Pope snubbed by Scottish Catholics: Thousands turn down the chance to see the Pope in person

The New Statesman ^ | 03 August 2010 | Caroline Crampton

[Alex Murphy]

Controversy has emerged over the Pope's planned open-air mass at Bellahouston Park near Glasgow, with many parishes returning more than half of their allocated tickets for the event.

The organisers now reportedly fear that attendance will fall short of the 100,000 they expected to come to the mass, which will cost £1.5m to stage. Each of Scotland's 450 Catholic parishes received a pro-rata ticket allocation based on the size of their regular congregation, but the Herald reports that in some cases, only one-sixth of parishioners are planning to take up their places at the event.

In 1982, Pope John Paul II celebrated mass at the same site on a sunny afternoon, with 300,000 people in attendance. The choice of this site has been interpreted as an attempt to recreate the success and popularity of that service for a pope that has been under seige in recent months.

The open-air mass requires attendees to be in their places a full hours before the two-hour service is due to begin, and it is thought that fears about the weather and long travel times are putting people off. Distant parishes are also planning to watch the service via video link, rather than travel to the other side of the country to attend in person.

The service, which will take place on 19 September as part of the Pope's forthcoming visit to Britain, has also re-opened the debate over the cost of the Pope's trip to Britain. While insisting that pilgrims will not have to pay to attend the Bellahouston mass, the Catholic church has asked each parish to make a donation of £20 per attendee -- an obligation which many parishes have passed on to their parishioners.

The total cost of the visit, which will be borne by Britain as the host nation, has already provoked outrage in some quarters, after it was revealed that costs could exceed £20m. As well as asking for "voluntary donations" from attendees to cover the cost of specific events, the Catholic church is also asking members to donate towards the overall cost of the visit, which it is currently estimating at £7m.

The church is also selling merchandise to coincide with the papal visit. T-shirts, fridge magnets and mugs are available as well as more traditional religious artefacts.

As well as being hit with low attendance figures, the Pope's visit could also suffer from a lack of television exposure, after BBC workers threaten to | strike during the visit (as well as other major events such as the Last Night of the Proms) over pension disputes. Workers are currently being balloted on the issue, and a result is expected in the week before the Pope is due to arrive in Britain.

Add to this Richard Dawkins and others' stated intention to attempt to arrest the Pope for his alleged complicity in the abuse scandal while he is on British soil, and we could be in for an eventful visit come September.

[Alex Murphy]

....many parishes returning more than half of their allocated tickets for the event...Each of Scotland's 450 Catholic parishes received a pro-rata ticket allocation based on the size of their regular congregation, but the Herald reports that in some cases, only one-sixth of parishioners are planning to take up their places at the event...The open-air mass requires attendees to be in their places a full hours before the two-hour service is due to begin, and it is thought that fears about the weather and long travel times are putting people off. Distant parishes are also planning to watch the service via video link, rather than travel to the other side of the country to attend in person.

....While insisting that pilgrims will not have to pay to attend the Bellahouston mass, the Catholic church has asked each parish to make a donation of £20 per attendee -- an obligation which many parishes have passed on to their parishioners. The total cost of the visit, which will be borne by Britain as the host nation, has already provoked outrage in some quarters, after it was revealed that costs could exceed £20m. As well as asking for "voluntary donations" from attendees to cover the cost of specific events, the Catholic church is also asking members to donate towards the overall cost of the visit, which it is currently estimating at £7m.

The church is also selling merchandise to coincide with the papal visit. T-shirts, fridge magnets and mugs are available as well as more traditional religious artefacts.
The Official Papal Visit Store

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Dawkins spouts some Papal bull
Theologian claims we should celebrate Knox, not the Pope
John Knox on Resisting Princes
Side by side ... the Pope and John Knox
John Knox addresses leaders of the family

[smvoice]

Who is the opening act?

[agere_contra]

If I see Richard Dawkins I will arrest him for ‘conspiracy to commit war’.

Arresting the head of a foreign state qualifies as an act of war. So suck up an “any persons arrest”, Richard.

