Thursday, November 03, 2011

Vatican targeted

A new offshoot of the Occupy movement has its own slogan - "Occupy the Vatican."

A Facebook page leads the charge, but locally, organizers have promised to occupy the Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver this Sunday at 10 a.m., right in the middle of church services.

"Jail the Pope. Occupy the Vatican. Expel the Catholic Church from our lands," comes the online call to arms, complete with a Photoshopped image of the Pope behind bars.

"Squamish elder Kiapilano has banned the Catholic Church from Squamish Nation territory - help us enforce this eviction order this Sunday."

The electronic missive encourages sympathizers to meet at 9: 30 a.m. at Occupy Vancouver, then march to the nearby cathedral.

If he's concerned, Vancouver Archdiocese spokesman Paul Schratz isn't letting on.

"These threats have been made before, and haven't come to pass," Schratz said Wednesday. "We will notify police to make sure they're aware of it. The streets are free to anybody to have their say."