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Pope visit Britain: 65,000 Catholics enjoy a day in the sun

  • 16-09-2010 8:24pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭


    There were those who would have dampened the day: Ian Paisley and his fire-breathing contingent of Ulster protestant ministers, secularists protesters, those appalled at the abuse of children by priests. And there was Scotland's taciturn weather, too always capable of administering a sudden, dispiriting drenching

    But the 65,000 Roman Catholics gathered in Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park to celebrate mass were having none of that. As Pope Benedict XVI arrived for the first great set-piece event of his four-day visit to Britain, the hymn All People That On Earth Do Dwell boomed out triumphantly. This was their day; for most a once in a lifetime experience. And, miraculously, the sun shone

    Not the 80,000 congregation mooted before the papal visit, and a fraction of the 300,000 who attended a mass in the same park celebrated by John Paul II in 1982, but an impressive gathering nevertheless, an unabashed celebration of Catholicism. In any case, it wasn’t about numbers.

    On his way to the altar, the Pontiff paused to bless nine-year-old Anton McManus, who had written to him ten days before asking him to “keep his cancer away”. A malignant tumour was discovered on Anton’s spine when he was four years old, but has been kept in check by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two operations. There was 18-month-old Alexander Frame, too. He suffers from a genetic disorder that may take his life before the age of 10. His father Allan, a car salesman form Glasgow, said he and his family were “praying for a miracle”.

    That followed an estimated 125,000 welcomes in Edinburgh, where the historic first state papal visit had begun earlier in the day with the Pope arriving at the city’s airport on a chartered Alitalia airliner, call-sign Shepherd One, to be greeted personally by the Duke of Edinburgh. With Catholics and non-Catholics lining the streets, he was driven to meet the Queen, religious leaders and politicians at the Palace of Holyrood. Some had gathered early to ensure a glimpse of their spiritual leader as he arrived in a 12-vehicle convoy.

    A short distance away, in the Magdelene chapel, where the Scottish Reformation was born 450 years ago, Dr Paisley – now Lord Bannside – was protesting against the visit of a man he has described as the antichrist. A booklet was distributed listing “recent scandals” within the Roman Catholic Church.

    I don’t want his (the Pope’s) blessing, and I will be keeping as far away as I can. Why? Because the whole thing is nonsense.

    “I’ve just seen the statement that has been issued by the Roman Catholic Church about this visit and we are told that if we go to this mass here today then we will have a shortened purgatory and our sins will be forgiven - £25 and you’ll get out of purgatory quicker.

    “Now there’s no such a place as purgatory, so that’s a farce from the very beginning. Secondly, no man can forgive sins but God only.”

    The Pope never saw Dr Paisley and his battalions – police refusing to let him lead a demonstration on Princes’s Street.

    Some children engaged in Mexican waves. Street vendors did brisk business in Vatican flags and papal visit scarves. Protestors did their best to register their presence, carrying banners condemning the Church for aiding the spread of Aids, for example. But the demonstrations were fairly muted affairs and there were no arrests.

    The gates to Bellahouston had opened at 10am, and for five hours the huge congregation streamed in. Withthem came folding chairs, flags and picnic rugs. Many wore Benedict scarves and only a handful made a jarring sporting statement by donning the green and white hoops of Celtic FC. The accents and the food stalls – selling burgers and fish suppers – were evocative of Glasgow, but it was a calmer gathering than an Old Firm fixture.


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,739 ✭✭✭✭minidazzler


    tl;dr also, didn't want to.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 486 ✭✭mooman


    Do you have some sort of opinion you want to share with us, or are you just letting us know the Pope is around?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,754 ✭✭✭✭Princess Consuela Bananahammock


    Wow. I did not know this.

    Everything I don't like is either woke or fascist - possibly both - pick one.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,070 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    Apt username in a way


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,554 ✭✭✭✭alwaysadub


    You had to pay £25 to go to mass?
    Fcuk that. Wouldn't go anyway, but specially wouldn't go if you'd to pay!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,485 ✭✭✭Thrill


    “I’ve just seen the statement that has been issued by the Roman Catholic Church about this visit and we are told that if we go to this mass here today then we will have a shortened purgatory and our sins will be forgiven - £25 and you’ll get out of purgatory quicker.

