Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 9:00am
MP calls the Pope 'a bloke in a dress'
by Adam Hewitt
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Martin Salter, MP for Reading West
MARTIN Salter apologised last night after attacking the Pope in a blogpost.
The Labour Reading West MP writes for the website of The Telegraph where he speaks out on the issues of the day, but Tuesday's musings on the Pope's input into the Equality Bill triggered a huge backlash.
In the blog Mr Salter:
- called Pope Benedict "a bloke in a dress"
- accused Catholic ministers of a "narrow-minded world view of Saints and the Cursed-at-Birth destined to spend an eternity burning in Hell".
- said he finds the "hypocrisy of the Church reprehensible".
- claimed "there's at least one group - predatory paedophiles - that are recognised by the Catholic Church as a minority that need protection. Sadly for His Holiness, this crowd aren't covered by the Equality Bill."
Mr Salter wrote: "Yesterday's comments by the Pope on Britain's lawmaking could possibly be the first time that a bloke in a dress has complained about equality legislation."
Fr Bruce Barnes, parish priest at Christ the King Catholic Church in Whitley, said: "This is rather a cheap slur and it's very unfortunate when this sort of invective is used.
"If you criticise the Pope, you in effect criticise the whole Catholic Church.
"I'm sorry if Martin Salter finds us offensive - he should perhaps remember all the good work the Church has done in his constituency."
More than 100 people commented on Mr Salter's article, most of them deeply unhappy with its contents, including 'Jim' who labelled it "anti-Catholic hate speech".
Another reader, Laurence England, wrote: "Martin Salter MP. I am a Catholic. I revere and respect the Holy Father because he is the exact opposite of you."
Adrian Windisch, who has stood against Mr Salter for the Green Party and is standing in Reading West again this year, said Mr Salter's accusations of hypocrisy could be turned back on him. He said: "He is an expert at hypocrisy, he often says one thing and does the opposite - Iraq, Gurkhas, hunting, blogging, etc."
Mr Salter, 55, who will stand down at the general election, said yesterday (Wednesday): "It was certainly not my intention to cause any major offence to Catholics or anybody else in my latest blog post and I am sorry if people are upset by what I had to say.
"All I was seeking to do was to make some serious points in a somewhat light-hearted way. I am not against religion in any form and I have worked closely with faith groups in the town and I am a member of the Reading Inter-Faith Group. I can guarantee, however, that my future posts will not hesitate to poke fun at other religions and other political parties, including my own.
"However, I do strongly believe that religion and politics can often be a dangerous mix and I believe I am entitled to question the right of a foreign religious leader to tell the elected British Parliament how it should vote."
Amendments made to the Equality Bill in the House of Lords introducing an exemption for religious bodies are likely to be accepted by Harriet Harman. But Mr Salter insisted she was not backing down because of the Pope's intervention, but rather because the Government was "running out of time to engage in a lengthy conflict between the Commons and the Lords".
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jim martin
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Feb 7 10 01:27
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Is that what passes for an apology from a serving MP these days? Basically "I’m sorry you find my opinion offensive" but I’m going to do and say what i like anyway! Is that because it was aimed at Catholics and he believes he can get away with it? Well don't worry, he plans to insult a whole bunch of other groups too?? Good grief, this man is a serving MP??? How far standards have fallen....
Mr Salter, we all know there are many religious groups that would riot before sundown if you dared to insult their spiritual leader in same manner. Reading and the UK need statesmen of integrity and honour willing to RESPECT and SERVE the whole community. Instead they get you, who only seems to serve your own narrow minded but strongly held views. What a pity the people of Reading won’t get a chance to vote you out of office. Let’s pray also that in the meantime you do not make good on your “guarantee” to poke fun at other religions too.
Neil
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Feb 7 10 08:57
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Martin Salter's rant against the Church lacked so much as a hint of civility. It was reminiscent of a no-Popery pamphlet from the nineteenth century. Such bitterness and hatred in the name of equality!
Peter
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Feb 7 10 13:18
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Couldn't agree with Mr Salter more. If this was a Muslim leader telling us how to run our country, or calling for sharia law to influence the British way of life, there would be an almighty backlash from the masses.
Because the pope is catholic and white, it is hypocrisy to treat this foreigner differently from any other. His ignorant and narrow minded comments only serve to show the hypocrisy that exists within the evil of the catholic church. They protect child rapists, but condemn gays and women who feel the need to asnwer their calling. It really amazes me how educated people the world over, are still allowing themselves to be dictated to by these despots in the Vatican. Yet they are just as easily manipulated by their religion as are the most easily led followers of other religions. Hypocrites the lot of 'em.
