Government right to apologise for Pope memo, says Evangelical leader

The head of the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland has welcomed the apology sent by the Foreign Office to the Vatican after a memo suggesting that Pope Benedict XVI open an abortion clinic during his visit to Britain was leaked to the media.

The memo was sent by 23-year-old junior civil servant and Oxford graduate Steven Mulvain to Downing Street and three Whitehall departments. In it, he also suggested that the Pope bless a gay marriage, apologise for the Spanish Armada and launch “Benedict” condoms.

The Foreign Office has since apologised for the memo and transferred Mulvain to other duties. Anjoum Noorani, the leader of the Foreign Office’s Papal Visit Team who authorised the memo, has been disciplined.

Although the Vatican confirmed yesterday that the memo’s disclosure would have “absolutely” no impact on the Pope’s four-day visit to Britain in September, it has been met with anger from Christians in the UK.

Stephen Cave, National Director of Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland, said: “In the context of the debate surrounding freedom of speech, we have fought for the right of people to make fun of Christians.

“But it’s the government’s responsibility to respect a variety of views and encourage dialogue, not to reduce religious belief to a bad joke.

“We are pleased that the Foreign Office has sent an apology to the Vatican and that the plans for the Pope’s visit in September can continue unhindered.”

The Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith said the incident was a “great shame”.

“I think an awful lot of Catholics are very offended,” he said, according to the Western Mail.

He added: “Catholics generally have a very good sense of humour ... We are well able to laugh at ourselves and pull each other’s leg about the church but there comes a point where you say it’s a step too far – it’s not humorous; it’s offensive.”

The memo was branded “vile” and “despicable” by Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, who is heading of preparations for the Pope’s visit.

He said: “They insulting, they’re an embarrassment, and on behalf of I think the whole of the United Kingdom we’d want to apologise to his Holiness the Pope.”