When Blair was still an Anglican but took communion in a Catholic church, the then archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume, wrote him a letter of reproach, saying that non-Catholics were forbidden to do so. Blair's response to it was to suggest that Jesus Christ at any rate would have approved of his action - a clear rejection of ecclesiastical authority. I still suspect him of being a bit of a protestant fifth columnist in the Catholic fold.
The event is surrounded by security, terror threats and controversy but what has been overlooked is the amount of people jumping on the bandwagon and capitalising on the visit with souvenirs and commemorative gifts. But as you would expect, there is a lot of junk on offer which has been designed to make a cheap buck out of all the pontiff's supporters. Street vendors are offering baseball caps for up to 20. And many are flogging pilgrims t-shirts with the option to customise with the name of their church.
Westminster Cathedral's gift shop is stocking specially made plates, photo's books and crosses for the event. But there are also very many bizarre souvenirs available including a 'popener' bottle opener, a Vatican city lighter and a remote control popemobile. Many gift shops are offering silicone bracelets similar to those of the 'livestrong' trend and catholic Swarovski jewellery. However the Catholic Church has rejected claims that the papal visit is being commercialised.
The Pope has come under fire from activists and a potential terrorist plot was uncovered in which 5 men were arrested in London. There has also been much controversy surrounding the Popes address of the issue of child abuse amongst the catholic clergy. The ex-Hitler youth has also likened atheists to Nazis, a comment which has caused a riot in a society gradually moving away from religion.
There are four photographs on the shortlist for the National Portrait Gallery's annual photographic prize which were reproduced, one of them only in part, in yesterday's Guardian. The one of which only a woman's face and top half were shown omitted a part showing her genitals, and the three other entries were of two drug-addicted twins, one obese young woman, and a 14-year-old American girl riding back in triumph from a hunting expedition with a dead deer flung over her horse. Do photographs have to be disturbing, or feature controversial themes, for them to qualify for awards? It never used to be so.
The event is surrounded by security, terror threats and controversy but what has been overlooked is the amount of people jumping on the bandwagon and capitalising on the visit with souvenirs and commemorative gifts. But as you would expect, there is a lot of junk on offer which has been designed to make a cheap buck out of all the pontiff's supporters. Street vendors are offering baseball caps for up to 20. And many are flogging pilgrims t-shirts with the option to customise with the name of their church.
Westminster Cathedral's gift shop is stocking specially made plates, photo's books and crosses for the event. But there are also very many bizarre souvenirs available including a 'popener' bottle opener, a Vatican city lighter and a remote control popemobile. Many gift shops are offering silicone bracelets similar to those of the 'livestrong' trend and catholic Swarovski jewellery. However the Catholic Church has rejected claims that the papal visit is being commercialised.
The Pope has come under fire from activists and a potential terrorist plot was uncovered in which 5 men were arrested in London. There has also been much controversy surrounding the Popes address of the issue of child abuse amongst the catholic clergy. The ex-Hitler youth has also likened atheists to Nazis, a comment which has caused a riot in a society gradually moving away from religion.
There are four photographs on the shortlist for the National Portrait Gallery's annual photographic prize which were reproduced, one of them only in part, in yesterday's Guardian. The one of which only a woman's face and top half were shown omitted a part showing her genitals, and the three other entries were of two drug-addicted twins, one obese young woman, and a 14-year-old American girl riding back in triumph from a hunting expedition with a dead deer flung over her horse. Do photographs have to be disturbing, or feature controversial themes, for them to qualify for awards? It never used to be so.
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The sale of unique gifts and novelty gifts is said to be worth tens of millions of pounds during the Pope's first ever state visit to the UK.
