Britain's Foreign Office yesterday issued a public apology to the Vatican after the press obtained a copy of a provocative memo circulated earlier this month among government officials. London's Sunday Telegraph reports that the background document grew out of a "brainstorming" session among civil servants on plans for Pope Benedict XVI's September visit to Britain. Circulated within the Foreign Office by a junior official, the proposals for the "ideal visit" by the Pope included many items that were implicitly critical of current Church policies on a variety of issues. (Excerpts from memo.) Suggestions included the Pope's opening an abortion ward, doing forward rolls with children to promote healthy living, singing a duet with the Queen, reversing Church policy on women as bishops and opening a help line for abused children. A cover memo admitted that a number of the ideas were "far-fetched." Senior officials quickly withdrew the document and one official who was responsible for it has been transferred to other duties. UK's Ambassador to the Vatican has also met with Holy See officials to express regret.
A second document circulated at the same time lists individuals and groups that are important to the Pope's visit, and ranks them in order of how influential and positive they are. The singer Susan Boyle is listed as more influential than the Archbishop of Westminster.
Howard M. Friedman
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