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Pope's battle to save Christmas: Don't let atheists crush your traditions, Benedict tells Britain
The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | September 17, 2010 | Steve Doughty

Posted on 09/17/2010 3:21:46 PM PDT by Stoat

The Pope issued a clarion call to defend Christianity last night, saying Christmas was at risk of being struck from the calendar.

In a strongly worded speech delivered in Parliament, Benedict XVI bluntly told politicians not to ‘silence’ religion and discourage public celebration of its most important festivals.

And in a thinly veiled attack on controversial equality legislation, he said laws which forced Christians to act against their consciences were wrong.

‘There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,’ he told senior politicians and public figures.

 

‘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.’

He spoke as security was tightened around the Papal visit after the arrest of six central London street sweepers over a suspected terror plot to attack him.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: britain; catholic; christian; christianity; christmas; england; greatbritain; holysee; pope; religion; uk; unitedkingdom
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Apostolic Journey to the United Kingdom (September 16-19, 2010)

 

 

********************************************

 

Some FR threads from past years that may be of interest

Christmas should be 'downgraded', says Labour's favourite think tank (U.K.)

Great Britain- School bans Santa from wearing red - because it reminds pupils of Coca-Cola

Santa gets heave ho-ho (Few British stores hiring Saint Nick anymore)

Switzerland- Banned from Santa's Lap (Brought about by concerns over pedophilia)

 

 

1 posted on 09/17/2010 3:21:51 PM PDT by Stoat
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To: NYer; monkapotamus

NYER get in here


2 posted on 09/17/2010 3:23:34 PM PDT by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us ,resistance is futile")
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To: Stoat

The first time someone in authority prohibits Christmas they should cut off the right hand. The second time, the left. Third, the right leg. The fourth, the left leg. The fifth, the other leg.


3 posted on 09/17/2010 3:25:39 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Stoat

No matter what is said, the Labour MPs will bow to the false gods to kiss the carpet while hodong their collective bumms up in the air to Cancel the Christian High Holy Days.


4 posted on 09/17/2010 3:29:02 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Stoat

With only 5% of western euro’s going to Church it’s just a matter of time.


5 posted on 09/17/2010 3:30:10 PM PDT by mmanager (I'm not racist, I don't like the white half of him either.)
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To: manc; NYer; Coleus; narses; Salvation; Pyro7480
Britannia
6 posted on 09/17/2010 3:31:43 PM PDT by Stoat (If you want a vision of the future, imagine a Birkenstock stamping on a human face... forever)
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To: mmanager

United Kingdom: 27%


7 posted on 09/17/2010 3:35:25 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (If Obama was the answer---that must have been one stupid question!)
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To: SevenofNine

Christmas has been, still is and always will be first and foremost in this house. Baby Jesus birthday, then the tree, presents, Christmas feast, lights, everything full of fat that they are wanting us to do without and all of that stuff. The men will eat until they fall asleep, the women will sit around and chat and eventually do the dishes. Later that evening...turkey, coleslaw and jellied cranberry sandwiches with stuffing on the side.

Ahhh, don’t worry Pope...Christmas will always be Jesus Birthday and the rest that goes along with it. It’d be a cold day in hell before an atheist could EVER EVEN BEGIN TO THINK they could crush Christmas. Jokes as they are.

Merry Early Christmas Everyone and Happy Early Birthday, Jesus. :)


8 posted on 09/17/2010 3:35:30 PM PDT by cubreporter ( Trust Rush and you won't go wrong.)
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To: SevenofNine

Its getting close to where the pope needs to declare the second crusades or we will face annihilation by our enemies.


9 posted on 09/17/2010 3:37:33 PM PDT by Stayfrosty
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To: Stayfrosty

Neosades.


10 posted on 09/17/2010 3:44:55 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (If Obama was the answer---that must have been one stupid question!)
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To: muawiyah
The first time someone in authority prohibits Christmas they should cut off the right hand. The second time, the left. Third, the right leg. The fourth, the left leg. The fifth, the other leg.

