A leaked internal memo of the U.K. Foreign Office has been "withdrawn" after causing an uproar. The memo - resulting from a "brainstorming session" - contained various offensive suggestions for Pope Benedict's September visit, including that the Holy Father preside at the opening of an abortion facility and bless a homosexual 'marriage'. There has since been an apology and the memo's writer was "transferred to other duties" after his "serious error of judgment." The memo's author was reportedly "completely contrite" and supposedly had "absolutely no intention to offend." The Bishop of Nottingham called the memo "appalling", and said that "You don’t invite someone to your country and then disrespect them in this way." As Cardinal Martino stated, "To make a mockery of his beliefs and the beliefs of millions of Catholics, not just in Britain but across the world, is very offensive indeed." A Vatican spokesman has stated that the incident will not affect the Pope's upcoming visit.
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