Papal merchandise floods UK as visit nears
With the UK’s papal visit fast approaching a merchandise battle is brewing between the National Secular Society, who are campaigning against the four day visit and the Vatican which is scrabbling to plug a funding gap of £1.75m in the churches £7m share of the £20m costs.
Official product ranges being touted by church officials include £5 fridge magnets, a tasteful £3 “flashing electronic candle” and an £18 T-shirt all emblazoned with the 2010 Papal visit logo. Perhaps more appropriately a series of mugs will also be up for grabs.
The tat, which includes religious souvenirs such as rosaries and crucifixes, can be purchased online at thepaypalvisit.org.uk - presumably via paypal.
Stiff competition is likely to be faced from an increasingly secular population however, many of whom have been flocking to purchase “Pope Nope” T-shirts at ten quid a pop.
It comes as the BBC prepare to air a documentary ‘Benedict: Trials of a Pope’ which will investigate the paedophile priest scandals and a volunteer army of young religious spin doctors called Catholic Voices.