..One does have to wonder if this kind of intolerance in any way stems from the Pope's own attack on Protestant churches "ecclesial communities originating with the Reformation"...

Oh come on. And the UVF wanders about as a result of their close reading of Luther's Theses?

It must be embarrassing for Catholics that the Pope is their leading intellectual, but even if it wasn't I doubt that the Summery haunts of our various sectarian factions would be filled with impatient youths gagging for the next encyclical...

It was definitely a more relaxed vibe yesterday, its an improvement even on last year, once the unnecessary politics are set aside its a great event.

As for the Pope, I don't know why people are surprised by his beliefs; as a Catholic he does kinda have to believe in Catholicism. And we need only look closer to home to see the real issue causing bigotry and sectarianism.

CJ/Ciaran, to be fair I meant that slightly tongue in cheek, recalling the rage over at Slugger when a Free P minister was asked whether he thought Michael McIlveen would get into heaven. The difference being of course that he was asked for his opinion whereas the Pope has made this statement off his own bat.

I wasn't refering personally to you when I said about peoples surprise at the Popes "bull", Its more at the Free P Pope Dr Ian and others who get upset about Catholics actually believing in Catholicism.

Also I think the Popes job is to lead and make statements off his own bat, although John Paul II wasn't such a pain in the arse about it.

Great that it passed off without any major trouble.

As for the Pope, well he comes out with an awful lot of shite. I ignore him as I haven't the slightest interest in his views on anything.

Ah well: there isn't a tongue-in-cheek comment out there that doesn't benefit from a ponderous and outraged response!

What I don't get about people who attach themselves to churches is how they can still regard themselves as members when they reject the central rules. If you don't believe in the divine authority of the Pope to rule on everything from the hellboundedness of Protestants to the use of condoms, you are not a Catholic anymore. You reject the creed and so are a Protestant. Same goes in its own way for the clubhouse rules of the Free Ps.

As a person with no beliefs I'm always pretty confused by people who profess a certain faith but have no guilt about breaking the various lifestyle rules and instructions as to what opinion to hold. Why don't they just look around for something that has a creed which is more obviously compatible with their actual beliefs?

2 faiths, one country, one tri-colour, its so simple a child could get it.. what's the fuss?
ans: we're british
ans: oh pack it in beano

have a good summer though ...

You're right Parc, that is simple.Did you use the green and orange crayons when you wrote that?

The tricolour, a symbol born of division, will never unite Ireland. But that lesson's for another day.

that's why there's white in the middle silly

Ciaran - I agree with you entirely, religion should be something you live by, not some sort of social club.