Minister condemns 'vile' Pope visit document

The minister planning the Pope's visit to the UK has described as "vile" a Foreign Office document suggesting Britain should mark the occasion by asking him to open an abortion clinic, bless a gay marriage and launch a range of Benedict-branded condoms.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy stated: "It's absolutely despicable, these are vile, they're insulting, they are an embarrassment, and on behalf of I think the whole of the United Kingdom we'd want to apologise to his Holiness the Pope."

Former Conservative MP and Catholic convert Ann Widdecombe said: "I think it will add to already strained relations with the Vatican. It is severely embarrassing for Britain. I am sure both sides will be anxious to put it behind them."

The Foreign Office was forced to issue a detailed apology after the controversial papers came to public attention in a newspaper.

The ideas were included in a paper titled "The ideal visit would see..." which was distributed to officials in Whitehall and Downing Street preparing for the historic visit in September. A cover note said the paper stemmed from a brainstorming session and accepted that some of the ideas were "far-fetched".