THE TELEGRAPH: Cardinal Walter Kasper, a senior aide to the Pope, has pulled out of the Pontiff's visit to Britain after saying the country resembled a “Third World country” where “aggressive new atheism” is rife.
Although officials insisted that the 77 year-old had dropped out of the trip for medical reasons, as he had been ill “for some days”, his comments represent another embarrassing PR blunder for the Roman Catholic church at a critical time.
The[y] are all the more embarrassing because the Cardinal's position makes him responsible for promoting Christian unity around the world.
The Vatican, the hierarchy in England and Wales and the government are all desperate for the first-ever state papal visit to Britain to be a success.
The preparations for the Pope's arrival have suffered a number of setbacks and thousands of tickets remain unsold for the large open-air Masses.
Meanwhile secular groups have led protests against the £10million cost of the trip at a time of public sector cuts, and survivors of clergy abuse are angry that the Pope will be greeted by the Queen today at the start of a full state visit when the worldwide church stands accused of covering up the activities of paedophile priests.
Cardinal Kasper’s presence will also be missed during Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain as he is seen as more liberal than his fellow German, as well as an expert on ecumenical dialogue.
The cardinal’s abrupt withdrawal from the trip prompted speculation in Rome that it was linked to an interview he gave this week to a German news magazine, Focus.
In an article headlined “A Third World country” he was quoted as saying: “When you arrive at Heathrow you think at times that you’ve landed in a Third World country.”
His secretary, Mgr Oliver Lahl, said the remark was a reference to the diverse, multi-cultural population of Britain, which the Cardinal has visited three times in recent years.
Cardinal Kasper, who recently retired as the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity having headed it since 2001, said that Britain was a “secular and pluralist” country in which there was a “distance from God”, noting that there was “a crisis of faith” in much of the West. >>> Nick Squires in Rome and Martin Beckford | Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Cardinal Walter Kasper was spot-on in his appraisal of the United Kingdom: it does indeed resemble a Third World country in many places, especially when one arrives in Heathrow. The Cardinal need feel no shame for what he said; he was merely speaking the Gospel truth. And most British people I know would agree with him – wholeheartedly. They wouldn’t have given this country away; it was the idea of the political élite. – © Mark
MAIL ONLINE: Key Pope aide pulls out of British tour after calling UK a 'Third World' nation >>> Nick Pisa | Wednesday, September 15, 2010
