“The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world?” was a debate, presented from London by Zeinab Badawi which aired on BBC World November 7, 2009.
It stands up for the oppressed and offers spiritual succour to billions say the Church’s supporters. But what about the Church’s teachings on condoms, gay sex and women priests, ask the detractors.
Speaking for the motion, Archbishop John Onaiyekan and Anne Widdecombe MP. Speaking against the motion, Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry.
The voting gives a good idea of how it went. Before the debate, for the motion: 678. Against: 1102. Dont know: 346. This is how it changed after the debate. For: 268. Against: 1876. Dont know: 34. In other words, after hearing the speakers, the number of people in the audience who opposed the motion increased by 774.
#1 by Cometa on November 9, 2009 - 5:25 pm
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52 more people voted in the second vote than the first.
I think that was a big win for rationalism, and a big lose for the Catholic Church.