NEXT month – on September 17 – a large-scale protest by secular groups against the Vatican’s persistent interference in politics is due to take place in London.

But bizarrely, a left-wing German politician appears to be calling for MORE papal involvement in the way in which countries run their affairs.

Ahead of Pope Ratzinger’s visit to Germany next month, Gregor Gysi, 63, parliamentary leader for a small party in the German Bundestag called The Left, yesterday thanked the Pope for consistently preaching that a modern society must have moral norms in order to function properly.

Writing in the weekly Christ und Welt, Gysi said society:

Won’t work without the concept of the good, but modern science can’t tell us what is good. Its concepts focus on empirical experience. Ideas such as morality play no role there.

Despite Ratzinger’s reputation as a staunch conservative, Gysi wrote, he turns out to be a modern theologian who says societies need both religious traditions and rational arguments to forge the moral consensus they need to operate.

Gysi noted with approval that Benedict has said religions without reason can lead to fanaticism, while rational thinking without faith can lead to excessive pride and intolerance.

Meanwhile, Marco Tranchino, who is organising the Secular Europe Campaign, said:

Wherever the Pope goes now he will be sure to face criticism and protest. We want to keep the impetus going that started last year at the Protest the Pope event, and encourage all people who believe in separation of religion from the state to join us.

Tranchino points out that the Vatican had far too much influence on the institutions of the European Union and it was time for that to be challenged.

We have the support of feminist, gay and secular groups from all around Europe and large numbers of individuals who are following us on social network sites. We hope that this will send a message to the governments of Europe and Great Britain that alarm is growing at the undue influence of religion on political decision-making. We want a secular Europe where there is room for everyone, whether they have a religious belief or not, where policy is directed only by elected politicians, not by priests who are answerable to no-one.

The campaign has launched a series of videos on its Youtube channel from prominent supporters including Philip Pullman, Richard Dawkins, Father Bernard Lynch, comedian Robin Ince and many others.

Tranchino emphasised: