Pope confirms Britain visit, attacks equality bill

[Art321]

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict confirmed on Monday he will visit Britain, the first papal visit since 1982, and criticized legislation that could force Churches to hire homosexuals or transsexuals as a violation of “natural law.”

In a speech to bishops from England and Wales, Benedict said he looked forward to witnessing at first hand the faith of Catholics in England and Wales during “my forthcoming Apostolic visit to Great Britain.”

It was the first time the pope had publicly confirmed the trip. He did not give a time but Church officials said it is expected to take place in September and will include a visit to Scotland, which has its own Catholic bishops’ conference.

It will be the first papal visit to Britain since Pope John Paul II visited in 1982.

In his speech, the pope referred to a planned Equality Bill which Churches fear may strip them of their current right to turn down applicants for jobs if they are actively homosexual or have changed their gender.

“Your country is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society. Yet … the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs,” he told the bishops.

Read more at: washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020102054.html

 

[CWN_News]

Pope Benedict XVI confirmed plans for his visit to Great Britain in September-- and offered some unusually blunt reflections on the situation facing the Church there-- in a February 1 address to a group of visiting British bishops.

The Pope told the bishops, who were in Rome for their ad limina visit, that he looked forward to his trip to their country. Although he did not mention specific dates, informed Catholic sources in London have confirmed that the trip will take place in September.

The Pontiff went on to say that the Church leadership in England and Wales “needs to speak with a united voice.” His words appeared to be a reference to the friction within the episcopal conference, and the willingness of some British prelates to countenance open dissent from Catholic teaching. In an even more evident reference to that problem, the Pope went on to say:

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