    Hmmmm, doesn't say how much time you get off for the 25 quid bribe.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,404 ✭✭✭Lone Stone


    I thought the news all day today was excessively pro pope and didnt talk enough about the amount of filth and abuse he covered up. And i didnt see any protest on the news either :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,070 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    Lone Stone wrote: »
    I thought the news all day today was excessively pro pope and didnt talk enough about the amount of filth and abuse he covered up. And i didnt see any protest on the news either :confused:

    There's been a few reports of protests, and not all of the news is pro-pope
    In an early entry for the visit's predictability prize the group condemned what it saw as Benedict's "notion that it was the atheism of Nazis that led to their extremist and hateful views"

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/16/pope-benedict-visit


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,445 ✭✭✭Absurdum


    RobitTV wrote: »
    On his way to the altar, the Pontiff paused to bless nine-year-old Anton McManus, who had written to him ten days before asking him to “keep his cancer away”. A malignant tumour was discovered on Anton’s spine when he was four years old, but has been kept in check by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two operations. There was 18-month-old Alexander Frame, too. He suffers from a genetic disorder that may take his life before the age of 10. His father Allan, a car salesman form Glasgow, said he and his family were “praying for a miracle”.


    would it be crude and tasteless for me to LOL at these?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,519 ✭✭✭mudokon


    RobitTV wrote: »
    Not the 80,000 congregation mooted before the papal visit, and a fraction of the 300,000 who attended a mass in the same park celebrated by John Paul II in 1982, but an impressive gathering nevertheless, an unabashed celebration of Catholicism. In any case, it wasn’t about numbers.

    At £20 a head I beg to differ.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    Pope doesn't visit Ireland: 165,000 unemployed people enjoy a day in the sun.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,595 ✭✭✭bonerm


    It's just a coincidence that the capacity of Glasgow Celtic FC's stadium is also approx 65k.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,293 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    suppose they need to recoup the 10s of millions its costing the british tax payer and the police to mind him whilst he's there. In a way, their paying to see him twice.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,595 ✭✭✭bonerm


    irish-stew wrote: »
    suppose they need to recoup the 10s of millions its costing the british tax payer and the police to mind him whilst he's there. In a way, their paying to see him twice.
    That's nice of him to care.

    I wonder did Tony Bliar also pay for the security and Garda presence at his recent Dublin jolly?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,618 ✭✭✭baldbear


    I saw an irish lad at it in his Down jersey getting communion off Pope Benny. It was funny the others i saw were dressed in shirts and ties.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Daisy Steiner




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,239 ✭✭✭✭KeithAFC


    bonerm wrote: »
    It's just a coincidence that the capacity of Glasgow Celtic FC's stadium is also approx 65k.
    :pac: Good point.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,080 ✭✭✭lmaopml


    I thought the Brits and the Queen herself showed tremendous style today when they welcomed the Pope, as the representative of the Catholic Church and a head of state, not to mention ecumenism, tolerance and wisdom in troubling and divisive times....Well done Britain today, and in particular well done Glasgow, a beautiful city with lovely people by all accounts..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,070 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    lmaopml wrote: »
    the representative of the Catholic Church and a head of state, not to mention ecumenism, tolerance and wisdom

    Oh lawdy


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Dear OP, thanks for the news update. Thank god for posters like you.
    Living in this cave of mine, I have no TV, didn't know that pope comedy fella was in England and bloody hell, I missed out of having to shell out my cash for a ticket to see the old fart.

    ..So cheers for the informative post.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,445 ✭✭✭Absurdum



    that would be an ecumenical matter


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,766 ✭✭✭squeakyduck


    I wonder how many idiotic catholics donated money to the paedos feeling up poor misfortunate kids. And I wonder what the cover charge is going towards. :mad:

    I dunno why he is going a "world tour" what is he hoping to achieve. Does he think he is gonna bring peace to the world? :mad::mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 126 ✭✭skinnie




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,153 ✭✭✭Rented Mule


    bonerm wrote: »
    It's just a coincidence that the capacity of Glasgow Celtic FC's stadium is also approx 65k.

    He did say that he would lead them to Paradise.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    lmaopml wrote: »
    I thought the Brits and the Queen herself showed tremendous style today when they welcomed the Pope, as the representative of the Catholic Church and a head of state, not to mention ecumenism, tolerance and wisdom in troubling and divisive times....Well done Britain today, and in particular well done Glasgow, a beautiful city with lovely people by all accounts..

