Church's 'dismay' at the pope's state visit

FREE Presbyterian Church leaders have taken a letter of protest to 10 Downing Street telling of their "dismay and abhorrence" that the pope is being afforded a state visit to the UK.

The moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, the Rev Dr Ronald Johnstone, and past moderator Lord Bannside delivered the letter, addressed to Prime Minister David Cameron.

In the text, the leaders tell of how people are "justifiably dismayed" that the government, in a time of recession, "is spending so much of their tax money on this visit".

It has been predicted that the cost to taxpayers of the pope's visit next month could be as high as £12million. The trip may also cost the Catholic church £7million - a figure which could rise.

The four-day trip in September will be the first state visit by a pope to Britain.

In the letter, the clerics add: "Others deplore the constitutional and moral issues involved in welcoming the head of the Vatican State to this country. Recent events have revealed the deplorable cover-up by the Roman Catholic hierarchy of the systematic abuse of innocent children by priests."

The pair point out that the Free Presbyterian Church's opposition is based primarily "on spiritual convictions" and not "on grounds of blind sectarianism".

The letters states: "It is not the product of an innate hatred of all things Roman Catholic. We bear no ill will towards our Roman Catholic neighbours, but rather wish that they and all people might enter into the freedom of the glorious Gospel of Christ.

"However, it is extremely offensive that Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict XVI is frequently styled 'Holy Father', 'Supreme Pontiff' and 'Vicar of Christ'. Such titles are at variance with Scripture, are arrogant and spurious, and historically have been viewed as blasphemous by Protestant churches because they usurp titles that belong to Our Blessed Lord and Only Saviour. As Reformed Evangelical Protestants, we totally reject the arrogant and deeply offensive claim that Joseph Ratzinger is the 'Sovereign Pontiff of the Church'. We recognise no Head of the Church but Christ Jesus and totally repudiate his arrogant claim."

The letter adds that the Free Presbyterian Church wishes to "disassociate" themselves from a claim from the Roman Catholic Church that the pope comes as "a visitor to all the people of the UK, not just those who are Catholics".

The clerics add that the timing of the pope's visit is "deeply insulting".

"This year marks the 450th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland when, in August of 1560, the then Scottish parliament declared itself free from papal domination. Could we ask what plans the government has put in place to commemorate that momentous event in our nation's history?"

The letter added: "We pray that God will enable you to so govern that the civil and religious liberties of all citizens would be preserved—liberties which the papacy has historically bitterly opposed."

SIC: BNUK