You'd expect me to respond to a news headline which says:

'Respect atheists', says Cardinal
The Archbishop of Westminster has urged Christians to treat atheists and agnostics with "deep esteem".

My reactions on reading the headline: 'I certainly didn't see that one coming', and 'steps back in amazement'. Sadly the feeling of 'what the fuck is going on?' didn't last long. On reading just a little further, not far beyond the headline and first paragraph, the expression 'don't judge a book by its cover' sprang to mind almost immediately - and it was clear exactly what was going on:

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor called for more understanding and appreciation between believers and non-believers.

The leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales said that a "hidden God" was active in everyone's life.

In other words, respect atheists... but only because God is inside atheists too. Well actually this 'hidden' God is so hidden that he doesn't exist at all, so I'm sorry to say that the only way you can show atheists respect is to stop insisting that God exists in all of us. What he's really saying is, 'We'll humour them, even though we think they're wrong'.

I suppose that when it comes down to it his hands are tied. This is the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales we're talking about, so he obviously does believe that God is inside everyone. But why attach it to a patronising message telling other Catholics to respect atheists? Did we ask for his respect? I personally don't want his respect, and I certainly won't return the favour and give any iota of respect to a man who represents a huge organisation of people which opposes secularism, as well as a large number of principles I and a great many other atheists readily uphold:

The Cardinal's lecture at Westminster Cathedral comes after a spate of public clashes over issues such as stem-cell research, gay adoption and faith schools.

He expressed concern about the increasing unpopularity of the Christian voice in public life, saying: "Our life together in Britain cannot be a God-free zone and we must not allow Britain to become a world devoid of religious faith and its powerful contribution to the common good."

Last year, he complained of a "new secularist intolerance of religion" and the state's "increasing acceptance" of anti-religious views.

Does that really sound like he wants to hold atheists in 'deep esteem'? I think not. Not when, as he says, 'we must not allow Britain to become a world devoid of religious faith'. 'Must not allow it'? Isn't that another way of saying that 'atheism must not be allowed'? Of course it is.

Archbishop, just say what you really think. Don't use weasel words. Catholicism, and Christianity in general, diametrically opposes atheism. Similarly, those who actively speak about atheism will often oppose Christianity, certainly the illogical and irrational dogma which manages to infiltrate corners of society where such baseless beliefs are not welcome.

So let's abandon the pretence, shall we? There will be no esteem until religious views are totally removed from public life, and are instead relegated to their rightful position - the private beliefs of individuals. We can all respect that. Everyone has a right to belief what they wish, so long as those beliefs do not impact on the rights of others. So long as there are bishops and priests and preachers of all kinds poking their long noses into the affairs of those who do not share their beliefs, there will be no mutual respect and certainly no 'deep esteem'.

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Update:
I don't believe it
Terry Sanderson (The Guardian) agrees with the idea that the Cardinal is taking 'a patronising line on atheists'.