Pope visit merchandise includes 'metal' T-shirt and baseball cap [it's official merchandise!]

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | 03 Aug 2010 | Martin Beckford

[Alex Murphy]

The online store is offering a baseball cap, a jacket and a range of T-shirts bearing Benedict XVI’s image and the motto of the historic trip – Heart speaks unto heart.

One of the shirts, costing £20, can be customised to include the name of the pilgrim’s local church.

Also on sale are a flag and an £8 electronic flashing candle, which can be waved during the open-air events just as music fans hold cigarette lighters aloft at festivals.

[SNIP]

The online store for the first-ever state papal visit to Britain, which coincides with London Fashion Week, is also selling a £30 blue bracelet featuring “bling” Swarovski crystals.

More traditional items include bookmarks, fridge magnets, keyrings, mugs, plates and a glossy programme.

For the particularly devout there are candles, rosary beads and crosses.

The Roman Catholic hierarchies of England and Wales, and Scotland, will be hoping that sales help cover their costs associated with the visit, likely to be more than £7million.

But there is also a brisk trade in unofficial merchandise, with a website called Catholics With Attitude selling hooded tops bearing slogans such as “Vatican All Stars”, “Team Benedict” and “Top of the Popes”.

The National Secular Society, which is planning public protests during the visit, is selling T-shirts bearing the message “Pope Nope”.

[AnneM62]

Since when does taking home a memorial of an event/pilgrimage mean worship?

Here’s an idea?

Do a goggle search on John Calvin, Martin Luther, Ronald Reagan or Sarah Palin t-shirts/merchandise and see what you find? Pictures and all.

[smvoice]

Let me just say this to you, mlizzy. When a 'representative' of God shows up with draped in ermine, designer sunglasses, golden robes that take 2 attendants to hold up, Prada shoes, and other luxurious-appealing to the senses garments and accessories, don't be surprised if EVERYONE isn't impressed.

When the same MAN has 'official Vatican souvenir handlers' to push his wares, don't be outraged when others laugh at the 'keys to the kingdom' keychains, hanging 'incense' scented car fresheners, Vatican Visors, Pope t-shirts, Papal jammies, or Rome Gnomes.

A circus of human pomp and idolatry is worthy of the "disrepct" it invokes when it uses the name of Jesus Christ as its reason for peddling pathetic images instead of the Word of God and the message of God's Salvation of Grace. Offered freely, BTW, instead of the 20pound "donation" asked for by this carnival of flesh.

[Pyro7480]

A circus of human pomp and idolatry is worthy of the "disrepct" it invokes when it uses the name of Jesus Christ as its reason for peddling pathetic images instead of the Word of God and the message of God's Salvation of Grace. Offered freely, BTW, instead of the 20pound "donation" asked for by this carnival of flesh.

Carnival of the flesh? How are you so sure that it's going to be that?

[smvoice]

Do you even know what a carnival of flesh is, in regards to religion? A carnival of flesh is NOT near naked women and drunken Mardi Gras types.

A carnival of flesh IS the worship of the OUTER MAN, the FLESHLY part of man that the world sees. It's draped in finery to hide the nakedness and ugliness of the lost inner man. It can be likened to putting lipstick on a pig. The outer man seeks to impress and is himself impressed with outward appearances. You know, pomp and circumstance?

[Pyro7480]

My question is still valid. This kind of mentality is the same as that of those who criticized the woman who poured costly nard on Our Lord, and He had to correct them on it.

[smvoice]

Well, the Lord isn’t going to be there. Nor is He peddling wares. Is the pope selling nard now?

[Pyro7480]

Well, the Lord isn’t going to be there.

That's incorrect. There's a Mass scheduled at this event, right? Then Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament will be present.

[smvoice]

That’s a WHOLE other subject, Pyro.

[TSgt]

Nice of things to be censored when you theologically disagree with them.

Regardless, there are plenty of other photos depicting Mary/Pope worship.

[Pyro7480]

Nice of things to be censored when you theologically disagree with them.

You have to take that up with the RM, who I don't think is Catholic.

[wagglebee]

The top picture is from remnantofgod.org, so you would be wrong.

[TSgt]

Yeah, no worship there...

The skull of a man who died 1000 years ago is adored and venerated.

[smvoice]

V..E..N..E..R..A..T..I..O..N.., Tsgt. How can you expect to understand their religion when you can't understand their specific worship titles. HYPERDULIA. ;)

Although I don't know what it is they call their 'rapt affection' to the pope.

[IrishCatholic]

That would be correct also. Even your captions agree.

[wagglebee]

There’s moderation, and then there’s censorship.

Censorship is something that GOVERNMENTS do, this is private property and NONE OF US has any "right" to post anything here if Jim Robinson doesn't want it.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

The skull of a man who died 1000 years ago isn't adored and venerated
based on a blowhard's use of italics.

[TSgt]

Jim isn’t the Religion Moderator either.

He’s smart, he stays away from the religion forum.

[wagglebee]

Jim isn’t the Religion Moderator either.

That wasn't my point, I was simply pointing out that your claim of censorship is baseless.

[TSgt]

Perhaps we could pray to Saint Mary Magdalene's tibia for forgiveness?

[mlizzy]

Certainly you, of all people, can find a Bible verse that states we are not to judge others ...