Britain has no divine right to bash Catholics

[1holycatholic]

Britain has no divine right to bash Catholics
“Pope-bashing is the true national sport,” a devout Roman Catholic once told me. “After all, the English have had nearly five centuries to perfect it.”

That 21st-century Britain is not so different from England in 1533 became apparent to me at university. During Freshers’ Week, a Protestant gleefully announced that our “smells, bells and superstitions” guaranteed me fast-track entry to hell.

A few days later, an atheist declared us Catholics a group of “kiddy-fiddlers celebrating cannibalism”.

During the past year, the comments have inevitably grown far nastier. The Church’s annus horribilis — largely of its own making, admittedly — has sparked a string of anti-papist tirades.
…
I’m not familiar with the paper. It’s listed as a news article, but it seems to be a mix of news and opinion.

 

[JackVk]

Typical anti-Catholicism. They aren’t open to debate, they just call names. And what are these “crimes against humanity” that Dawkins speaks of? Spearheading the pro-life movement? Standing up to the oppression of fascists and communists? Mother Teresa giving a sliver of dignity to the Untouchables of Calcutta?

Thank God I live in the Catholic-friendly Kansas City

 

[Kaninchen]

Britain has no divine right to bash Catholics
“Pope-bashing is the true national sport,” a devout Roman Catholic once told me. “After all, the English have had nearly five centuries to perfect it.”

That 21st-century Britain is not so different from England in 1533 became apparent to me at university. During Freshers’ Week, a Protestant gleefully announced that our “smells, bells and superstitions” guaranteed me fast-track entry to hell.

A few days later, an atheist declared us Catholics a group of “kiddy-fiddlers celebrating cannibalism”.

During the past year, the comments have inevitably grown far nastier. The Church’s annus horribilis — largely of its own making, admittedly — has sparked a string of anti-papist tirades.
…
I’m not familiar with the paper. It’s listed as a news article, but it seems to be a mix of news and opinion.

Dunno, I tend to see massive indifference all around.

 

[Dale_M]

I’m not familiar with the paper. It’s listed as a news article, but it seems to be a mix of news and opinion.

I’m not familiar with it either, but according to Wikipedia (take it for what its worth) the newspaper is a free daily tabloid.

According to the newspaper’s website the author of the article is employed as a columnist.

 

[Saintlucy]

It hasn’t happened yet.

However, I cannot say that I, for one, am anticipating it with great glee. I hope that it will be a joyous time, as it was with Pope John Paul II’s visit here but I do expect a lot of nonsensical behaviour here. The “Engerland” mentality will, I suspect, rear it’s ugly head and have a go at a German who is the head of a child abusing church and that we are all against the Queen and so on. Whatever is said or done will not stop me going to Mass and worshipping God in my Catholic way. I know that I am a part of the Church that Jesus founded upon this earth and that Benedict XVI is the successor of St Peter…

I just hope that my nation doesn’t humiliate itself too much as it does during all sporting events and such like.

 

[1holycatholic]

There’s no shortage of Catholic bashing in the comments of the linked article in the OP.