politics.co.uk
Saturday, 18, Sep 2010 12:01
by politics.co.uk staff
Pope Benedict will attend Mass at Westminster Cathedral
A major demonstration protesting the Pope’s state visit to Britain is scheduled for today.
Protestor’s will gather from half 1:30pm at Hyde Park Corner, before proceeding to march to Downing Street for a rally at 3:30pm to protest the government’s decision to allow the head of the Catholic Church a state visit.
The Pope himself will be spending the day in London, first attending Mass in Westminster Cathedral, and visiting a residential home in Vauxhall, ending with a vigil held in Hyde Park.
Protestors claim the Pope’s controversial stance on issues such as homosexuality and condoms preclude him from the honour of a state visit. the also cite the fact that the costs of the visit are being borne by the taxpayer.
Polling suggests that the majority of British Catholics expect the visit to improve the image of the Catholic Church in Britain, despite widespread disagreement with some of the Pope’s views.
The government is providing much of the security for the tour. Six men suspected of an alleged plot to attack the Pope were arrested yesterday.
The ‘protest the Pope’ campaign has arranged protests for the duration of Pope Benedict’s four-day tour, but today’s march in central London is expected to be by far the largest.