Reactions to attacks on the Pope

Comment: some good letters appeared in The Times, including this excellent one from Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor:

Sir, I was appalled at the tasteless cartoon depicting Pope Benedict XVI. No newspaper should show such disrespect to a person who is held in high esteem by a large proportion of Christians in the world. To pillory the Pope in this way is totally unacceptable. As to what Pope Benedict said, it would be wiser for people to look at the issues that he was raising in his remarks. It is certainly true that the widespread distribution of condoms can run the risk of greater promiscuity and that the best way to combat the Aids epidemic is by healthcare, education and fidelity in married life. Even if people do not accept the Church’s teaching in this matter, it is a well-known fact that the greatest contribution to health care for those living with Aids in Africa is given by the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor

Archbishop of Westminster

There were some less good ones, including an attack on the Pope's position as lacking 'any semblance of Chrsitianity', from a 'Catholic' Aids charity, the 'Australian AIDS Fund'. Let us hope Ausralian Catholics notice what their donations are funding. Glancing at their website they seem to be obsessed by circumcision, often the mark of a bunch of weirdos.