, and his superior took the discipline, rightly in my view for not excercising control and guidance over his charge. We all make foolish mistakes when starting off in a job and the individual was probably in his first year of work after university. This memo should have been stopped at the stage it was given to the manager.
However, the youngster could quite well in my view be criticised for his immature sense of humor; if you are going to try to be funny, at least make sure the jokes are not flat.
#4 Catholic Mom is correct, one should never try to be “funny” in anything done on behalf of an employer or official department; dry if you must, but generally the written word can be misconstrued at the best of times, so straight down the line should be how one writes.
It looks as if the Vatican has accepted the sincere apology of the British Government and regard the matter as closed. It should not have happened.
Interestingly, though, one of these ‘blue skies’ thoughts may not be so far out, and that is the idea of an apology for the Armada.
I was quite interested in some of the work that has been done on reconciliation of wounded communities, which have underlain so many of our troubles. The theory is that like individuals, communities can be ‘wounded’ and the wounds are passed down by word of mouth across the centuries. Some examples:
– the visit of the head of the Cromwell family to Drogheda in Eire to apologise for the actions of his ancestor
– the apology to Jews by the Pope for the excesses of the Crusades
It is not so long ago that Foxe’s Book of Martyrs would have been part of a Protestant education, and Catholics would have been made aware of the persecution of many in the Reformation and be given the example of Saints John Fisher, Edmund Campion and others, so there is certainly a historical undercurrent, and it is not at all one-sided. Fortunately since the emancipation of the 19th Century, relations between the Western Churches in Britain are greatly improved; this visit is a demonstration of that, and the churches get on very well together by and large.
The Armada in many ways defined Britain’s view of itself as an island fortress, and resulted from Papal actions: the Bull of excommunication of Elizabeth I; and the permission and pardon given by the Pope for her assassination, by modern standards an extraordinary action by a Christian leader. There may well still be some historical baggage to be cleared away and healed. Although I am not a great believer in apologising for the actions of ones’ forbears, yet in some circumstances it may have some value.
Something intended as a joke may merit some further thought.
Really, it’s not a bad idea, Pageantmaster. I mean, I scoffed at the idea when I first read it (not your post, but the internal memo), but JPII was all about clearing the Christian conscience, and your points are good ones. A well-timed and sincere apology might bring about some good will.
Of course, if B16 apologizes for the Armada, but not the sexual abuse scandal, we’ll never hear the end of it … but an apology is coming on the latter too, as I understand it.
Yes, but if we start THAT ball rolling, we’ll eventually be apologizing for great grandpa Og who smashed Steve’s ancestor Grak over the head with a club to steal his FIRE. (apologies to any GEICO cavemen reading this. No offense intended)
All of these apologies for ancient perceived wrongs are ridiculous foolishness. Enough, I say.
#9 evan miller
Well these ancient perceived wrongs may well be foolishness, but if you look back to the history of modern problems, invariably you will come across an ancient war, persecution or murder. This has certainly been at much of the root of sectarianism in Ireland, the Shia/Sunni divide in the Middle East, and some of the Arab/Israeli conflict. The Protestants in N Ireland will point to massacres by the Catholics, and the Catholics to massacres by the Protestants, and marginalisation in housing and opportunities; the Shia will point to the murder of their prophets, and I believe Ali in particular, and hundreds of years of suppression and oppression which has produced a bunker mentality and a desperate prediliction for martyrdom; In Israel, the Zionists point to the promises of the British and others for a homeland, and the Arabs also point to what they believe were undertakings given by the British in regard to the mandated territory of Palestine. Often both sides are right, but the question then becomes, are people to be constrained by the bonds of their history, or is there some way to move on. Often a starting point is an acknowledgment of the truth, and where appropriate, some symbolic act of reconciliation and repentance. It is not without good reason that as Christians our life begins in acknowledgement of our transgressions, repentance, and forgiveness.
After all, the Bible is full of examples of corporate repentance by God’s people for their willfulness and disobedience. Perhaps there is a general lesson in this.
Pagaentmaster, before you even apologize, I forgive you for your ancestors’ terrible and unjust oppression of Catholics.
#11 phil swain – part of my family were Catholics – what do you suggest I do?
And I’m still waiting for the Federal government to apologize to the southern states for the War of Northern Aggression.
When will the Netherlands apologize to Ireland for the “Dutch Armada” of 1688, the consequences were so oppressive to Ireland and the Irish?