You are:

Should taxpayers have funded the Pope's visit?

7 September 2010

Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the UK is likely to end up costing taxpayers somewhere between £10m and £12m.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales recently spoke in favour of the visit being funded by the pubic purse stating the importance of the Pope as "the spiritual leader of one in five of all the people on this planet".

But critics such as the the non-religious British Humanist Association have argued that the bill should not be footed by the British Public, and a recent online survey of Britons showed that "most people agreed" with them.

What do you think?

  • Do you agree with the Archbishop? Will the increase in tourism and economic activity generated by the visit cover the cost anyway?
  • Do you disagree? Should the cost of the visit be funded solely by the Catholic church?

What is your view on this? Have your say, and debate the issue here on PCS comment, a selection of the comments will be published in View, the monthly magazine for PCS members.

 

Tab Comment

  1. View comments
  2. Add a new comment

Tab Comment content

  1. Should taxpayers have funded the Pope's visit?

    28 September 2010

    Yes, they should. As Malo has quite quitely pointed out the Pope is a head of state, and although a very small state, state visits are funded by the government (albeit the taxpayer). Interestingly enough the Catholic Church apparently also contributed a quite substantial sum of money to help cover the costs.

    Lin Black
    Pope visit

    20 September 2010

    The poll question is incomplete : You said should the tax payer pay for the Pope's visit? Perhaps not for a private visit or an 'official' visit, but this was I believe a 'State visit' and the Pope is effectively a Head of State. If we pay for other Heads of State to make a State visit then we should afford the Pope the same courtesy - or not invite him at all.

    Malo Harvey
    The Church should foot the bill ...

    16 September 2010

    The Catholic Church is not a poor organisation and could easy pay for this visit and the cost of extra policing etc. We are in a recession with billions of debt and should be thinking long and hard before allowing these kinds of visits if they are going to end up costing us money that we can ill afford. I take on board the comment that this visit is going to generate money but I think if you look at profit and loss over the whole visit it won't generate enough. I have the same kind of concerns about the amount of money being spent on the Olympics and we are now bidding for the world cup which is more money we the tax payer will be expected to fork out in tough times when people are loosing jobs and benefits and having to tighten belts. The comment on the Royal Family is also a valid one but they do generate real income and not just a quick fix income to the country but thoughtout the year with people coming to see the pomp that surrounds them. That said however, I do think as they are probably one of the richest families in the world they should take on more of their own bills like, protection etc and maybe even stop the civil list if not for ever at least until the recession subsised, especially as they probably make enough interest on their fortune a year to pay of most of the debt the country is in!

    Claire-Louise Hendrie
    Against

    10 September 2010

    For all the reasons C Traynor gives, I'm against the Pope's visit and don't think that the British public purse should pay for it. If he wants to come here, let the Catholic Church pay - they're not short of a few bob.

    Ruth Saunders
    Should taxpayers fund the Pope's visit?

    10 September 2010

    I am not Catholic however The Pope has not been to the United Kingdom for a long time maybe the costs could/should be shared 50/50 as for the comments re: The Queen is the head of State and denfender of the faith under God in the United Kingdom and we should provide her with state protection. God Save the Queen.

    Simon Collis
    1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next Last
  2. Add new comment

    All comments will be moderated before publication. PCS does not guarantee that all comments will be published. Please see our comments policy for more information.