With This Ring, I Thee Sack
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No 5494 YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLICwww.sconews.co.uk NEWSPAPER SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH Friday November 23 2012 | £1 PRISONERS WEEK CARDINAL MAKES IT A CAPITAL DAY AT ST JOHN VIANNEY’S 60TH DUNBLANE SERVICE marks official launch, Archbishop Tartaglia visits Barlinnie and advises inmates Page 3 Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, presided at the Mass to mark the 60th anniversary of St John Vianney Church, Gilmerton, Edinburgh. Auxiliary Bishop Stephen Robson, former parish priest at the church, the main celebrant, was joined by Fr Jock Dalrymple, St John Vianney parish priest, Fr Kenneth Owens, former parish priest, and Fr John Robertson. But who cut the cake? Full report, see page 2 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY With this ring, I thee sack STRONG IN FAITH I Catholic schoolteachers could face dismissal for failing to promote same-sex ‘marriage’ By Ian Dunn Mr McGrath said he hoped the Scottish lains, and others in everyday life must not ing on the way forward.’ Government would allow Catholic teach- be penalised for backing traditional mar- But she said it was impossible to know FEARS are growing that Catholic ers to follow their conscience. riage. The Scottish Government promised how the balance might change further if schoolteachers could be dismissed for “Mike Russell, the education minister, to protect free speech and other civil lib- same-sex ‘marriage’ becomes law and refusing to promote same-sex ‘mar- has given assurances that they don’t want erties, including in schools. But our fears what the implications might be. riage’ after a UK government minis- to see Catholic teachers vulnerable to are growing that the Scottish Government “As you are aware, legislation on equal ter said it was impossible to know all this,” he said. “So we want to make sure only intends to protect marriage cele- civil marriage has yet to be announced by the ramifications and consequences of the Scottish Government offers additional brants and no more.” the Home Office, following a consultation redefining marriage. protections to Scottish teachers.” exercise earlier this year,” she wrote. “I Concern increased following a senior Equality am, therefore, unable to advise on the Church official in Scotland’s suggestion Empty promises One of the relevant pieces of legislation, specifics of any legislation and its future that promised protections for Catholic Peter Kearney, director of the Scottish the UK Equalities Act, applies in Scot- impacts at this time.” teachers from the First Minister and other Catholic Media Office, said he was con- land. The admission of Ms Truss that Mr Burrowes said the letter confirmed Scottish Government figures could be cerned that promises of Scottish Ministers teachers could be penalised for not back- that same-sex ‘marriage’ would be taught ‘irrelevant’ next to the law. could count for nothing next to the law. ing same-sex ‘marriage’—revealed in a as standard in schools and offered no reas- “If the law says you must provide infor- letter to a fellow Conservative MP David surances to teachers who object on No conscience protection mation promoting same-sex ‘marriage’ Burrowes last month—has serious rami- grounds of conscience. BISHOP GILBERT Liz Truss, a UK education minister, last then that is what you have to do,” he said. fications here. “The reality is that these questions that leads speakers at weekend failed to deny that teachers, even “And any ministerial assurances will Mr Burrowes contacted Ms Truss rais- are raised which have not been fully in faith schools, could face disciplinary not be worth the paper they are not writ- ing his fears about the impact on schools answered mean that they have not been conference for young action for objecting to same-sex ‘mar- ten on.” of the coalition Government’s schemes to rebutted,” he said. “The fact that they have Catholics at Glasgow riage’ on grounds of conscience. Mr Kearney also said that a vast raft of redefine marriage. Replying on behalf of not been rebutted when we are so far Michael McGrath, director of the Scot- laws would need to be altered to success- the Government, Ms Truss said that par- down the line—the consultation will be University Chaplaincy tish Catholic Education Service, said fully defend the rights of Catholic teach- ents currently have a right to withdraw coming out within the next weeks and no teachers in Scotland had greater protec- ers to legally oppose same-sex ‘marriage,’ their children from sex education classes doubt the [Department of Education] has Page 4 tions than those in England, but the issues and the Scottish Government seemed in and that schools must apply ‘sensitivity’ been consulted—now does raise more would still be decided in the courts. no hurry to do so. in deciding what materials to use, taking questions than answers. There is a big and “It is uncertain, and no one knows for “For Alex Salmond to keep his word into account pupils as well as their ‘reli- serious question that gay marriage will sure until there is a test case,” he said. and protect the civil liberties of traditional gious and cultural background.’ undermine the liberty of conscience, that “Teachers in Scotland do have more pro- marriage supporters, legal protection must She added that it is ultimately up to is a big question that will hang over the tection, however as there are protections go beyond churches and marriage cele- headteachers to determine what teachers legislation.” written into the UK Equality Act with ref- brants,” he said. “Teachers, parents, should teach and that staff with concerns erence to Scottish education.” school children, foster carers, NHS chap- should try to reach a ‘mutual understand- I [email protected] SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] 2 PICTURE NEWS THE SCO SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday November 23 2012 Glasgow welcomes Black Madonna of Częstochowa ST ANDREW’S Cathedral global significance it has,” he in Glasgow last week said, before adding that people played host to an icon of had responded ‘marvelously’ to Our Lady of Częstochowa the icon’s presence and that as it continued its there was an ‘experience of Ocean to Ocean pro-life healing and hope’ among those pilgrimage. that had gathered to witness it. The Black Madonna of Częs- The religious icon is travel- Capital parish celebrates a 60, and a 4 tochowa arrived in Scotland on ing from Vladivostok on the Monday, visiting St Mary’s Sea of Japan to Portugal. The Cathedral in Edinburgh and the pilgrimage is a joint spiritual By Martin Dunlop The day marked a double celebration ‘delighted’ to see Bishop Robson return national shrine to Our Lady of venture between Russian for young parishioner Ethan Jacob and paid tribute to the multi-ethnicity of Lourdes at Carfin, before it was Orthodox and Catholic pro-life SIXTY years of St John Vianney (below), who turned 4 on Sunday and was the parish and said there was a ‘lovely welcomed in to St Andrew’s activists, and the icon has Church, Gilmerton, Edinburgh, were duly handed the first piece of the anniver- atmosphere’ in the church for the anniver- Cathedral at a Mass on received a prayerful welcome marked with the celebration of Mass sary cake. sary celebrations. Wednesday evening. throughout its journey. on Sunday. In addition to Cardinal O’Brien and At the end of Sunday’s Mass, P7 pupils Mgr Chris McElroy, admin- Members of Catholic lay Auxiliary Bishop Stephen Robson of St Bishop Robson, Fr Jock Dalrymple, St from St John Vianney Primary School and istrator at St Andrew’s Cathe- organisation the Knights of St Andrews and Edinburgh, former parish John Vianney parish priest, was joined in S1 pupils from Holyrood High School dral, said that the cathedral was Columba have assisted with priest at the church, was the principal cel- celebrating the Mass by Fr Kenneth performed a small drama skit on the his- full for the welcoming celebra- transport and stewarding at all ebrant at the Mass, which was attended by Owens, former parish priest, and Fr John tory of the parish, which was written by tion of the icon last Wednesday of the pilgrimage venues in a large number of parishioners, including Robertson. Susan Blaney, depute headteacher at St and many people had visited mainland UK. the first couple to be married at the parish. “We were delighted with the celebration John Vianney Primary School and a the cathedral during the follow- Following its departure from Cardinal Keith O’Brien presided at the and it was great to have the cardinal with parishioner of the local church. ing two days to pray in front of St Andrew’s Cathedral last Fri- Mass and was on hand to unveil St John us on such good form,” Fr Dalrymple said the icon. day afternoon, the Black Vianney’s anniversary plaque and cut a following the celebrations. Fr Dalrymple I [email protected] “We were delighted to host Madonna traveled across the celebratory cake. added that the parishioners were PICS: PAUL MCSHERRY the icon and we realise the sea to Ireland. SPOTLIGHT ON... A Mass was celebrated earlier this month at St John the Bap- tist Church in Port Glasgow to mark the strong faith and dedi- cation of one of its parishioners. Fr Michael McMahon was delighted to pay tribute to Paddy Murray, who has been a member of the parish’s St Vincent de Paul society for 60 years. Throughout his years of service, Mr Murray has fulfilled a num- ber of roles both within the parish conference and in the national society.