The Daily Mirror Isn’t Impressed With Pope Francis
I found this article on the Daily Mirror written by a journalist, who comes from the Falkland Islands.
I think most people in the UK, would agree with what he says, as we tend to have fairly strong feelings about those faraway islands in the South Atlantic. I don’t think I’ve ever met a UK citizen, who thinks we should give the island to Argentina.
The writer of this article finishes off like this.
So Pope Francis, I urge you to join the rest of us in the 21st century and recognise the Falkland Islanders’ democratic rights.
Oh, and while you’re at it, how about changing your mind on contraception, abortion and gay rights into the bargain?
Sadly, I think there’s more chance of me becoming the next Pope than any of that happening.
I think my advice to the Pope would be to stay out of the row and try to be a calmiong influence on all parties.
The Anonymous Widower 
I too was surprised by the new Pope’s intemperate language about the Falklands. I took him for an intelligent man, but he does not seem to be any better than Kirchner and her cronies. He could do with a lesson on the real history of the islands to replace the drivel he must have been indoctrinated with.
He would be wise to avoid getting involved in politics, especially subjects like the Falklands dispute. There are many Roman Catholics in the United Kingdom, and in the Falkands, and it won’t go down well with them (or with the rest of us – non-Catholics) if he is seen to meddle.
As for contraception, abortion, gay rights, etc, they will not be on the Papal agenda for the foreseeable future in such a deeply conservative organisation. That’s not to say that ordinary Catholics observe all the Church’s teaching, as many of them don’t. I remember a couple of adult students of mine, Catholics who were married to each other, telling me that they believed in contraception and that if the Pope wanted them to have lots of children they would take the lot of them to the Vatican and let him look after them.
Comment by Janice Mermikli | March 15, 2013 |
Anyway, if people who have, for the most part, lived on the Falkland Islands for several generations, cannot have their wishes for sovereignty and self-government – expressed through a democratic referendum – respected, why should the son of Italian immigrant parents (the Pope) have any right to be an Argentinian?
Also, the Argentinians seem to have conveniently forgotten that they definitively lost the war of 1982 after their unprovoked aggression against a peaceful and unarmed citizenry.
They now call for “negotiations” but they mean “give us the islands (and never mind the inhabitants”). What part of “no” don’t they understand?
Finally, the Pope needs to be a spiritual leader, not a player on the political stage, and he has some pretty massive issues to deal with within the Catholic Church. He could start by sorting out the rampant paedophilia scandals among the priesthood. That should keep him busy for quite some time…
Comment by Janice Mermikli | March 15, 2013 |
The Argies want the Oil . . . UK should station & rotate Navy / Marines / Airforces at Stanley. These Forces will be required when the New Oil Fields Start Flowing . . .
UK should also upgrade Airports & Dockyards at the Supply Islands for the South Atlantic & support also Southern Chile supply areas.
Comment by Steam Lover | March 15, 2013 |
We do that already. Remember too, the Royal Navy uses Cape Town for R & R. The ships go in grey with no badges and with no-one in uniform. I’ve seen a British frigate in there.
Comment by AnonW | March 15, 2013 |
[…] the Pope thinks about the Falklands is all fairly irrelevant, despite what was said in the my post about the Daily Mirror, as he has other more pressing […]
Pingback by The Circular Argument Over The Falklands « The Anonymous Widower | March 15, 2013 |
I would love to see the Argies gnash their teeth when the area is developed for oil exploration and there is also a marine conservation plan in place. The Falklanders will be so wealthy and secure from oil and tourism that they won’t need to worry about their aggressive and bullying neighbour.
It is a sound idea for the UK to keep the area well protected militarily and to get other Latin American countries on board to benefit from the bonanza. If, for example, we helped Brazil to get their much-desired permanent seat on the UN Security Council, we would gain a good friend. Argentina has, also, several border disputes with other Latin American countries, so we should not assume that it will always have their support in the Falklands dispute.
Comment by Janice Mermikli | March 15, 2013 |
Very Smart Janice . . . “My Enemie’s Enemy is my Friend”
Spot On . . . Comments
Comment by Steam Lover | March 15, 2013 |