Looking at the BBC website today, there are at least 66 glowing stories on the late Pope, and 1 story that includes any criticism. In the “Your Views” pages, there isn’t one critical view, despite the pages being introduced with the line: “The following comments reflect the balance of views received”. Surely an angry Northern Irish Protestant or passionate American Evangelical, or anti-AIDs campaigner, or women’s rights campaigner wrote in? It seems nobody isn’t bothered at all, nobody disliked him. Or could this be the sensitive new post-‘Jerry Springer The Opera’ BBC?
It was interesting to learn that a Pope is declared dead after being hit on the head three times with a silver hammer while his name is called - if he doesn’t answer, he’s dead.
I didn’t like him. And if he was right, he isn’t even dead: he’s much better off now, so why the fuss? It seems rather selfish to want the poor guy living on with a feeding tube, barely able to breathe or move, when he could be enjoying VIP status in everlasting paradise.
Glowing articles: F1: Ferrari lead Pope mourning UK Requiem Mass to remember Pope Britons gather to remember Pope Grief amid high church grandeur Bono cheers ‘best frontman’ Pope Pope John Paul II Obituary - Pope John Paul II Scotland’s tribute to late Pope Pope death: Official announcement Q&A: What happens next? Pope’s body laid out in Vatican Pope’s death: Middle East views Pope’s death: Europe views Pope’s death: Africa views Pontiff’s life and death marked Pope’s death: South Asia views Pope’s death: Your global views Pope’s death: Asia-Pacific views Pope’s death: Americas views NI mourners’ prayers for Pontiff In pictures: Mourning the Pope Church leaders’ tributes to Pope Thousands at cathedral for Pope Services held in memory of Pope Scots remember Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II’s final moments In pictures: Mass for the Pope Sussex pays tribute to the Pope World reaction to death of Pope Reporters’ log: Mourning the Pope West remembers Pope John Paul II British Catholics remember Pope Hundreds gather to remember Pope World’s press bids farewell to Pope NI leaders pay tribute to Pope Polish village’s tribute to Pope Blair leads tributes to the Pope Catholics mourn ‘much loved’ Pope Politicians pay tribute to Pope Tributes to ‘rock of the church’ Bishop leads tributes to pontiff UK tributes to Pope John Paul II Queen leads tributes to pontiff Reporters’ log: Pope dies Diplomat’s fond papal memories Pope’s death: Thoughts shared Millions grieve for John Paul II Press focus on the Pope’s legacy Religious leaders mourn pontiff Pope John Paul II dies in Vatican Westminster mourns John Paul II Poland mourns ‘the people’s pope’ Who will succeed John Paul II? Cathedral bell tolls for the Pope Rome’s new orphans mourn their loss UK Catholics mourn ‘great’ Pope Pope’s role in Communism’s end Irish remember 1979 Papal visit Channel Islands’ tribute to Pope South West pays tribute to Pope The region mourns pontiff’s death Kent looks back on Pope’s visit Pope’s visit made ‘deep impact’ Yorkshire remembers Pope’s visit Pope’s visit to Wales remembered Obituary: Pope John Paul II Pope who reached out to people Cardinal speaks of Pope’s legacy Chants and prayers lift pilgrims’ spirits What is the Pope’s legacy to Africa?
Critical articles: Critics slate ‘out-of-date’ Pope
(Note the sensitive use of the phrase “Out-of-date”. My old trousers and some pesto in my fridge are out-of-date, but they didn’t cause much trouble in Africa.)
