Five Arrested in Plot Against Pope Benedict

Must be some of those wayward Presbyterians. Couldn't possibly be peaceful Muslims.

Police have arrested five men in connection with an alleged plot against the pope.

Counter-terrorism officers from Scotland Yard swooped on the men after receiving information that Pope Benedict XVI could be in danger.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said the security arrangements for Benedict's visit had been reviewed, but said his itinerary would not be affected by the arrests.

The suspects, aged 26, 27, 36, 40 and 50, were held under the Terrorism Act 2000 at business premises in central London. They were taken to a central London police station where they will be interviewed by detectives.

The spokesman said: "At approximately 5.45 this morning five men were arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Services Counter Terrorism Command on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism … Searches are being carried out under the Terrorism Act 2000 at business premises in central London and residential premises in north London and east London."

Update: The five arrested are Algerians. Must be one of those small factions of Algerian extremists.

Classy: British Government Memo Goofs on the Pope

It's one thing to crack jokes amongst yourselves, it's entirely another to be so stupid as to put it in a government memo.

Idiots.

The Pope could cancel his planned visit to Britain because of a “hugely offensive” Foreign Office memo mocking his stance on abortion and birth control, sources in the Vatican said.

Senior Papal aides suggested the Foreign Office had not taken strong enough disciplinary action against those responsible for the document, which suggested the Pope should open an abortion clinic, bless a homosexual marriage and launch his own range of condoms while he is here.

No-one has lost their job over the memo, which was sent to Downing Street and at least three Whitehall departments, and the civil servant who authorised it has simply been moved to other duties.

One highly-placed source in the Vatican said: “This could have very severe repercussions and is embarrassing for the British government - one has to question whether the action taken is enough.

“It is disgusting. Britain’s ambassador to the Holy See has been in to see the Secretary of State and explain what happened and this will all be relayed to the Pope.

“It’s even possible the trip could be cancelled as this matter is hugely offensive.”

Cardinal Renato Martino, the former head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said: “The British government has invited the Pope as its guest and he should be treated with respect.

“To make a mockery of his beliefs and the beliefs of millions of Catholics not just in Britain but across the world is very offensive indeed.”

The memo, sent out in March following a “brainstorm” session by Foreign Office staff who are helping prepare for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit in September, warned recipients that the contents “should not be shared externally” because the offending document, titled “The Ideal Visit”, contained “even the most far-fetched of ideas”.

As well as suggesting the launch of “Benedict” condoms, the memo also proposed that the Pope should “announce sacking of dodgy bishops”, sponsor a network of AIDS clinics, conduct a training course for bishops on child abuse allegations and ordain a female priest.

Embarrassingly for the Queen it also suggested getting the Pope and Her Majesty to sing a duet for charity and changing the national anthem from God Save The Queen to God Save the World.

The Foreign Office responded by sending Francis Campbell, the British ambassador to the Vatican, to an urgent meeting with senior officials of the Holy See, and said the “foolish document” had not been cleared or shown to ministers or senior officials before it was circulated.

A spokesman added that “many of the ideas in the document are clearly ill-judged, naïve and disrespectful” and the department was “deeply sorry for the offence which it has caused”.

Essential Pope Collection: 'The Ten Commandments of Music'

Who knew Pope Benedict was a big rock and roll fan?

It's the ultimate accolade for the bad boys of Brit pop - Oasis album 'What's The Story Morning Glory ?' has been named in a Vatican Top Ten of essential listening.

The Ten Commandments of Music were listed in the Vatican's official newspaper L'0sservatore Romano and also included Pink Floyd, the Beatles Fleetwood Mac.

L'Osservatore Romano described the albums as their very own Desert Island Discs and it came as it emerged that Pope Benedict's album of chants had been short listed for the Brit Awards - but was not listed by the newspaper.

What's The Story was released in 1995 and was the band's second album, containing hits such as Roll With It, Don't Look Back In Anger, Champagne Supernova, Wonder Wall, Some Might Say and Morning Glory.

In the UK is sold 4.4 million copies and was the third biggest selling album of all time with 22 million sold worldwide - first is Queen's Greatest Hits and second Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, which was recommended by the Vatican.

I never realized that Oasis album was such a huge seller. I highly recommend it.

Fellow Brit band Pink Floyd with their album 'Dark Side of the Moon' was also listed and described as 'extraordinarily enjoyable' where the 'ability of the musicians combined with the mastery of production.'

The other albums were Micheal Jackson's 'Thriller,'' the Beatles ''Revolver, Paul Simon 'Graceland', 'Supernatural' by Carlos Santana, David Crosby's 'If I Could Only Remember My Name', 'Rumours' by Fleetwood Mac, Donald Fagen's 'Nightfly' and U2's ''Achtung Baby.''

What, no Rolling Stones?

Stupidity on Steroids: Newsweek Nitwit Claims Obama Is More Catholic Than the Pope

It figures it's a Kennedy who authored this bilge. A complete embarrassment exemplifying why nobody reads this magazine any longer.

Seriously, the most radical pro-abortion president ever is somehow more in tune with Catholics than the Pope?

The mind boggles.

Tomorrow Pope Benedict XVI and President Barack Obama meet for the first time, an affair much anticipated and in some circles frowned upon by American Catholics in the wake of Obama's controversial Notre Dame commencement speech in May. Conservatives in the church denounced Obama's appearance as a nod by the premier Catholic university to a conciliatory politics that heralds the start of a slippery moral slope.

In truth, though, Obama's pragmatic approach to divisive policy (his notion that we should acknowledge the good faith underlying opposing viewpoints) and his social-justice agenda reflect the views of American Catholic laity much more closely than those vocal bishops and pro-life activists. When Obama meets the pope tomorrow, they'll politely disagree about reproductive freedoms and homosexuality, but Catholics back home won't care, because they know Obama's on their side. In fact, Obama's agenda is closer to their views than even the pope's.

Read the rest. Mind-blowing stupidity to say the least.

More here.