Twitpic by @Mannaz: "Ok this just made me laugh loud over hotel breakfast #pope"

A formal regret was issued to the Vatican by the British ambassador; Francis Campbell when an internal Foreign Office memo filled with appalling suggestions for the Pope to launch his own range of condoms and open an abortion clinic got leaked and printed in the Sunday Telegraph.

The memorandum was drafted by a 23-year-old Oxford graduate, Steven Mulvain who was part of the staff planning events for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the UK. Mulvain is believed to be a junior civil servant and amongst his suggestions to the Pope included, blessing a gay marriage.

Following the leak, Mulvain has been “transferred to other duties”. However, his fan base seems to be growing, a Facebook group has been set up to encourage members to Buy Steven Mulvain a drink or two immediately, with 607 members already.

Twitterers weren’t too far behind:

1. 
   hambonagasaki95 HAHAHA Pope Condoms I can imagine the slogan “keeping your pedophilia a secret for just a bit longer” #LOL #priceless #pope 24 Apr 2010 from Twittelator
2. 
   Colmogorman UK Gov apologies to #Pope for silly memo. Interesting for Pope experience a timely, full apology. Maybe he might learn how to do so himself? 25 Apr 2010 from web
3. 
   malatrope Are we really apologising to the #pope, and paying for his visit? Shame on him shame on us. http://bit.ly/cs4KXy (via @uponnothing ) 25 Apr 2010 from Echofon
4. 
   hofflimits #Vatican suffers sense of humour failure. Looks like that memo worked a treat: http://bit.ly/dmNQTS RT @mp4man #atheism 25 Apr 2010 from TweetDeck
5. 
   badlydrawnrob Is noone allowed to have a laugh anymore? Another media frenzy over a pope joke memo http://bit.ly/aGHPum #politics #funny #pope 25 Apr 2010 from TweetDeck
6. 
   Markshter Why is everyone going mental about the #pope and the Memo? I think it was spot on. I really dont want that man coming here anyway! 26 Apr 2010 from API
7. 
   LeshisMore Grow up Pope. Take a joke. http://tinyurl.com/39rx6wj #vatican 26 Apr 2010 from web
8. 
   gathara #Vatican confirms Pope won’t open abortion clinic, bless gay wedding nor launch “Benedict” condoms during UK visit http://bit.ly/a1s1lA 26 Apr 2010 from web
9. 
   ericbratislava i’ve signed up with the facebook group offering to buy steven mulvain (pope memo writer) a drink. a pint of archbishop’s tipple i reckon! 26 Apr 2010 from TweetDeck
10. 
    lifeseek (People are having a hard time respecting the #Pope now days) Pope’s UK visit on despite ‘foolish’ condom memo – http://bit.ly/al8u1U #cnn 26 Apr 2010 from web

According to the Guardian, the  following statements were released from the Foreign Office and Cardinal Renato Martino, the former head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Foreign Office Statement:

“This is clearly a foolish document that does not in any way reflect UK government or Foreign Office policy or views. Many of the ideas … are clearly ill-judged, naive and disrespectful. The text was not cleared, or shown to ministers or senior officials before circulation. As soon as senior officials became aware of the document it was withdrawn from circulation.”

Cardinal Renato Martino:

“The British government has invited the Pope as its guest and he should be treated with respect…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.”

Some Twitterers were digging deep into the latest news circling the Catholic Church:

1. 
   nataliebhuiyan Wow, if there actually were Papal sponsored condoms, how many lives could be saved…? #pope #romancatholic #condoms #contraception 26 Apr 2010 from TweetDeck
2. 
   Oddtwang Foreign office memo designed to give vatican excuse to cancel #pope visit w/o saying worried about protests? 26 Apr 2010 from mobile web

The leader of the Foreign Office’s Papal Visit Team, Anjoum Noorani, 31, who authorized the memo, has also been moved to “other duties”.

1. 
   vogelbeere Anjoum Noorani is my hero! http://richarddawkins.net/articles/5501 I bet that’ll increase applications to Balliol — eps’lutely brilliant. 27 Apr 2010 from web
2. 
   SimonBishop The culprits have been named. Anjoum Noorani and Steven Mulvain are my heroes. I want to buy them lots of beer. http://bit.ly/avdWsi 27 Apr 2010 from TweetDeck

Twitterers are weighing in on another interesting run in the Catholic Church child abuse, the effect on Church donations:

1. 
   thewordwarrior Please send your donations to the Vatican to help save Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain. 24 Apr 2010 from web
2. 
   jorgeluisr this is what scares them = Catholic sex abuse scandal could trigger donations slump, Vatican warns http://bit.ly/b6D4oy 26 Apr 2010 from Snaptu
3. 
   ricelaker Catholic sex abuse scandal could trigger donations slump, Vatican warns : http://bit.ly/dt7qxF via @addthis only voice the people have! 27 Apr 2010 from web