Religious do not have monopoly on virtue, Queen tells synod
by Riazat Butt - 23 November 2010
...People of faith do not have a monopoly on virtue as British society was now "more diverse and secular", the Queen told the Church of England today in an address to its governing body.
Speaking at Church House, central London, she told members of General Synod that believers and atheists were equally able to contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of the country.
The Queen, who is supreme governor of the Church of England, said: "In our more diverse and secular society, the place of religion has come to be a matter of lively discussion. It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue and that the wellbeing and prosperity of the nation depend on the contribution of individuals and groups of all faiths and none."
But, recalling the words of Pope Benedict XVI from his UK visit last September, she said churches "and the other great faith traditions" retained the potential to inspire "great enthusiasm, loyalty and a concern for the common good".
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/23/queen-synod-virtue
The new Pope has weighed in, too:
Pope Francis says Atheists are good if they do good
by Robyn Pennacchia Dec 23, 2013
Pope Francis continued down the road of awesomeness this weekend with an especially existentialist statement regarding non-believers in his papal homily this Sunday:
He told the story of a Catholic who asked a priest if even atheists had been redeemed by Jesus.
Even them, everyone, the pope answered, according to Vatican Radio. We all have the duty to do good, he said.
Just do good, and well find a meeting point, the pope said in a hypothetical conversation in which someone told a priest: But I dont believe. Im an atheist...
http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/211818/pope-francis-says-atheists-are-good-if-they-do-good/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12214025
Good enough for the Queen of England and the Pope. I'm not worried what Haggee thinks. But if anyone has seen his television show, it's full of brainwashed sheep who drool over his every word. It's a cult of personality like Beck, and so many other RWNJs. That's okay, the world will move forward without them.