Will the Pope pay after all?
Feb 04, 2010 10:44:25 GMT
Gordon Brown invited the Pontiff, but is understood to have made clear that the Government will not cover all the costs.“We are now in a situation where we don’t know who’s paying for it,” says an official of the Roman Catholic church. “It’s not in the Government Budget and is probably going to cost the Church about £3million to £6million.”
Gordon Brown's invite to Pope Benedict XVI leaves Church anxious about costs
Delighted though the faithful are that Pope Benedict XVI is coming to Britain later this year, concern is growing about who is going to pay for the visit.
By Tim Walker
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7138643/Gordon-Browns-invite-to-Pope-Benedict-XVI-leaves-Church-anxious-about-costs.html
Published: 10:00PM GMT 02 Feb 2010
Gordon Brown?s invite to the Pope has left the Church anxious about costs
Gordon Brown invited the Pontiff, but is understood to have made clear that the Government will not cover all the costs.
“We are now in a situation where we don’t know who’s paying for it,” says an official of the Roman Catholic church. “It’s not in the Government Budget and is probably going to cost the Church about £3million to £6million.”
Concern has been heightened by memories of the first papal visit to this country, in 1982, which left the Church heavily in debt.
The Government is expected to cover security, but officials are involved in delicate negotiations about other costs.
The Church may be able to fund part of the trip with merchandising and broadcasting rights, big private donors or collections.
The National Secular Society has launched a campaign against public funds being used. “The taxpayer in this country is going to be faced with a bill of some £20million for the visit," said its president, Terry Sanderson. “If the Catholic Church wishes its leader to come here, it should pay for the visit itself.”
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