The Pope's recent state visit to the UK, attracted thousands of demonstrators, angry at the reactionary social policies promoted by the Pontiff. Among the protesters was "Cardinal Ratzarsse von Flashern" who made a pilgramage from Nottingham. I interviewed the Cardinal to find out why he participated in the protest.

Q: Can you briefly describe what happened on Saturday?

A: On Saturday 20-30,000 people gathered in London to 'protest-the-pope', to show our opposition to the State Visit of the Pope to Britain. The march began at Hyde Park Corner and proceeded to Downing Street where platform speakers included Richard Dawkins, Peter Tatchell, Geoffrey Robertson QC.

Q: Why did you decide to join the protest against the Pope?

A: I joined the march to demonstrate against the Pope and the Catholic Church's homophobia, its misogyny, its cover-up of paedophilia within the Catholic Church, and the use of £12m of public money to confer approval on the Pope. However, whilst protest is serious it should also be fun, hence my 'fancy dress'.

Q: What would be your message to the Pope and/or grassroots Catholics?

A: I don't have a message for the Pope. My message to catholics would be to abandon the Church and religion altogether: religions encourage servility, autocracy, hatred, conflict, death.

Q: Do you think the protest was successful?

A: Secularism is now under attack from religionists and needs to be actively promoted. This is the first national demonstration in support of rationalism that I can remember. I think it was very successful in bringing rationalists, atheists, secularists together, a good starting point for campaigns against the extension of religious priveleges in law, education, etc.

Q: Where can campaigners go from here?

A: Where to go from here: an end to religion in schools, and ending public support for 'faith' schools in Britain would be a good starting point, removing exemptions for religion in employment law, dis-establishing the Church of England, and supporting those in other countries whose lives are blighted by religious bigotry.