Roger Davies
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Feb 7 10 18:45
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It's such a shame Martin apologised for his remarks, he did not need to. I'm still waiting for MY apology from the Pope after his grubby little hate speech attacking UK equality. Any talk of civility is hypocritical coming from people who do not believe in civil rights. Catholics make up 9% of the UK.
Freedom must be extended where those freedoms do not curtail the freedoms of others. In cases where these freedoms are mutually exclusive, the need of the many must outweigh the need of the few...This is the very nature of democracy! We cannot afford to tolerate intolerance, The Pope has no right to interfere with UK politics.
jim martin
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Feb 8 10 00:15
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To Roger and Peter,
Your hatred of the Pope and Catholicism is clear and unequivocal. You guys are clearly cut from the same cloth as Mr Salter. However Mr Salter is a MP and supposed to serve (and claims to serve) the whole community. You cannot disparage and marginalise a large minority group of the community while also claiming to serve them. This is crass hypocrisy, the very accusation he levelled against the church. Pot? Black anyone??
The pick up on your own personal comments;
"If this was a Muslim leader telling us how to run our country, or calling for sharia law to influence the British way of life, there would be an almighty backlash from the masses."
Many Muslim leaders have have called for Sharia law in the UK, and the Archbishop of Cantabury seemed to agree with them. I guessed you missed that one. Still waiting for your "almighty backlash from the masses" theory.
"I'm still waiting for MY apology from the Pope after his grubby little hate speech attacking UK equality. Any talk of civility is hypocritical coming from people who do not believe in civil rights."
Please point out with direct quotes where you feel the Pope made hate speech comments regarding the UK equality law, i must have missed it. Thanks. Also for you information, Catholics do believe in civil rights, so if your going to hate them, at least get accurate info to base your hatred on.
"We cannot afford to tolerate intolerance"
LOL - just classic.....
jim martin
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Feb 8 10 00:27
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To Roger and Peter,
Your hatred of the Pope and Catholicism is clear and unequivocal. You guys are clearly cut from the same cloth as Mr Salter. However Mr Salter is a MP and supposed to serve (and claims to serve) the whole community. You cannot disparage and marginalise a large minority group of the community while also claiming to serve them. This is crass hypocrisy, the very accusation he levelled against the church. Pot? Black anyone??
The pick up on your own personal comments;
"If this was a Muslim leader telling us how to run our country, or calling for sharia law to influence the British way of life, there would be an almighty backlash from the masses."
Many Muslim leaders have have called for Sharia law in the UK, and the Archbishop of Cantabury seemed to agree with them. I guessed you missed that one. Still waiting for your "almighty backlash from the masses" theory.
"I'm still waiting for MY apology from the Pope after his grubby little hate speech attacking UK equality. Any talk of civility is hypocritical coming from people who do not believe in civil rights."
Please point out with direct quotes where you feel the Pope made hate speech comments regarding the UK equality law, i must have missed it. Thanks. Also for you information, Catholics do believe in civil rights, so if your going to hate them, at least get accurate info to base your hatred on.
"We cannot afford to tolerate intolerance"
LOL - just classic.....
jim martin
(Unregistered User)
Feb 8 10 15:20
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To Roger and Peter,
Your hatred of the Pope and Catholicism is clear and unequivocal. You guys are clearly cut from the same cloth as Mr Salter. However Mr Salter is a MP and supposed to serve (and claims to serve) the whole community. You cannot disparage and marginalise a large minority group of the community while also claiming to serve them. This is crass hypocrisy, the very accusation he levelled against the church. Pot? Black anyone??
The pick up on your own personal comments;
"If this was a Muslim leader telling us how to run our country, or calling for sharia law to influence the British way of life, there would be an almighty backlash from the masses."
Many Muslim leaders have have called for Sharia law in the UK, and the Archbishop of Cantabury seemed to agree with them. I guessed you missed that one. Still waiting for your "almighty backlash from the masses" theory.
"I'm still waiting for MY apology from the Pope after his grubby little hate speech attacking UK equality. Any talk of civility is hypocritical coming from people who do not believe in civil rights."
Please point out with direct quotes where you feel the Pope made hate speech comments regarding the UK equality law, i must have missed it. Thanks. Also for you information, Catholics do believe in civil rights, so if your going to hate them, at least get accurate info to base your hatred on.
"We cannot afford to tolerate intolerance"
LOL - just classic.....
Guest
Feb 10 10 00:57
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You have my comment ..it was unregistered. Please post it. Thank you for your generocity. gs
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