Pope Benedict XVI speaks out against Harman's "equality" law.

This doesn't really need much of a comment :-

Pope Benedict XVI claimed that legislation introduced by Labour to end discrimination “actually violates natural law” because it stopped worshippers remaining true to their beliefs.

Rather than making society more equal, the Government’s new rules limited religious freedom, he said.

His strongly worded intervention in British politics comes after leaders of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England clashed with Labour over its Equality Bill, which they fear will make them admit homosexuals to the priesthood or face prosecution for discriminating against them.

In an address delivered yesterday [1st February] to 35 Catholic bishops from England and Wales, the Pope attacked Labour’s equality proposals. He said: “Your country is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society. Yet ... the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs.

 The article continues :-

It is also believed the law, intended to outlaw discrimination against any group in the “provision of services” from health care to shopping, would restrict the right of a church school to employ a head teacher who shared their faith, and would open the job up to members of any religion or atheists.

From this little paragraph it would appear that this is yet more woolly-worded legislation. It would appear that Harriet wants Christians to be able to be head teachers in Islamic schools, Jewish schools and so on - and vice versa.

That'll go down well.

It will be interesting to see reports of the very first test case.

Mr Tatchell, who seems to have been fairly quiet lately, has become something of a seer and speaks on behalf of the British population :-

Benedict is likely to make highly partisan political criticisms during his visit. Most British people will not welcome a meddlesome pontiff who opposes our equality laws.”

Sorry Mr Tatchell, many people would think your comments rather presumptive - the "British people" can speak for themselves. You're likely to be quite surprised by the popularity of the Pope's proposed visit.