Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Pope won't be arrested in UK, protesters admit


From The London Telegraph

Campaigners supported by Prof Richard Dawkins, the prominent atheist, had hoped to have Benedict XVI held over his supposed cover-up of child abuse within the Roman Catholic Church.

But leaders of the Protest the Pope coalition now admit that the Pontiff cannot be arrested as Britain acknowledges him as a head of state, granting him sovereign immunity from criminal prosecution.

It came as the Pope himself announced that he “can’t wait” to arrive in the country next Thursday for the first-ever state papal visit to Britain.

The opponents of the historic event, who represent human rights, equality and secular groups, still plan to hold a march and rally in central London in protest at the estimated £12million cost to taxpayers of the state visit and Benedict XVI’s stance on sexuality, contraception and clerical abuse.

But at an unusual meeting at the “neutral ground” of New Scotland Yard, they assured the Most Rev Peter Smith, the Archbishop of Southwark, that their events would be peaceful and lawful.

More here-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/7989636/Pope-wont-be-arrested-in-UK-protesters-admit.html

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