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WIN A TRIP TO JOIN THE GRANDPARENTS’ PILGRIMAGE AT KNOCK SEE PAGE 2 No 5289 Sectarianism is put under the microscope Pages National police unit launched; Professor Patrick Reilly offers insight 3, 12-13 No 5424 www.sconews.co.uk Friday July 15 2011 | 90p DON’T LEAVE EAST AFRICANS TO DIE I Cardinal O’Brien backs SCIAF’s appeal to Scottish Catholics after drought leaves millions desperate By Ian Dunn (Main) A woman holds her malnourished child on arrival at Banadir hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Around 2.8 SCIAF is appealing for Scottish Catholics million people in Somalia need emergency aid after the worst drought in 60 years hit the Horn of Africa region. help after the worst drought in East Africa Cardinal Keith O’Brien has joined SCIAF in appealing for for 60 years has left ten million people close aid to the area to starvation and threatens the future of mil- lions more. affected areas—Ethiopia—where the agency Cardinal Keith O’Brien gave his whole hearted shares a joint office in Addis Ababa with it’s backing to SCIAF’s emergency campaign as the Catholic sister agencies Trocaire and CAFOD. agency’s workers warned millions of people in SCIAF has already been running emergency Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya and the newly drought relief projects in the Borena region, 560 independent country of South Sudan face disaster km south of Addis Ababa. unless aid reaches the region quickly. Expert report Appeal The cardinal’s analysis of the crisis was endorsed The failure of seasonal rains over a prolonged by Lorraine Currie, SCIAF’s head of internation- period has led to major food and water shortages, al programmes. crop failure and the widespread death of live- “This crisis has been building for a long time as stock. High levels of malnutrition are reported successive rains have failed, crops withered and amongst children and hundreds of thousands of livestock have died,” she said. “Now hundreds of people are moving away from their homes in thousands of families are threatened with starva- search of food, water and shelter. tion on a massive scale if urgent action is not taken. Cardinal O’Brien said he was personally urg- SCIAF is working with its Catholic sister agencies ing Scottish Catholics to give as much as they can and Church partners on the ground to get supplies to the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund’s of clean water, food, temporary shelters, medicines appeal. and hygiene kits to the most vulnerable, including “From our relatively wealthy country of Scotland women and children.” we cannot imagine the true horror of facing starva- tion,” he said. “Yet this is the reality which thou- Local knowledge sands of men, women and children are facing.” Cardinal John Njue, the Archbishop of Nairobi, The cardinal added that, when faced with such Kenya, said the situation was rapidly worsening a crisis, we all had a duty to help. and urged Scottish Catholics to send aid. “Ten million people are currently affected by Cardinal Njue, speaking on behalf of the the drought in the Horn and East of Africa,” he Bishops of Kenya, said 2.1 million inhabitants in said. “Many are abandoning their homes because some of the Catholic dioceses of the country had their crops and livestock have died and their been hit hard by the drought. water sources have dried up. Families are walking “Kenya is facing a very difficult time as a result for days on end without food, in blistering heat, in of the drought which has hit the country follow- the hope that they will find help so that they can ing failure of the 2010 short rains,” he said. “We stay alive. are all deeply concerned by this crisis and suffer- “In the face of this terrible crisis I believe it is ing of many Kenyans as a result of the current important to remember that every single person drought. Our concern is that of millions of vul- affected is a member of our human family and nerable people who are facing the risk of starva- that we have a responsibility to care for them in tion and the loss of livelihood of many communi- any way we can.” ties as a result of the crisis.” The current drought situation in Kenya, the bish- SCIAF poised op said, was characterised by ‘food shortages, The cardinal said he knew that SCIAF were well increasing food prices, lack of water, crop failure, placed to intervene in the crisis directly. migration and conflict, malnutrition, children “SCIAF has been working across this region dropping out of school, starvation and death.’ for many years and together with its partners on the ground, is well placed to provide emergency I Members of the public can make donations to aid to large numbers of people in need,” he said. SCIAF’s Horn and East of Africa Emergency Appeal “That is why I would ask everyone to give what- by visiting http://www.sciaf.org.uk or calling 0141 ever assistance they can to SCIAF’s Horn and 354 5555. SCIAF is not a member of the Disasters East Africa Emergency Appeal, so that we can Emergency Committee and its appeal will target come together and help our brothers and sisters at and reach projects out with the DEC’s plans this extremely difficult time.” SCIAF is currently active in one of the worst I ian@sconews.co.uk BISHOP TARTAGLIA BISHOP TOAL SOUTH SUDAN’S says that all Paisley analyses history Bishop Hiiboro Confirmandi will of persecution Kussala welcomes receive Sacrament in during annual Pope’s support for St Mirin’s Cathedral Mass at Scalan newest nation SCALAN MASS CONFIRMATIONS Page 3 Page 5 Page 9 INDEPENDENCE JOY visit www.sconews.co.uk SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 e-mail info@sconews.co.uk 2 PICTURE NEWS SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday July 15 2011 More than 20 priests from across Glasgow Archdiocese and beyond gathered for the golden jubilee of the ordination of Fr George Gillespie at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Church, Broomhill, SPOTLIGHT ON... Glasgow, on Monday July 4. Fr Gillespie’s family and friends joined him for the special occasion, including his brother, Edward and sister, Catherine. Fr Gillespie, who was was ordained on July 2, 1961 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Rome’s Piazza Navona, spoke to those gathered to celebrate with him about how his Faith was nur- Faithful service is rewarded tured by his parents and family and the people of St Thomas’ Church Riddrie, as well as the teach- ers at St Thomas’ Primary School and St Mungo’s Academy. He studied for the priesthood at Blairs CARDINAL Keith O’Brien he said, ‘there are very many John Anderson and Margaret Addly College, Aberdeen, and the Scots College in Rome and has gone on to serve a number of parishes visited St Peter’s parish in excellent people who do so much receive their Archdiocesan St in Glasgow Archdiocese. Andrew Award at St Peter’s in “I have had the most wonderful welcome from the people of whatever parish and cherish my Edinburgh with Bishop in the parish’. memories of my time with them, each parish being a different experience,” Fr Gillespie said. Emeritus Ian Murray of Both Mr Anderson and Dr Edinburgh for their outstanding service in the parish and beyond. Fr Gillespie thanked everyone who took part in the celebrations, see page 17 Argyll and the Isles to cele- Addly are in the church every They are pictured with Cardinal PICS: PAUL McSHERRY brate the vigil Mass for their day to look after the sacristy. Dr Keith O’Brien, Bishop Ian Murray patronal feast day and pay Addly prepares the altar flowers and parish priest, Mgr Francis Kerr tribute to two parishioners. and has been president of the St PIC: PAUL McSHERRY The members of the hierarchy Peter’s St Vincent de Paul con- joined St Peter’s parish priest, ference for many years while Mr Anderson was similarly active in Mgr Francis Kerr, in presenting Anderson looks after the parish St Andrews and Edinburgh the archdiocesan medal to Dr readers and is a member of the Archdiocese and had been a Margaret Addly and John church choir and music group. member of the initial Ecumenical Anderson for their dedication to If singing is needed at week- Core Group before becoming a St Peter’s parish and to St day Masses or Holy Hours, he is member of the Archdiocesan Andrews and Edinburgh always willing to lend his voice. Ecumenical Commission. Archdiocese. At archdiocesan level, Dr Both St Peter’s parishioners Mgr Kerr said that both Dr Addly was involved with the were delighted recipients of the Addly and Mr Anderson had Lourdes pilgrimages when she Archdiocesan Award and joined served the parish most faithfully was practising as a doctor and the cardinal, Bishop Murray for many years and indicated that more recently fulfilled a valuable and other guests at a buffet their dedication and commitment apostolate with Scottish Marriage reception in the church grounds had been unmatched, although, Care and the Gillis Library. Mr following the Mass. Does your grandparent(s) Tell us why your grandparent(s) deserve to be deserve to visit Knock? Win flights and five nights dinner, bed and breakfast for two adults and one child for the Grandparents’ Pilgrimage flown to Knock for the Grandparents at Knock Shrine on September 11 courtesy of Knock House Weekend on Sunday September 11th Hotel and Flybe THE Catholic Grandparents’ Last year over 5000 people Association was formally came to praise the grandparents Win flights and 5 nights dinner, bed & breakfast for two founded in Westport, Ireland of Jesus and to honour all in 2007 and continues to grandparents living and dead adults and one child for the Grandparents’ Pilgrimage at grow.