Vatican Spokesman Dismisses U.K. Arrest Challenge as a Publicity Stunt
An effort by two prominent atheist pundits to block Pope Benedict XVI’s state visit to the U.K. on legal grounds was dismissed as a publicity stunt, by official Vatican spokesman Frederico Lombardi. Lombardi described the effort by Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens as “original.” Well, maybe not entirely original. Similar legal principles were used to arrest Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet during his visit in 1998. The comparison alone makes for an uncomfortable situation amidst mounting dissent over numerous sex abuse scandals worldwide.
“For the moment it appears to be merely a stunt to get public attention,” said Lombardi during a presser yesterday.
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