The story of Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins planning to arrest the Pope, though at the really nutty end of the spectrum of current anti-Catholic and anti-papal propaganda, still seems to be taken seriously by some journalists. A barrister has even allowed his name to be associated with this stunt.
Although I continue to think that "Matron take them away" is an appropriate response, it is nevertheless helpful and worthwhile for someone to answer the points that have been raised. The Catholic Union of Great Britain and the Thomas More Legal Centre have jointly issued a good, sensible press release responding to this ludicrous suggestion. Many thanks indeed to Jamie Bogle and Neil Addison for their work in dealing with the legal matters and for pointing out that such a publicity stunt could have serious consequences for public order and make the sensitive task of policing the Papal visit that much more difficult.
7 comments:
What a good response by people who know what they're talking about. If there were any chance of this nutty scheme succeeding, it would probably spell the end of state visits by any head of state to any other country.
And how right that the possibility of inciting a member of the public to try to arrest His Holiness (or worse) is made more possible not only by Dawkins' and Hitchens' histrionic plan, but by what I can only describe as the hate material - hat-tip to yourself for publicising this - that Daskins is not only allowing on his blog but is actively encouraging. He needs to read a very important post by a barrister on Ellee Seymour's site called "what bloggers need to know about defamation":
http://elleeseymour.com/2010/04/11/what-bloggers-need-to-know-about-defamation/
This reminds me of the awful propaganda against Catholics and the Pope in the past one hundred years here in the USA.
All kinds of everything that was just "garbage"...including the "Maria Monk Letters" a book supposedly depicting the degenerate and despicable lives of priests and sisters; this fed into all kinds of prejudice against Catholics (some of my relation, I'm afraid were involved, at one point)...consecrated celibacy has always been looked upon here as "suspect"...priests were "getting some" (forgive me, please!) somehow, somewhere.
And today, it's this complete insanity: charging the Holy Father with "crimes against humanity"...
better take a look in the mirror, Oh Holy Hitchens and Dawkins! Where are YOUR 'crimes against humanity'?...it's just despicable!
The legal stunt is the equivalent of Mosley's marching through Cable Street in 1936. Perhaps we need some strong armed chaps to see of any liberal fascists!
Dear Fr. F.
I am following an order from the "cult of WDTRS" to thank you and give you kudos from Fr. Z. And to also acknowledge MF for her great contribution...:<)!.
Keep on keepin' on, Padre.
Keep Hitchens & Dawkins "far, far from the Pope"! (as in the prayer of Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof"...'God bless the Czar, and may he keep far away from us!'
Well said Father, "STUNT"indeed. The barrister in question is a noted media hound.The whole exercise is grist for the mill of the modern media which has so confused news and entertainment that it can no longer, or no longer sees the need to, tell the difference.And what a marvellous piece of entertainment this stunt is for all the homosexuals, abortionists,New Agers and purported atheists(I don't believe in THEM). It is totally, cynically dishonest.And of course in the U.K. and in the U.S.A. it titillates the holders of the old anti-Catholic prejudices.Perhaps a little bit of payback for Anglicanorum Coetibus is involved in some media sectors. Congratulations on your 2,000,000!
I note that it was also suggested that they could bring a private prosecution against the Holy Father : which rather ignores the fact that the Attorney-General has an absolute right, at any time, either to take over a private prosecution (giving into the handling of the CPS), or simply to 'kill' it.
As I've said on more than one occasion before, Incitement to Religious Hatred is a criminal offence, and these two gentlemen must be very close to finding themselves the recipients of the CPS' attention.
Pope Saint Martin I ( who didnt allow fellow Catholics to defend him,during his arrest, saying there is no need for bloodshed)...pray for us.
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