Bishop Peter\u2019s comments were made in the wake of The Foreign Office being forced to apologise for a leaked memo suggesting that the Pope’s forthcoming visit could see him opening an abortion clinic, blessing a gay marriage and launching a range of Benedict-branded condoms. The Bishop described the memo and its aftermath as distasteful.<\/p>\n
Under questioning from Today presenter John Humphreys, Bishop Peter said: \u201cThere is a sort of familiarity breeding contempt in some circles in our society about our Christian heritage.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The Bishop added: \u201cFree speech is fundamental to society – and indeed Christianity was partly instrumental in that coming in, with its great emphasis on the individual rights in the early days of the Church \u201d\u201c but if free speech becomes irresponsible or objectionable or stirs up bad feelings it\u2019s not good for society.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone in society has to have a certain restraint alongside a proper freedom of speech.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n