From the BBC website
Who should pay for the Pope's visit?
11:26 UK time, Friday, 21 May 2010
Catholic churchgoers are being asked to make extra contributions to their local weekly collection to help fund the Pope's visit to Britain in September. What's your reaction?
The Papal visit will cost £15m, not including extra policing and security, most of which will be spent on three open-air masses which the Church says could attract up to 400,000 people in total.
The Church's share of the cost is £7m, and with slightly less than half of it raised, congregations are being asked to contribute via the collection plate.
Have you made an extra contribution at your local collection? Should taxpayers be expected to pay for the Pope's state visit? Is sharing the cost with the Catholic Church a good idea, or should the church cover the entire bill?
Fair 'nuff. If Catholics wish to have a visit from the Pontiff then I see no problem with him coming to the UK BUT I cannot see any reason why we should have to pay. Let those who want to see him on these shores foot the bill by all means but us pay for his security? Trust in the Lord your Holiness ... His protection is free.
If my auntie suggests I might care to visit her then I don't expect her to pay for the petrol I use getting to her house. In fact I would normally take a cake and flowers partly as a contribution to any costs she may have incurred in feeding me and partly as a gift.
As it is the Catholic Church has an established record of being one of the world's super rich multi national organisations .... they can afford to pay.
