Cable Forum - View Single Post - The Pope Thread [UK visit 2010

**Chris** · 04-09-2010, 12:16

The National Secular Society is well aware that the Vatican is internationally recognised as a State, with the Pope as its Monarch. They recognise that this is the reason the visit is being funded by the UK and why the Pope is getting the official reception that makes them so furious. That's why they're putting a lot of effort into legal attempts to get the Vatican's status 'redefined' shall we say.

The opinion that the Vatican is a 'religious enclave' is, essentially, a summary of the legal argument that is made against it. But that's what it is - it's a legal argument, it is not the currently accepted position in international law. IMO that position is not about to change any time soon.

It is quite easy to forget that here in the UK we live in a secular bubble (with vestiges of Anglicanism around the edges) and to assume the whole world is more or less in sympathy with the secularist agenda. The fact is, is itsn't. There are a billion Catholics worldwide, many of them in positions of influence in influential countries.

04-09-2010, 12:16	#24
Chris Trollsplatter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 38,249	Re: Taxpayers should not fund Pope's visit, says survey The National Secular Society is well aware that the Vatican is internationally recognised as a State, with the Pope as its Monarch. They recognise that this is the reason the visit is being funded by the UK and why the Pope is getting the official reception that makes them so furious. That's why they're putting a lot of effort into legal attempts to get the Vatican's status 'redefined' shall we say. The opinion that the Vatican is a 'religious enclave' is, essentially, a summary of the legal argument that is made against it. But that's what it is - it's a legal argument, it is not the currently accepted position in international law. IMO that position is not about to change any time soon. It is quite easy to forget that here in the UK we live in a secular bubble (with vestiges of Anglicanism around the edges) and to assume the whole world is more or less in sympathy with the secularist agenda. The fact is, is itsn't. There are a billion Catholics worldwide, many of them in positions of influence in influential countries.