Glow-in-the-dark rosaries, alarm clocks shaped like Our Lady of Lourdes which sing Aves, T-shirts sporting saints and Madonna-shaped USB-sticks are but a few of the worst examples of Catholic-themed tat. We Catholics, it seems, have the best kitsch.
This week, the merchandise for Pope Benedict XVI's visit went on sale. It ranges from the classical (a rosary featuring the Pope and saints) to the bizarre (a flickering electric plastic candle adorned with the papal tiara and crossed keys). The collection of items on sale includes a T-shirt emblazoned with the face of John Henry Newman and commemorative plates.
