Sir
The Religion and Morals Committee of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland learned with shock and profound dismay of the official recognition recently extended by the Foreign Office to Archbishop Hein, the Pope’s Apostolic delegate to Britain, and the according to him of diplomatic immunity. The action of the Foreign Office in this respect is offensive to all true Protestants in this country and is, in our view, subversive of the Protestant Constitution of our country. If, as has been suggested by the Press, the recognition given to Archbishop Hein, is linked with a proposed visit to this country by the Pope — and Archbishop Hein’s dining with the Queen and Cardinal Benelli’s visit to Dr Runcie, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, would seem to confirm this — then the action of the Foreign Office is even more offensive and we accordingly protest strongly against it and urge that no provision be made for a visit by the Pope to this country.
We recognise that the claim is often made that the Vatican is a State and that any recognition is a civil matter. We hold, however, that the Pope’s spiritual headship over the Roman Catholic Church makes it impossible for him to be treated merely as the Head of a State. His claim to be Christ’s Vicar on earth and his asserting of divine prerogatives such as e.g. infallibility and headship over the nations, marks him out as the Antichrist of Scripture. A visit by such a person to our land would not only bring untold distress to all genuine Protestants, but would expose the nation to divine judgments as a consequence.
We would remind you that the Union Settlement of 1707 between the kingdoms of Scotland and England has secured national recognition of the Protestant religion in our country. A visit to this country by the avowed enemy of Protestantism would call in question that Settlement and would expose the nation to undermining influences which could well destroy the unity of the nation. In addition, it is proper to take cognizance of the nefarious role played by the Roman Catholic Church in history down to recent times, and, we believe, still being presently practised (e.g. in Ireland), and this should be sufficient to warn us that if we wish to retain our civil and religious liberties which were purchased for us at such a great price, then the less we have to do, as a nation, with the Antichristian system of Rome, the better.
Accordingly we wish to express our strongest opposition to any visit by the Pope of Rome and urge that such a courtesy be not extended to him.
On behalf of the Committee, etc.
Note: Contrary to the impression given in the Press report, it would appear that Archbishop Hein’s visit to Buckingham Palace was to a public and not a private function. We regret that even this recognition is given to the Archbishop.
Editor