ST PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS HELD IN THREE SCOTTISH DIOCESES SEE PAGE 2 No 5289 Let your conscience be your election guide Pages Calls go out from Cardinal O’Brien, SCIAF ahead of May 5 ballot 3, 12-13 No 5408 www.scottishcatholicobserver.org.uk Friday March 25 2011 | 90p ST NINIAN’S DECISION New goals VOTE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY on bigotry I Church calls for fresh approach to tackling sectarianism after anti-Catholic chanting blighted League Cup final tie By Ian Dunn Galloway told Irish journalist GLASGOW SCHOOLS Phil Mac Giolla Bhain that he THE Church is calling for had been appalled at the chanti- lose out. “We are a new plan to tackle sectari- ng from the Rangers support. victims of the success anism after what was billed “The Famine song, just one of of Catholic education,” as a ‘showpiece’ League the hate anthems that assaulted Cup final between Celtic us from the TV, has been ruled as says Church education and Rangers was marred racist by an eminent judge,” Mr spokesman in Paisley by sustained anti-Catholic Galloway said. “The police, who chanting in spite of renewed praised the fans and the compar- Page 3 pleas for an end to bigoted atively low number of arrests, behaviour. clearly stood back and allowed Peter Kearney, director of the the sectarian and racist abuse.” YOUTH EVENTS Catholic Media Office, said the current approach to the problem, Government stance an issue that has become known Justice Minister Kenny STRONG SUPPORT as ‘Scotland’s shame,’ was MacAskill, however, has for Pro-Life Youth ‘putting the cart before the horse.’ claimed the game, which was played after the recent govern- Conference; Catholics Better behaviour call ment summit on sectarianism, prepare for World Before last weekend’s Hampden had been a ‘showpiece final.’ final Cardinal Keith O’Brien “This was the showpiece Youth Day 2011 and the Right Rev John Christie, final everyone wanted to see, the Moderator of the General and it was a great advert for Pages 5 and 7 Assembly of the Church of Scottish football,” he said. Scotland, issued a joint call urg- “The players, management and ing fans not to ‘disgrace the fans contributed to a memo- HOLY FATHER ON LIBYA good name of Scotland’ by rable occasion, and I urge that engaging in ‘violence, abuse and their positive example inside bigotry.’ In spite of the church the ground is replicated outside leaders’ plea, however, Rangers it over the course of the fans were heard singing sectari- evening and beyond.” an songs throughout Sunday’s First Minister Alex Salmond game, including the notorious convened the recent summit ‘Famine song.’ between Celtic, Rangers and the Cardinal Keith O’Brien (above) joined Christian leaders (below) in Edinburgh on Tuesday to encourage Joe Bradley, editor of the police after the previous match voters to think of the greater good ahead of the May 5 ballot in Scotland. “For generations Christians Celtic Minded series of books, between Celtic and Rangers saw have served society and been at the heart of civil and political life, a tradition we are committed to said the continued singing of the a number of arrests and three red continuing,” they said. Story on page 3 PICS: PAUL McSHERRY Famine song showed Scotland cards on the pitch. has not moved on from sectari- anism. Crown action “Obviously such songs have a A spokesman for the Crown long history in Scottish football,” Prosecution service told the SCO he told the SCO this week. that solicitor general Frank “These particular ones seemed to Mulholland, with the backing of CITIZENS’ SAFETY have disappeared in recent years Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, from football’s public stage, but recently recommended a number must be a priority for Sunday shows that they remain of measures to the Scottish political and military part of anti-Catholic and anti- Government regarding sectarian- Irish popular culture. ism, including increased maxi- leaders, says Pope “The lack of subsequent appro- mum sentences for sectarian Benedict XVI priate and erudite comment on the offences (from six months to five part of many in Scotland, not least years); penalising people who Page 9 of all politicians, the police and use the internet to post sectarian football authorities, reflects a abuse and the release of the society struggling with ethnic and breakdown of how and where religious diversity and with a lack sectarian offences were occur- of in-depth knowledge and under- ring in Scotland. The Scottish standing with regards ethnic and Government still has to legislate religious prejudice and bigotry in on these issues. this country.” Socialist politician George I continued on page 8 SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 e-mail [email protected] 2 ST PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday March 25 2011 Archbishop Conti’s tribute to the Irish community By Ian Dunn GLASGOW closed out its St Patrick’s Day celebrations in style this year with a well attended Mass at Holy Cross Church and two very successful concerts. The Mass, last Saturday, was celebrated by Archbishop Mario Conti who paid tribute to the Glasgow Irish’s contribution to the life of the local Church. “If St Patrick was Scotia’s gift to Hibernia, then that gift was amply repaid in the migration of Irish people to this country in the 19th century bringing with them a Faith that was both tried and tested, a culture which has flourished on Scottish soil, and an attachment to the Church which is admirable and enduring,” he said “Over the years the Irish community have been the most Faithful of wit- (Above) Archbishop Mario Conti paid tribute to the nesses to the Faith in this city. Their contribution contribution that the Irish community has made to is seen all around us—in the churches dedicated to Glasgow Archdiocese and the wider Church in Scotland at Double celebration for Cardinal O’Brien on St Patrick’s Day Irish saints across the diocese—St Patrick’s in Holy Cross Church, Crosshill, Glasgow. (Below) After Anderston, Dumbarton and Old Kilpatrick, St the Mass, the archbishop met with former Celtic FC By Ian Dunn (Above) Cardinal Keith O’Brien and clergy—including Brigid’s in Toryglen, St Brendan’s in Yoker, St and Ireland goalkeeper Pat Bonner and Bailie James Scanlon of Glasgow City Council Kiltegan Fathers and archdiocesan priests—gathered Eunan’s in Clydebank among others.” PICS: JOHN HUGHES DEVLIN CARDINAL Keith O’Brien celebrated St at St Margaret of Scotland Church in Raploch, Stirling The archbishop added that the contribution of Patrick’s Day last week at several events. The to celebrate a Feast Day Mass on St Patrick’s Day and the Glasgow Irish would be clearly recognised what it is at the start of the 21st century.” also the cardinal’s own birthday. (Below) His Eminence cardinal joined members of the St Patrick’s with the Papal scarf that he donated to the Knights of when St Andrew’s Cathedral reopens next month. Earlier in the week two concerts of Irish music at Missionary Society at St Margaret’s Church in St Columba PICS: PAUL McSHERRY “It is seen also in that symbolism which will the Old Fruitmarket received a rapturous reception. Stirling to mark the feast day of Ireland’s be evident when the cathedral re-opens in just a Pat McAleer of the Glasgow Irish Heritage patron saint. parishes and universities.” few weeks, when the statue of St Patrick togeth- Board who helped the concerts said they had Cardinal O’Brien also marked the day, which is The cardinal then presented the Knights of St er with the statue of St Andrew will flank the been a great success. his birthday, by donating a Papal scarf to the Columba with a special gift. In a special presentation Cathedra or Bishop’s Chair in the sanctuary as a “The first one was in the afternoon and was Knights of St Columba, which he wore in the he gave them the scarf of Papal visit tartan that he symbol of the Irish contribution to the revival of for schoolchildren and we had almost a thousand Popemobile during last year’s Papal visit. and later Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow had the Faith in Scotland,” he said. “As archbishop there, from Catholic and non denominational The cardinal was joined at St Margaret’s by worn during the Papal visit last year. The knights will of a diocese which has benefited hugely from schools,” he said. “The tickets were all snapped selection of missionary and diocesan priests asso- hold a raffle to win the scarf at various events this the life, work and witness of countless Irish up in 45 minutes and the evening concert for ciated with the missionary apostolate of the year through which they hope to raise £10,000 for priests, religious and lay people, I thank you everyone also went down very well. It was a Kiltegan fathers in Scotland and overseas. the Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage trust. today. Without the contribution of the Irish, the great celebration of St Patrick and the contribu- At the beginning of the Mass the cardinal read a modern Glasgow Archdiocese would not be tion the Irish have made to Glasgow.” message from the Pope wishing him ‘warm frater- I [email protected] nal greetings’ as he celebrated St Patrick’s Day. At the end of the Mass, the cardinal also read out a message from the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, which he had been given earlier that day by Susan Conlon the consul general of Ireland.