Protests arranged for day of Papal visit

The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland intends to meet along the route of the Pope’s drive through Edinburgh from Lothian Road to Regent Road in order to protest.

Alternatively, the HSS will unveil a 48-sheet poster at the junction of Paisley Road West on the route to Bellahouston Park in Glasgow where the Pope will be holding mass. 

The 'PROTEST THE POPE' campaign is based on the 2008 Scottish Household Survey alleging that forty per cent of Scots are non-religious. HSS spokesman, Tim Maguire, was keen to point out that this campaign was intended to be taken in a wider context, saying: “Scotland has a nasty and long history of sectarian violence so we are not taking to the streets to protest.”

Head of the Grand Orange Lodge, Ian Wilson, was keen to highlight their protest was also not directly aimed at the Pope’s visit.

“Protest is a bit of a misnomer. It’s not so much a protest of the Pope’s presence or even his visit. It’s more to highlight the fact that this year marks the 450th anniversary of Scotland’s break from Rome. It would be hypocritical of us if we took the stance of other protests that are looking to stop the Pope. 

“I don’t flatter myself that all of Scotland holds our viewpoint, but I think the vast majority of Scots are pretty blasé about the whole thing.”

Unlike Pope John Paul’s visit in 1982, Benedict XVI is coming to the UK as a Head-of-State. By way of explaining the low-key nature of the planned protest, Wilson added: “We are a loyalist organisation and don’t wish to embarrass the monarch. 

“In 1982 we were much more vocal in our protest of the Pope’s visit. We had booklets and leaflets and we did have protest marches.”

Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, had this to say about the protests: “There will be people wanting to express alternative views, which is of the joys of living in our society. I’m sure it will be done in a proper manner.”

Pope Benedict will visit the UK between 16 and 19 September. He will land at Edinburgh Airport before travelling through Edinburgh to meet the Queen at the Palace of Holyrood.