Post #69

Excerpt from the BBC: Papal visit: Pope Benedict in London

The Pope has warned that religion - and Christianity in particular - is "being marginalised" around the world.

His comments came in his keynote speech to UK MPs, senior members of British society, and religious leaders at Westminster Hall in central London.  Pope Benedict XVI warned that there were some people who wanted to see "the voice of religion be silenced".  He called on those in attendance to seek ways to promote faith "at every level of national life".

BBC correspondent Peter Hunt described the speech as "a rallying call, and a plea - for religion not to be squeezed out by secular society".

In his speech, the Pope said: "I cannot but voice my concern at the increasing marginalisation of religion, particularly of Christianity, that is taking place in some quarters, even in nations which place a great emphasis on tolerance.  "There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere.  "There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none."

The Pope then visited Westminster Abbey for a celebration of evening prayer.

Earlier, he met the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, at Lambeth Palace.  It comes at a time when Anglican moves towards appointing women bishops have unsettled relations with Rome.  But the Pope said he wanted to focus on the "deep friendship" between the two churches rather than their differences.

The Lambeth Palace meeting marked the first time a Pope has met the Archbishop at his official residence.  It was viewed as an important event more than 40 years after official talks began about possible reunification of the two churches.  Divisions remain over Roman Catholic opposition to the ordination of women priests. Meanwhile the Church of England's General Synod left the way open for appointing women bishops at its meeting in July.  The Vatican angered many supporters of women's ordination by describing it as a "grave crime" to be dealt with in the same process as sex abuse, though it denied it was equating the two.

Sources include
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11347073
http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/
http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambeth_Palace