Popes visit to the UK. The Foreign Office shows their respect.

[Derek]

Yep whilst not a catholic or really in any way religious I do find this pretty offensive and remarkably stupid.

The Government has apologised to the Pope over official documents that mocked his forthcoming visit to Britain by suggesting he should bless a gay marriage and even launch Papal-branded condoms.

I shudder to think what didn't make the list. Maybe arrange for him to perform an abortion? Or give him a tour of some red light districts?

The document was sent out by a junior Foreign Office civil servant

Hopefully an ex-junior member of staff.

[Ramrod]

I'm sorry but we had a giggle over this one

[Peter_]

I would prefer it if the pope apologised for being a Nazi when he holds an address in this country.

I bet he still has his uniform.

[slowcoach]

Boredom is a terrible thing.....

[LondonRoad]

The sort of banter that one could laugh at with mates over a pint but ffs.........

... and we taxpayers are paying for such brainstorming sessions.

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Masque

I would prefer it if the pope apologised for being a Nazi when he holds an address in this country.

I bet he still has his uniform.

Perhaps Prince Philip Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Glucksburg could give him a few tips on how best to brush over such rather embarrassing histrionics?

Originally Posted by Masque

I would prefer it if the pope apologised for being a Nazi when he holds an address in this country.

I bet he still has his uniform.

Herr Ratzinger (sp) was a member of the Hitler Youth (as where most German boys in the Nazi era). If I remember correctly he was also a Leutnant der Reserve in Das Heer, but I've no recollection of his being a member of the Nazi Party.... Perhaps someone can supply info that proves/disproves this ?

[Tony.]

[frogstamper]

Come on Derek lighten up, a few back-room boys having a laugh and a joke and they get caught out...would you "really" have taken offense if it wasn't Labour in power?
Also tell me there are never any amusing e-mails at the expense of senior officers in your station, I very much doubt it.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Earl of Bronze

Herr Ratzinger (sp) was a member of the Hitler Youth (as where most German boys in the Nazi era). If I remember correctly he was also a Leutnant der Reserve in Das Heer, but I've no recollection of his being a member of the Nazi Party.... Perhaps someone can supply info that proves/disproves this ?

Hitler Youth/Nazi Party where exactly is the defining line.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Masque

Hitler Youth/Nazi Party where exactly is the defining line.

Why not do some research and find out instead of acting like a troll.

Following his 14th birthday in 1941, Ratzinger was conscripted into the Hitler Youth — as membership was required by law for all 14-year old German boys after December 1939[7] — but was an unenthusiastic member who refused to attend meetings.[8] His father was a enemy of Nazism, believing it conflicted with the Catholic faith. In 1941, one of Ratzinger's cousins, a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome, was taken away by the Nazi regime and killed during the Aktion T4 campaign of Nazi eugenics.[9] In 1943, while still in seminary, he was drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps as Luftwaffenhelfer.[8] Ratzinger then trained in the German infantry, but a subsequent illness precluded him from the usual rigours of military duty. As the Allied front drew closer to his post in 1945, he deserted back to his family's home in Traunstein after his unit had ceased to exist, just as American troops established their headquarters in the Ratzinger household.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedic...927.E2.80.9351

[Derek]

Originally Posted by frogstamper

Come on Derek lighten up, a few back-room boys having a laugh and a joke and they get caught out...would you "really" have taken offense if it wasn't Labour in power?

It wasn't a labour MP who came up with the list, it was a member of the foreign office who was getting paid (probably quite well) to come up with ideas for the popes visit and instead decides to extract the urine.

Originally Posted by frogstamper

Also tell me there are never any amusing e-mails at the expense of senior officers in your station, I very much doubt it.

Well there aren't thanks to an extremely effective email filter.

I would expect this from private eye etc. and would probably laugh at it but not in a semi-serious document like this.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Why not do some research and find out instead of acting like a troll.

Not acting like troll in the slightest, as he does fit in with Catholicism with its beliefs and strict regime it probably made him feel right at home especially the bit where they get to treat people badly who fail to do as the church says.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Derek S

I shudder to think what didn't make the list. Maybe arrange for him to perform an abortion? Or give him a tour of some red light districts?

Funnily enough one of the other suggestions that he: "open an abortion clinic"

Hopefully an ex-junior member of staff.

The news said he was moved on to other duties, presumably pending investigation and termination.

I'd guess it was a protest against the pope and the influence he has on others but there's a time and place, surely.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by punky

I'd guess it was a protest against the pope and the influence he has on others but there's a time and place, surely.

Yep. Considering the document also had some sensible suggestions makes me even more incredulous.

If it was an out and out ****take I could accept it as a bad joke but to have a 'blue sky thinking' session hijacked into a wannabe comedy writers roadshow at taxpayers expense astounds me.