The Religious Consultation
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Press Association (UK), June 6, 2005 Pope's Invitation
to Live 8 Concert Stirs Protest Campaigners have penned an open letter to Bob Geldof in protest at his decision to invite the Pope to support Live 8. The National Secular Society (NSS) is pointing to the Vatican's refusal to condone the use of condoms, saying it has helped spread HIV in Africa. The society, which campaigns for religion to be taken out of public life, says it will create a counter-campaign of protest against any decision by Pope Benedict XVI to get involved. NSS executive director Keith Porteous Wood said Geldof should not have written to the Pope about attending the Hyde Park event. He said: "Inviting the Pope to Live 8 would be a slap in the face for all those currently working to stem the spread of Aids in Africa. "Aids is destroying lives, communities and, ultimately, will destroy whole nations for generations to come unless greater efforts are made to check it. "To invite the Pope, who has supported and reinforced this inhumane policy, to an event aimed at combating poverty through protest, verges on an obscenity. The invitation must be withdrawn immediately." In an open letter to Geldof, Mr Porteous Wood said: "We are horrified to hear that the organisers of Live 8 have invited the Pope to attend this event. "We urge you to encourage the organisers to withdraw it. "This event should not become a religious jamboree dominated by any religion. "Of even more concern is that the Pope stands accused in many quarters of doing almost more than any other individual on the planet to increase poverty and suffering in Africa." At the launch of Live 8, singer Elton John raised his concerns about the invitation, saying: "When you take into consideration their (the Catholic Church's) views of contraception, and how this affects the spread of Aids... it adds to the general poverty of this region, doesn't it?" The event in London's Hyde Park - featuring Madonna, Robbie Williams and Paul McCartney - will draw attention to poverty and debt in the developing world. Five free concerts will take place simultaneously in London, Paris, Berlin, Rome and Philadelphia on July 2. << Press Association -- 6/6/05 >>
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