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Christian leaders have spoken out in criticism of a memo from the Foreign Office with suggestions that the Pope open an abortion clinic and bless a gay marriage, among other ideas, when he visits the UK in September.
The memo was an internally circulated document put together by a junior civil servant following a brainstorming meeting at the Foreign Office meant to produce ideas for an "ideal visit" for the Pope. Other suggestions included asking the Pope to launch a range of "Benedict" condoms, sack "dodgy bishops", sponsor a network of AIDS clinics, and apologise for the Spanish Armada. The document was not seen by ministers before it was sent out and a spokesman for the department said they were "deeply sorry for the offence it had caused".
Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, who is organising the Pope's September visit, denounced the paper, stating: "It's absolutely despicable, these are vile, they're insulting, they are an embarrassment, and on behalf of I think the whole of the United Kingdom we'd want to apologise to his Holiness the Pope."
Some Christians have voiced concern over the tension this incident has highlighted between government and people of faith.
"In the context of the debate surrounding freedom of speech, we have fought for the right of people to make fun of Christians. But it's the government's responsibility to respect a variety of views and encourage dialogue, not to reduce religious belief to a bad joke," said Stephen Cave, National Director of the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland. "We are pleased that the Foreign Office has sent an apology to the Vatican and that the plans for the Pope's visit in September can continue unhindered."
"I think that Christianity has been so much a part of the furniture of our society that it tends to be neglected and taken for granted," said Peter Forster, the bishop of Chester, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "There's a 'familiarity breeding contempt' in some circles of society about our Christian heritage which leads to the distasteful events we had with the memo."
The Bishop of Nottingham, the Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon, said: "I think it's a lot worse that we invite someone into our country - a person like the Pope - and then he's treated in this way. I think it's appalling manners more than anything else."
Former Conservative MP and Catholic Ann Widdecombe said: "It is unbelievable this came in an official Foreign Office document that was circulated to Downing Street. It beggars belief and shows the mocking attitude there is towards Christianity."
The junior civil servant's supervisor has been fired. The Vatican has accepted the apology from the Foreign Office and has said this will not affect the Pope's plans to visit the UK.
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