In case you haven’t see this… from AFP:
Pope to deliver Christmas message on the BBC
LONDON (AFP) – Pope Benedict XVI will deliver a brief message for BBC radio’s “Thought for the Day” programme on the morning of Christmas Eve, the broadcaster said Wednesday. [When you start on a “new evangelization”, you have to stick with it.]
In what is believed to be his first personally scripted broadcast, the pope will address listeners in the short slot which traditionally goes out during the corporation’s flagship Today programme.
Benedict recorded the message in Rome on Wednesday.
Gwyneth Williams, the controller of BBC Radio 4, said he was “delighted Pope Benedict is sharing his Christmas message with the Radio 4 audience.
“It’s significant that the Pope has chosen Thought for the Day to give his first personally scripted broadcast — and what better time to do so than on the eve of one of the biggest celebrations on the Christian calendar.”
“Thought for the Day” consists of some five minutes of personal reflection from faith leaders and believers from other denominations.
The pope’s broadcast comes three months after he made a state visit to Britain.
Britain’s National Secular Society attacked the BBC’s move.
“The BBC is giving the Pope an unquestioned slot to continue whitewashing his Church’s disgraceful record on covering up child abuse by its priests,” said the group’s president, Terry Sanderson.d
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Just as a “side note” in regard to broadcasts, The Holy Fathers Christmas Celebrations will be available live via the Internet. You can get the information from my blog here:
http://bit.ly/h6rn6P
“believed to be his first personally scripted broadcast”
That seems HIGHLY unlikely!
It is interesting that the heads of both the Church of England and the Holy Catholic Church will both address the faithful on what is traditionally the only time of the year when the Monarch addresses the people of Britain. New ground is being broken here. May it be very and eternally fruitful.
Britain’s National Secular Society attacked the BBC’s move = scum
This is great and shows that England is not 100% secular, despite the atheists’ desires. I am very happy about this and hope I can listen to it.
God bless Great Britain and may those who are so critical of the Pope be brought to their knees before the little manger.
More from the Beeb on this broadcast
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12072115
” ‘The BBC is giving the Pope an unquestioned slot to continue whitewashing his Church’s disgraceful record on covering up child abuse by its priests,’ said the group’s president, Terry Sanderson.”
Yeah. Because there isn’t anything else that the pope could POSSIBLY talk about. *eyeroll*
Somebody’s got a one-track mind, and an unimaginative one at that.
“The BBC is giving the Pope an unquestioned slot to continue whitewashing his Church’s disgraceful record on covering up child abuse by its priests,” said the group’s president, Terry Sanderson.d
As though what, the Pope is going to use his first such address to British Catholics to explain to them how child sexual abuse is not a big deal? I would doubt that will be the topic of his address…. The child sexual abuse issue has become a default hammer for critics every time the term “Catholic Church” comes up in conversation.
Amen to what you said, kittenchen and chironomo!
These secularists have a one-track mind, and they ought to just ‘shut up and enjoy’! Who cares what they think!
Bravo to the Holy Father for doing the broadcast! He’s definitely NOT AFRAID to ‘walk into the lion’s den’!
Can you imagine one of main stations offering the Pope the same format? I do believe the Infant Christ is finding a place in England.
Full audio and transcript of Benedict XVI’s Thought of the Day