Aidan Michael Dunkeld returns Cook’s series from diocesan on the synod pilgrimage to begins this Lourdes. week. Page 20 SUPPORTING 50 YEARS OF SCIAF, 1965-2015 Page 6
No 5633 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday August 14 2015 | £1
Pray for the Beatification of Holy Father makes the call for global ban on nuclear weapons
Venerable Margaret Sinclair POPE Francis has called for a on the port city of Nagasaki killed global ban on nuclear weapons about 40,000 instantly and on the 70th anniversary of the destroyed a third of the city. The I Norah Smith, Venerable Margaret Sinclair’s God-daughter, makes a plea US dropping an atomic bomb attacks took a heavy toll on all of on Nagasaki. Japan’s population. The Pope for support to Scottish Catholics ahead of annual pilgrimage in Edinburgh The Holy Father said the horrific has spoken against nuclear atomic bombings of Hiroshima and weapons before, last December By Ian Dunn from sainthood. Among Ms Smith’s Nagasaki are the symbol of man’s urging their destruction in a most treasured possessions are her destructive misuse of scientific message to an international gathering AN EDINBURGH pensioner is Christening shawl from 1920, a Crucifix progress, and called for an end to on the weapons. asking for people to make a special given to her family by Margaret Sinclair all nuclear arms and weapons of “Nuclear deterrence and the threat pilgrimage to the capital city next upon departing for London and a mass destruction. of mutually assured destruction month to pray for the Beatification Christmas card sent ‘to my dear The ‘tremendous’ atomic bombing cannot be the basis for an ethics of of her Godmother, the Venerable Godchild’ from Margaret’s convent. of the two Japanese cities, which fraternity and peaceful coexistence Margaret Sinclair. took place August 6 and August 9, among peoples and states,” he said. “I pray I’m spared to see that day that Extraordinary person 1945, ‘still arouses horror and “A global ethic is needed if we are Margaret is declared blessed by the “The September pilgrimage is a great repulsion,’ the Pope said in his to reduce the nuclear threat and Pope—I would love to see that day and opportunity to gather, to worship and to Sunday Angelus address. He told work toward nuclear disarmament.” would ask everybody to pray that it celebrate the life of someone who was pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s In Japan bells tolled and tens of happens soon,” 95-year-old Norah special and who was known to be special Square that the event ‘has become thousands of people observed a Smith said. “Margaret is with me every within days and weeks after her death in the symbol of man’s enormous minute’s silence Sunday to mark the day. I pray to her every day. She’s part 1925,” Archbishop Cushley said. destructive power when he makes Nagasaki attack that killed 74,000 of my life. I’m so blessed to have her as “There is an instant understanding a wrong use of scientific and people. It came three days after a my Godmother.” among the people of God that here was technical progress.’ similar observance to remember the an extraordinary person—it’s now time These bombings ought to serve as attack on Hiroshima that claimed an History for our generation to rediscover that.” a permanent warning to humanity in estimated 140,000 lives. Ms Smith made her comments as she During a visit to Scotland in 1982, order ‘to repudiate her forever from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo was joined in her Edinburgh home by Pope St John Paul II stated that war and to banish nuclear arms and Abe laid a wreath at the Nagasaki Archbishop Leo Cushley (right) to Margaret Sinclair ‘could well be every weapon of mass destruction.’ ceremony, which was attended by promote the Annual Margaret Sinclair described as one of God’s little ones, The Holy Father then called for representatives of 75 countries, Pilgrimage that will take place on the who through her very simplicity, was prayer and a decisive commitment to including the US Ambassador afternoon of Sunday September 20 at St touched by God with the strength of real work for peace and to spread an Caroline Kennedy. Patrick’s Church in Edinburgh’s the Sinclairs at 13 Blackfriars Street in holiness of life, whether as a child, a ‘ethic of fraternity’ in the world. “As the only country attacked Cowgate, the resting place of Venerable the Cowgate,” Ms Smith said “When I young woman, an apprentice, a factory “From every land should arise one with an atomic bomb in war I am Margaret herself. It was also where was born, Mrs Sinclair came to visit my worker, a member of a trade union or a voice: No to war and violence and renewing our determination to Norah Smith was Baptised in 1920. mother to say that she had two daughters professed sister of religion.’ yes to dialogue and peace!” he said. lead the global effort for nuclear “Our family were neighbours with who would make wonderful godmothers The annual pilgrimage on Sunday Seventy years ago, the only disarmament, to create a world —Margaret and her sister Bella. My September 20, will begin at 2pm with a wartime use of nuclear weapons without such weapons,” Mr Abe said. mother chose Margaret.” Holy Hour and will conclude with Holy took place in the August 6 attack There are believed to be nine Three years later, Margaret Sinclair Mass at 4.30pm. The principal celebrant on Hiroshima and the August 9 countries in the world with nuclear entered a Convent of the Order of Poor will be Archbishop Cushley. The homily attack on Nagasaki by the United weaponry: the US, Russia, China, Clares in London. There she brought will be given by Fr Joe McAuley, the States. The Hiroshima attack killed Israel, France, Britain, North relief to the poor of that city for a short Archbishop’s Delegate for Venerable around 80,000 people instantly and Korea, Pakistan and India. time before she died of tuberculosis in Margaret’s Cause of Beatification. may have caused about 130,000 1925. She was declared ‘Venerable’ by deaths, mostly civilians. 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