Tributes paid to ARCHBISHOP MARIO PROFESSOR VALERIE FLEMING warns that CONTI ahead of the 10th anniversary abortion will present further major next week of his installation in Glasgow. problems for midwives governed by Pages 12-13 professional body guidelines. Page 11 No 5454 www.sconews.co.uk Friday February 17 2012 | £1 PAPAL DELEGATION BARONESS WARSI asks for Pope’s help in returning Christian faith to a central role in British society Page 7 INSIDE YOUR SCO NEWS pages 1-9 OPINION page 10-11 FEATURES pages 12-13, 24 Call to ‘take marriage seriously’ COLUMNISTS pages 10, 15, 22 INTIMATIONS pages 17-20 I BISHOPS’ ENGAGEMENTS Cardinal O’Brien uses Holy Father’s words to mark Marriage Week in wake of threats to the institution page 20 By Ian Dunn Cardinal O’Brien presents the Marriage CHILDREN’S LITURGY page 16 Catechesis award certificates to (above) Gerard McCormick, Owen and Linda SPECIAL OCCASIONS CARDINAL Keith O’Brien has McFarlane, Thomas and Janice Graham, and pages 22-23 called on Catholics and British Robert Short at St Francis Xavier’s, Falkirk, society as a whole to ‘take marriage where he spoke in defence of the Sacrament seriously.’ of Marriage between a man and a woman CATHOLIC EDUCATION Speaking during International Mar- and blessed engaged couples preparing for riage Week, Cardinal O’Brien said it was marriage (left) PICS: PAUL MCSHERRY more important than ever to fully cele- brate the importance of marriage. the Earl and Countess of Strathearn, His words came as reports this week ‘then Prince William of Wales and Miss suggested the British Government is to Catherine Middleton’ that he attended. backtrack on its plan to announce tax The cardinal spoke of another event breaks for married couples in next from the recent past when thinking of month’s budget and as both the Scottish land from within the Catholic community lay marriage Catechists active in parishes. marriage, the 2010 Papal visit when the and British Governments face a back- as well as from secular society. “At this present time, our ordained Pope said: “There are those who would lash over their intentions to look at “We realise how in this present time priests cannot give enough time to prepare advocate that the voice of religion be redefining marriage with a view to in our country there are so many who candidates for matrimony and conse- silenced.” including same-sex unions. do not take the Sacrament of Matri- quently there is a need for trained lay The Pope threw out a challenge to mony seriously,” he said. “There are women and lay men to help in this valued each one of us at that time, the cardinal Warning increasing numbers of marriage break- apostolate,” he said. “That is why I am said, and each one of us within us has a The cardinal made the comments at St downs; there are those many people more than happy to be able to be here with duty ‘to proclaim the beauty of the Francis Xavier’s Church in Falkirk last who are living together without the help you this evening to present award cer- Sacrament of Matrimony’ and to ‘take Sunday at a Mass to celebrate the Sacra- of this blessing of God in the Sacrament tificates following the conclusion of this marriage seriously.’ “ ment of Marriage. He used Pope Bene- of Matrimony; there are those who see recent course when the first fully trained At every level of national life our REACTION TO THE dict XVI’s words when he urged society other ways of living together which group of parish Catechists in marriage voices must be heard, that voice of Chris- lack of support for Faith to ‘take marriage seriously’ before demean the wonderful words of ‘the are here with us this evening.” tian teaching, proclaiming both to those schools among polled adding his own to explain that was Sacrament of Matrimony;’ and there are who want to hear and to those who do because ‘we realise that in past centuries those who do find it very difficult to talk Marriage union not want to hear that our standards are SNP supporters so many may indeed have taken mar- to their children about the beauty of the The cardinal also spoke of the teaching those of Jesus Christ and no one will riage seriously’ but that is not the case Sacrament of Matrimony because of of Jesus that ‘unequivocally taught the move us from them,” he said. Page 3 now ‘with the declining number realis- some failures real or imagined in their original meaning of the union of man ing the joy of the married state.’ own living out of married life.” and woman as the Creator willed from No tax break Before blessing a number of young Because of these threats, the cardinal the beginning’ and how that remained However there were indications this engaged couples and presenting certifi- said the Church was placing an ‘ever the basis of this ‘great sacrament.’ week that the UK Government is not cates of marriage Catechism to six people, greater concentration on suitable prepa- He added the past year provided a fine inclined to follow the cardinal’s call. the cardinal told those present that mar- ration for marriage’ and to ensure this example of marriage in the modern era in riage was very much under threat in Scot- happened he hoped to see more and more the wedding of the future King and Queen, I Continued on page 3 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 SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday February 17 2012 It all adds up with award for Addiewell parishioner CARDINAL Keith O’Brien the St Thomas’ community. visited the parish of St “Despite the pressures often Thomas’, Addiewell, earlier brought to bear on him by the this month to present a nature of his work he has Papal award to the retired always given 100 per cent to accountant of St Andrews any task asked of him,” he said. and Edinburgh Archdiocese “He is man of deep, traditional and an active member of the faith, often attending Mass St Thomas’ community. within Gillis [Centre] when the The cardinal joined Fr opportunities presented them- Christopher Heenan, St selves and encouraging the cel- Thomas’ parish priest, in pre- ebration of Mass on particular senting George Lavery, who occasions such as Lent and became archdiocesan account- Advent. He is often found pray- ant 12 years ago, with the ing either in the chapel, the ora- award. tory or even his own office. Speaking about nominating “George is above all and Mr Lavery for the honour, Fr beyond all a Church man, a Heenan noted that in addition priests’ man, committed and to his role as archdiocesan dedicated to serving the Church accountant, Mr Lavery also in the best way possible. That served on the Episcopal he has managed to do this in A class act at Aberdeen RE launch Finance Committee, gatherings the face of many difficulties is of diocesan accountants and a credit to him, his faith and his treasurers of Scotland and also deep commitment to Christ.” By Martin Dunlop represented these committees at Mr Lavery’s wife, Elizabeth, the meetings of the English and and family joined him for his BISHOP Hugh Gilbert led diocesan Welsh Financial Advisors. Fr special day last Sunday. celebrations last week in Aberdeen to Heenan added that Mr Lavery mark the launch of This is Our Faith, is ‘a very positive member’ of PIC: PAUL MCSHERRY the new religious education syllabus for use in Scottish Catholic schools. Bishop Gilbert welcomed Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, education representa- tives from the diocese and civic authori- ties, staff and pupils from Aberdeen’s three Catholic primary schools, St Joseph’s, St Peter’s and Holy Family, parents and catechists for the cel- ebration at the diocesan headquarters on February 6. Bishop Gilbert welcomed all those pres- ent before Mr McGrath provided an intro- duction to This is Our Faith, which provides the teaching guide for religious education as leading prayers and reflections. (Top, left to right) The Aberdeen This is Our for pupils from P1 through to S3. There was also a large turnout the fol- Faith launch: Louise Lacazem, teacher at St Louise Lacaze shared her views on the lowing evening at St Ninian’s Church, Joseph’s Primary, Aberdeen, Michael McGrath new document, speaking from the view- Inverness, which played host to the second director of SCES, David Leng, head of schools Aberdeen City Council, Councillor Jennifer point of a teacher (at St Joseph’s Primary diocesan launch event for the new syllabus. Stewart, Bishop Hugh Gilbert, Pat Pritchard, School), a catechist and as a parent. Fr Stuart Chalmers, vicar general for diocesan adviser for RE and Maria Walker, Pat Pritchard, Aberdeen Diocesan adviser Aberdeen Diocese, led the Inverness launch director of education for Aberdeenshire. for Catholic education, also spoke during and amongst those in attendance were staff (Above) Pupils and staff from St Joseph’s the launch, while pupils from the three and pupils from St Joseph’s Primary Primary, Inverness, at the launch of This is Catholic schools were involved throughout School, Inverness’ Catholic primary school. Our Faith in the city the evening, entertaining the large crowd gathered with their musical talents as well I [email protected] Teachers from throughout St David’s Deanery attend Mass at Bonnyrigg parish CARDINAL Keith O’Brien throughout the deanery were joined teachers from St present for the Mass and meet- David’s Deanery of St ing, joining Brid O’Brien, Andrews and Edinburgh director of RE and RE adviser Archdiocese for a Mass and (see here exchanging the Sign meeting at Our Lady of of Peace with the cardinal) for Consolation Church, primary and secondary schools Bonnyrigg, on Monday for St Andrews and Edinburgh February 6.