[IrishCatholic]

There isn’t one. He isn’t a televangelist. He is the Vicar of Christ.

[the_conscience]

Who is the opening act?

Def Leppard?

[smvoice]

..and he’s asking for a 20pound “donation” to see him? Uh-huh..

[dfwgator]

Who is the opening act?

Father Guido Sarducci?

[smvoice]

LOL!!!!

Cripes, I haven't thought of him in years!

[trickyricky]

The Creator of the universe doesn’t need a “stand-in”.

[IrishCatholic]

Really? He told you that the Apostles were fake too? The Bible lied?
Or, is this simply you are more interested in hating Christ’s Church than anything else?

[RnMomof7]

He has tee shirts?? Ohhh mercy !!!
Well I guess one that has pulled out all the 100 pound capes and furs from storage to wear with his red shoes, has an ego big enough to have rock style tee shirts produced in his honor
.

[smvoice]

Especially one peddling Pope t-shirts.

[agere_contra]

Cofton Park (just one of the venues the Pope is visiting) doesn’t come free. Only security is paid for by the UK taxpayer (as the Pope was invited by the UK Prime Minister) - pretty much everything else has to come out of the UK parishes.

Remember that the Catholic Church in Britain is not supported either by state or local taxes (as opposed to e.g. the Anglican church). It’s either our money or he can’t come.

Bottom line: I’m paying for two local parishioners to go, and I’m glad to do it.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Some people have a gift for stage performance. Others do not. JP II was uniquely gifted in that way. But, as the saying goes, “Only acrobats could follow an act like that.”

But this ability to appeal to crowds says little about the quality of a Pope. This is removed from public speaking, for otherwise a Pope would be little more than a performer.

Instead, Pope Benedict should emphasize where his mastery lays: in reform and repair of the the doctrines and institutions of the church. For which, I might add, there is a pressing need.

He does have great resources at his command to do this. Resources such as the Holy Orders, which could be used to review and audit the church. A general inspection, of sorts, methodically conducted through the domain of the church.

Likely, this would be greatly greeted by the laity, if not by those institutions steeped in variance and heterodoxy. But it would not have the character of punishment, but redemption. Likewise, the vast majority of Bishops would greet such a review, as it would provide to them an objective review of their situation, offering assistance if needed, most often of an administrative or financial kind.

A great mirror, that the church may look at itself. This could be the profound legacy of Benedict.

[smvoice]

Yes, things cost money. And i know how ‘hurting’ Vatican must be..so let’s sale t-shirts, and pope plates and pope-on-a-rope-soap and fill the coffers. For ‘the work’, you know..

[IrishCatholic]

You don’t seem to understand the purpose of the thread or the people posting.

This is the “Usual Suspects” venting their bile against Catholicism. They are more defined by their hatred of Catholics than their faith in Christ. This is just today’s attack. Facts are immaterial to them. They will simply ignore them and continue on.

[IrishCatholic]

OK, how much does the visit cost since you know? How much does the Vatican spend on other things...’the work’ etc?
Does selling t-shirts not only help defray the costs, but maybe inspire someone to attend mass more? Give them a connection? Is there any good intention there, and if not, how do you know? How much do pope plates and pope-on-a-rope cost, or are you just being insulting because you are a bigot?
Since you are all in the know, thanks for the info. I would hate to think this is all from your spleen.

[smvoice]

No, you don't seem to understand.

But this ability to appeal to crowds says little about the quality of a Pope. This is removed from public speaking, for otherwise a Pope would be little more than a performer. Instead, Pope Benedict should emphasize where his mastery lays: in reform and repair of the the doctrines and institutions of the church. For which, I might add, there is a pressing need. He does have great resources at his command to do this. Resources such as the Holy Orders, which could be used to review and audit the church. A general inspection, of sorts, methodically conducted through the domain of the church.

yefragetuwrabrumuy has it right. THIS is where Rome needs to spend 'its' money.

fix your problem first. Then go on a 'tour'.