UK Officials Mock Pope in Memo

I came acrosss this piece via Spiritdaily. As if we need even more reasons to Pray for the Holy Father. My comments are in green, bolds are mine as usual and I'm probably not going to quote the whole thing anyway. Read the full article here.

The astonishing proposals, leaked to The Sunday Telegraph, were contained in secret papers drawn up earlier this month by civil servants following a 'brainstorm’.
The ideas, included in a memo headed 'The ideal visit would see ...’, ridiculed the Catholic Church’s teachings including its opposition to abortion, homosexual behaviour and contraception. Many appeared to be deliberately provocative rather than a serious attempt to plan an itinerary for the September visit.(Okay, SSDD what else?)

The proposals, which were then circulated among key officials in Downing Street and Whitehall, also include the Pope opening an abortion ward; (sick) spending the night in a council flat in Bradford; ( I don't think this would phase the Pope one bit actually) doing forward rolls with children to promote healthy living; and even performing a duet with the Queen.(that might actually be cool. Pope Benedict is an excellent pianist.)

...snip...

Recipients of the memo were furious at its content and an investigation was launched. One senior official was found responsible and has been transferred to other duties.  ( Nobody, I mean NOBODY ever gets sacked in the UK unless it's some poor working class person who only made an honest mistake, like, dropping a tenner and getting a fine for 50 quid.)

“The individual responsible has been transferred to other duties. He has been told orally and in writing that this was a serious error of judgement and has accepted this view. (oooooh, that will learn him!)

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “This is clearly a foolish document that does not in any way reflect UK Government or Foreign Office policy or views. Many of the ideas in the document are clearly ill-judged, naive and disrespectful. (Well, it's certainly the views of someone in the UK gov't and Foreign Office, otherwise it wouldn't have been written!)

snip

There is understood to be increasing unease at the Vatican over the level of hostility that the Pope is likely to face in Britain, with protests and even threats of arrest from secularists. The disclosure of the secret proposals is bound to deepen concerns and cause dismay among the country’s four million Catholics.(Gee, ya think?)

Prayer for Pope Bendict XVI

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd, Benedict, a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world. Amen.

V. Let us pray for Benedict, the pope.
R. May the Lord preserve him, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and not hand him over to the power of his enemies.
V. May your hand be upon your holy servant.
R. And upon your son, whom you have anointed.