You mean like this?


11 posted on 09/17/2010 3:47:55 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: All
An excerpt from the actual speech:

Meeting with the representatives of British Society, including the Diplomatic Corps, politicians, academics and business leaders, 17 September 2010, Benedict XVI

(edit)

Religion, in other words, is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation. In this light, I cannot but voice my concern at the increasing marginalization 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. And there are those who argue – paradoxically with the intention of eliminating discrimination – that Christians in public roles should be required at times to act against their conscience. These are worrying signs of a failure to appreciate not only the rights of believers to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, but also the legitimate role of religion in the public square. I would invite all of you, therefore, within your respective spheres of influence, to seek ways of promoting and encouraging dialogue between faith and reason at every level of national life.

(edit)

12 posted on 09/17/2010 3:51:53 PM PDT by Stoat (If you want a vision of the future, imagine a Birkenstock stamping on a human face... forever)
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To: Stoat
After the Reformation and certainly after the Protestant Succession and establishment of the Church of England were secure up until fairly recent times it would have been unthinkable that the Catholic Pope would speak in Westminster Hall. The shame is this didn't happen out of an outpouring of ecumenism by the British people but because most of them don't care about religion any more.
13 posted on 09/17/2010 3:54:44 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: All
Sadly, most of the pictures posted at the Daily Mail page are Getty Images which are banned at Free Republic.  Please be sure to look at the Daily Mail page not only to see the full article but also to see the photos, which include one of Baroness Thatcher with the Pope!

Here's one of the few photos from a non-Getty source:

  Pope visit

Powerful speech: The Pope waves to crowds on Lambeth Bridge, moments before entering Westminster to speak to dignitaries, when he said Christmas should be defended

 

14 posted on 09/17/2010 3:58:03 PM PDT by Stoat (If you want a vision of the future, imagine a Birkenstock stamping on a human face... forever)
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To: Stayfrosty
You can sort of start one her by making a really, really, big deal out of Christmas and Easter and by calling Christmas by that name rather than “holiday season” and such. I think Christmas is the perfect occasion for a huge display of in your face Nativity scenes, Christmas written every where and on everyones’ lips, and last but not least, lots of Christmas carols with the original meaning of Christmas in them. At the very least, it'll show the mooslims and atheists that we're fed up with their crap and not going to carter to their BS any more.

Regards

15 posted on 09/17/2010 4:05:55 PM PDT by Rashputin (Obama is already insane and sequestered on golf courses or vacations so you won't know it)
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To: Stoat
One the one hand you have the Jihadists busy threatening a cartoonist for draw Mohammad day and the other a single, peaceful man promoting the celebration of Christmas.

The contrast should shut all those on the Left who keep going on about all religions being the same.

16 posted on 09/17/2010 4:08:42 PM PDT by deadrock (Liberty is a bitch that needs to be bedded on a mattress of cadavers.)
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To: Stoat
Easter and Christmas should not be discouraged by fear of offending others

Both Christmas and Easter are Pagan feasts
created in the fourth century.

They both impugn the Holy Word of Elohim.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
17 posted on 09/17/2010 4:20:03 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your law is my delight.)
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To: UriÂ’el-2012

Actually, Christmas and Easter are celebrations for those who are Blessed by Grace to see who the one and only Lord is.


18 posted on 09/17/2010 4:23:02 PM PDT by rbmillerjr
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; markomalley; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; ...
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


19 posted on 09/17/2010 4:23:59 PM PDT by NYer ("God dwells in our midst, in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar." St. Maximilian Kolbe)
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To: Stoat
Atheists OR the death/hate Cult of Mohammad.

I'm not sure who the bigger threat at this point, but probably Muslims, because of their sheer numbers and pathological fanaticism.

20 posted on 09/17/2010 4:26:00 PM PDT by EyeGuy
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