We shouldn't pay for Pope, say public

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 15:37

MORE than eight out of ten Scots believe the taxpayer should not have to foot the bill for Pope Benedict's visit to Britain.

• Pope Benedict XVI. Pic: Getty

An online poll of more than 2,000 adults found that 81 per cent of Scots - and 76 per cent of people from the UK - did not believe the religious leader's visit should be paid for from the public purse.

The majority of those asked - 82 per cent of Scots and 79 per cent of UK respondents - said they had: "no personal interest" in the Pope's visit to Britain.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said that the Pope's visit, which is expected to cost an estimated 12 million of public money, would bring significant economic benefit to Britain.

"State visits are expensive but when you issue an invitation it brings with it certain responsibilities. From the polling we have done most people are not against the visit - and we expect there will be significant economic benefits.

"A study by Glasgow City estimates the benefits in Glasgow will be between 9m and 12m - both in terms of money spent by visitors and the boost to the Glasgow City brand in this country and overseas.

"A similar study in Edinburgh suggests the benefits to the city will be worth 5m."

According to the survey conducted by Christian think tank Theos only 8 per cent of Scots agreed that the taxpayer should contribute to the cost of the visit of the Pope - which is the first ever state visit of a Pope to Britain.

Only 27 per cent of Scots said they believed the Pope's visit is good for Britain - while 25 per cent said they did not approve of the visit at all.

One in five agreed with the statement that the Pope generally responds "wisely" to problems in the world today, with nearly half, or 47 per cent, saying they disagreed.

A total of 41 per cent also said they agreed that the Pope should not speak out on social and political issues with 36 per cent disagreeing.

More than a third of Scots, 34 per cent, agreed that it was good to have a world leader such as the Pope with no political affiliation who can speak on moral issues, with 43 per cent saying they disagreed.

Theos director Paul Woolley said: "The British public clearly has a problem with the funding of the papal visit, although this could be because they are unaware that in addition to being a religious leader Pope Benedict is also a head of state.

"It is only a relatively small proportion of people who are actively opposed to the visit itself.On the whole, the public is more disengaged than hostile."

Andrew Copson, a spokesman for Protest the Pope and chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "The Protest the Pope campaign is not against the Pope coming to the UK as a religious leader, with the religious organisation of which he is the head footing the bill.

"Our opposition is to the visit being a state visit, with the British people footing the bill. This poll makes clear that most people agree with us."

However Eileen Cole, of the group Catholic Voices, said the Pope had been invited to speak to the public, not just Catholics, because he has some "very clear, pertinent and wise" messages for society.

"The poll results show that people want to hear what he has to say, and I would add I think it will be worth every penny," she said.

Scots in tune with doctrines

ALTHOUGH 82 per cent of Scots say they have 'no personal interest' in the Pope's visit to Britain they may be more in tune with his views than they imagine.

Christian think tank Theos asked more than 2,000 people if they agreed or disagreed with 12 statements made by Pope Benedict about poverty, human rights and sexuality.

Researchers were surprised to discover that a majority of people were in agreement with the Pope's views on major issues - particularly when it came to consumerism and the need to protect the environment.

Director of Theos, Paul Woolley said: "What is really striking is not simply that the public tends to agree with Pope Benedict's social teaching but that they agree so strongly."

Moral evaluation and scientific research must go hand in hand

An overemphasis on rights leads to a disregard for duties

It is irresponsible to view sexuality merely as a source for pleasure

The natural environment is more than raw material to be manipulated at our pleasure

Poverty is often produced by a rejection of God's love

The consumer has a specific social responsibility