That's not correct. He asked that the Pope do not get invited in the first place, not that he get invited and refuse to come. It's a subtle but important difference.
Personally I wouldn't have subscribed that letter, even though the Pope is a vermin to me. It was a badly thought out move that could only backfire, but you know, scientists are not politicians. I would have attended the ceremony, if possible, and simply stood up and walked out in a way that everybody could see when it was his time to talk.
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That's not correct. He asked that the Pope do not get invited in the first place, not that he get invited and refuse to come. It's a subtle but important difference.
Personally I wouldn't have subscribed that letter, even though the Pope is a vermin to me. It was a badly thought out move that could only backfire, but you know, scientists are not politicians. I would have attended the ceremony, if possible, and simply stood up and walked out in a way that everybody could see when it was his time to talk.