    With all due respect, this post is a complete & utter load of oul bollox.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,584 ✭✭✭digme


    lol at the tossers on this thread, the pope told the priests/bishops.. if you don't cover up the child abuse your getting excommunicated from the church.
    So 65,000 mentally ill people turned up to see a tosser that looks like an evil villain from star wars.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    digme wrote: »
    lol at the tossers on this thread, the pope told the priests/bishops.. if you don't cover up the child abuse your getting excommunicated from the church.
    So 65,000 mentally ill people turned up to see a tosser that looks like an evil villain from star wars.
    ...and coughed up cash to do it! LOL DOH!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    digme wrote: »
    lol at the tossers on this thread, the pope told the priests/bishops.. if you don't cover up the child abuse your getting excommunicated from the church.
    So 65,000 mentally ill people turned up to see a tosser that looks like an evil villain from star wars.

    That post is very unfair.















































    To the mentally ill.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,575 ✭✭✭✭A Dub in Glasgo


    digme wrote: »
    lol at the tossers on this thread, the pope told the priests/bishops.. if you don't cover up the child abuse your getting excommunicated from the church.
    So 65,000 mentally ill people turned up to see a tosser that looks like an evil villain from star wars.

    There is only 1 mentally ill person here though


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,584 ✭✭✭digme


    well the church is just one big corporation which has hijacked Catholicism.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,575 ✭✭✭✭A Dub in Glasgo


    With all due respect, this post is a complete & utter load of oul bollox.

    Tell us why it is a complete & utter load of oul bollox?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,584 ✭✭✭digme


    There is only 1 mentally ill person here though
    Care to explain yourself or are you not able?You were on planet earth during 2009 right?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    Tell us why it is a complete & utter load of oul bollox?


    No.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,239 ✭✭✭✭KeithAFC


    lmaopml wrote: »
    I thought the Brits and the Queen herself showed tremendous style today when they welcomed the Pope, as the representative of the Catholic Church and a head of state, not to mention ecumenism, tolerance and wisdom in troubling and divisive times....Well done Britain today, and in particular well done Glasgow, a beautiful city with lovely people by all accounts..
    He should not of been invited.

    To be honest, i don't know how the pope gets away with it. How he can come out with such junk regarding condoms and even gay people and still be able to travel to the UK and STILL be able to insult a lot of people by comparing them to Nazis.

    He must laugh into his glass of champagne every night when he slips into his bubble bath.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Tell us why it is a complete & utter load of oul bollox?
    ...Because it matches the rest of the OP's first post in quality.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,575 ✭✭✭✭A Dub in Glasgo


    digme wrote: »
    Care to explain yourself or are you not able?You were on planet earth during 2009 right?

    That 1 menally ill person is referring to anybody who calls 65,000 people mentally ill without any idea of who they are - work it out


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,575 ✭✭✭✭A Dub in Glasgo


    No.

    Because you can't?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    That 1 menally ill person is referring to anybody who calls 65,000 people mentally ill without any idea of who they are - work it out
    HUH??? :confused:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,584 ✭✭✭digme


    That 1 menally ill person is referring to anybody who calls 65,000 people mentally ill without any idea of who they are - work it out
    im not the one fcking kids buddy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    Because you can't?

    No. Because I can't be arsed.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭Johro


    Absurdum wrote: »
    would it be crude and tasteless for me to LOL at these?
    Probably. But I would't blame ya.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,575 ✭✭✭✭A Dub in Glasgo


    No. Because I can't be arsed.

    = I can't


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    = I can't

    Whatever you say dude. You are the man. I love you. Will you have my babies?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,745 ✭✭✭laugh


    There's been a few reports of protests, and not all of the news is pro-pope



    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/16/pope-benedict-visit

    I thought Luther was the inspiration for the Nazi party?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,239 ✭✭✭✭KeithAFC


    laugh wrote: »
    I thought Luther was the inspiration for the Nazi party?
    lol. The Nazis have a lot in common with the Catholic church, the whole protecting Nazis and getting them out of Berlin and Germany.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    laugh wrote: »
    I thought Luther was the inspiration for the Nazi party?

    Lex Luther?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    No. Because I can't be arsed.
    Whats your sex life got to do with it? :p

    (By the way, try KY gel, it does help, your other half told me last night as we got it on!)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,745 ✭✭✭laugh


    KeithAFC wrote: »
    lol. The Nazis have a lot in common with the Catholic church, the whole protecting Nazis and getting them out of Berlin and Germany.
    Lex Luther?

    On the Jews and Their Lies


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    Biggins wrote: »
    Whats your sex life got to do with it? :p

    (By the way, try KY gel, it does help, your other half told me last night as we got it on!)


    I have finally dragged Biggins down to my level. I'm should feel a sense of satisfaction, but for some strange reason, I feel guilt. :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,080 ✭✭✭lmaopml


    Biggins wrote: »
    ...Because it matches the rest of his first post in quality.

    What post Biggins :confused: That was my first post on the thread...


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