As SECONDARY STUDENTS prepare for the HERBERT COUTTS backs bishops’ inaugural Caritas Award ceremony next plans for historical collection in Saturday, the SCO reports that two medals Aberdeen but senior cleric has will be given posthumously. Pag es 5, 7 concerns about the move. Page 3
No 5468 www.sconews.co.uk Friday May 25 2012 | £1 ‘Chained until we know the truth’ I Former Lockerbie priest backs calls for inquiry after death of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi By Ian Dunn Government to endorse ‘an independent inquiry into this entire affair’ due to what they say are the THE priest who served Lockerbie when Pan large number of unanswered questions over the Am Flight 103 was blown up in 1988 said conviction of Mr Megrahi, whom Scottish Secre- that, though the man convicted of the incident tary for Justice Kenny MacAskill released on com- had been ‘released from his torment’ by his passionate grounds after he was diagnosed with death, those affected by the tragedy would terminal prostate cancer. remain ‘chained until we know the truth’ Mgr Keegans, who visited Mr Megrahi when he behind the bombing. was held in Greenock prison before his release in Mgr Patrick Keegans, now the administrator of 2009, said that ‘the serious doubts’ over the con- St Margaret’s Cathedral in Ayr, told the SCO this viction meant the Scottish Government had done week that he believes the Scottish Government’s the right thing in releasing him. decision to release Libyan Abdelbaset Ali “I do think his release on compassionate Mohmed al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds grounds was a good thing,” he said. “It was the two years ago had now been vindicated, but his right thing for him and I think he would have died and other people’s pursuit of the truth behind the a long time ago if he had remained in prison. So I Lockerbie bombing would continue. am glad he got to go home, write his book and He received support in his stance from Arch- spend time with his family.” bishop Mario Conti of Glasgow, who said the deci- sion to release Mr Megrahi had shown the Release ‘maturity and civilisation of the Scottish legal sys- Archbishop Conti joined the monsignor in praising tem,’ and from Cardinal Keith O’Brien who, like the decision of the Scottish Government to release Mgr Keegans, has signed a declaration published Mr Megrahi. on Sunday calling for a fully independent inquiry “Irrespective of whether time will confirm or into the Lockerbie bombing. exonerate him from involvement in the atrocity which happened over the skies of Lockerbie, I was Death supportive of the decision to release Abdelbaset Mr Megrahi died at his home in Libya on Sunday Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi when it was made on after a long struggle with cancer and Mgr Keegans compassionate grounds, and I remain sure that it said it was important to remember that any death was the right decision,” the archbishop said. was ‘a time of deep grief for the family’ and his He added that the empathy shown by the deci- ‘prayers and sympathy’ were with Mrs Megrahi sion was admirable but had sadly not always been and her family. matched by the approach of the Scottish press to “However, the horrendous deaths of those who Mr Megrahi’s illness and death. died at Lockerbie, and the suffering of their fami- “As I pointed out at the time, compassion is not lies are never out of mind,” he said. “And com- a sign of weakness, but of strength,” he said. “I passion for them is ongoing and unfailing.” believe it showed the maturity and civilisation of Mgr Keegans said that was why he, along with the Scottish legal system, a system where justice many others, would continue to pursue the truth can be tempered by mercy. behind the Lockerbie bombing. “Unfortunately the tasteless and mawkish rhet- “Serious doubt over the conviction is shared by oric that ensued over how long his dying process many people throughout the world,” he said. “This was to last, did no credit to those who indulged in death is a release for him and his family but for the it and who should have known better.” families of those who died, for all of us involved with Lockerbie in many ways we are not released. I [email protected] We are still chained and will be until we know the truth. “This death will not stop our pursuit of the truth, and we look forward to the truth coming out in future, because the truth always comes out.” Mgr Patrick Keegans (main photograph) had joined fresh calls for a fully independent inquiry into the Lockerbie Justice bombing following the death of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Mgr Keegans has joined Cardinal O’Brien, and al-Megrahi (far right). (Right) Archbishop Mario Conti many high-profile politicians, lawyers and clergy- of Glasgow stands by his support of the release of Mr men in signing a statement by the Justice for Megrahi in 2009 on compassionate grounds Megrahi campaign, which calls on the Scottish MAIN PIC: PA PHOTOS
