Varying takes on the Papal visit

Thought I'd just share a couple of interesting, and very different, items regarding the forthcoming Papal visit. Firstly, former Catholic Herald editor Damian Thompson has the cover story in the current issue of the Spectator, in which he argues that the visit has "been hijacked by a Blairite cadre". Citing errors made by those responsible for organising the various events scheduled to take place while the Pope is in the UK, and the fact that some of the key players have close links to the Blair family (including someone who, would you believe, once worked for "a stridently PC women’s charity that supports the provision of abortion and contraception services in the developing world"), Thompson suggests that "Benedict XVI is unwittingly being caught up in a Blairite publicity stunt bearing the fingerprints of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation".

My second piece of news is only loosley related to the first, although I imagine Thompson will have something to say about it on his blog in due course. Gay rights campaigner and prominent humanist Peter Tatchell has this morning announced that he will be fronting a Channel 4 documentary on the Pope, to be broadcast shortly before his visit. Here's what Tatchell has to say about it:

"My aim is to make a robustly factual programme that explores the Pope's personal, religious and political journey since the 1930s, as well as the motives and effects of his controversial policies.

"I intend to ensure that we hear the voices of the Pope's defenders, as well as his critics. I would be like to interview the Pope himself. It would be ideal for Pope Benedict to be able to explain himself in his own words. But I doubt that I will be granted an audience."

Tatchell is, of course, a fierce critic of organised religion and the damage it can cause, but he's also respectful of people's religious beliefs, and has campaigned widely over the years against the opression of religious minorities around the world. So I expect that, while his documentary will pull no punches, he will also deliver on his promise to provide a balanced view.

In any case, the documentary is sure to provide some relief for the atheists who feel the media is hopelessly biased in favour of religion, while stoking the anger of those religious commentators (as represented in this Telegraph article) who feel that the media is hopelessly biased against religion.

Do you ever find yourself thinking that the reality could lie somewhere in the middle?