ROYBRIDGE PLAQUE ZOE KEOWN SPUC PETITION unveiled in offers insight into supports the honour of St Mary ideal spiritual Catholic midwives of the Cross getaways in appeal over court’s
MacKillop Scotland RETREATS abortion decision SAINT HONOURED
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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 May 25 2012
The Missionaries of Charity Interfaith day for primary pupils welcome Cardinal O’Brien Cardinal O’Brien visit Borders Catholic primary St Margaret’s Primary School, Galashiels for renewal course Mass By Martin Dunlop
CARDINAL KEITH The Missionaries of Charity CATHOLIC school pupils from the O’Brien celebrated Mass is the order that was founded Borders recently joined together at St with sisters from the order by Blessed Mother Teresa of Margaret’s Primary School, Gala- of the Missionaries of Char- Calcutta. Sisters from the con- shiels for an inter-schools faith day. ity in Edinburgh on Satur- gregation, which has a base in Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Canon day May 12. Edinburgh, are committed to John Creanor, St Margaret’s chaplain and The Mass with Cardinal giving wholehearted and free parish priest at Our Lady and St Andrew’s O’Brien formed part of a service to the poorest of the Church, Galashiels, joined pupils for the Renewal Course that sisters poor. events, which included the celebration of from the order were attending Mass. in the capital city. PIC: PAUL McSHERRY The inter-schools faith day on Wednes- day May 16 has been running between the Borders Catholic primary schools for the Bishop Tartaglia will attend the World last five years and, as Nicola McLeod, act- ing depute head at St Margaret’s Meeting of Families in Milan next week Galashiels, explained, it gives primary seven pupils from the local schools the BISHOP Philip Tartaglia of chance to gather together and share Faith Paisley (right) is attending experiences ahead of their progression to the 7th World Meeting of secondary education. Families, which will be “It was a lovely celebration of Faith,” (Above) Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Canon sented the youngsters with a certificate of held in Milan from May 30 Ms Mcleod said. John Creanor with pupils from St Margaret’s participation as a memento of their In addition to celebrating Mass, which Primary School, Galashiels, Halyrude Primary involvement in the faith day. to June 3. School, Peebles, St Margaret’s Primary School, The Vatican this week all the schools participated in, the pupils Hawick and St Joseph’s Primary School, Joining St Margaret’s primary seven anounced the final plans for the took part in a number of Faith-based activ- Selkirk. (Above right) Celebrating Mass pupils and staff at the faith day, were their World Meeting of Families, ities and enjoyed lunch together. PICS: PAUL McSHERRY colleagues and friends from Halyrude Pri- revealing that it expects at least “The events were all child-centred and mary School, Peebles, St Margaret’s Pri- 300,000 people to attend. Dur- family is ‘an indispensable child-led; it was their day,” Ms McLeod mary School, Hawick and St Joseph’s ing the meeting, Pope Benedict resource’ and a ‘social capital,’ added. of Faith, a session the cardinal commented Primary School, Selkirk. XVI will have Sunday lunch which requires specific policies The pupils also had the chance to ask had been very ‘thought provoking,’ before with some of the families. ‘as a result of the serious eco- Cardinal O’Brien a number of questions the leader of Scotland’s Catholics pre- I [email protected] Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, the nomic crisis we are in.’ president of the Pontifical “The family is founded on Council for the Family, said faithful marriage between a among the innovations for this man and a woman, and is open event would be that catecheti- to life,” the cardinal said. Cardinal Keith O’Brien cal sessions will now be trans- “Over and above all the cul- celebrated a private Mass at St lated into Italian, French, tural developments that have Bennet’s Chapel on Friday May English, German, Spanish, Por- affected it, it still imposes itself 11, marking the first anniversary tuguese, Polish, Hungarian, as the best way to generate and of the death of one of his most Romanian, Arabic and Russian. raise children.” Faithful helpers. The Mass Cardinal Angelo Scola, who as offered the opportunity for the Archbishop of Milan will host I Are you going to the World cardinal to pay tribute to Joseph the event, said that the meeting Meeting of Families? Contact Reddington, who organised ON... SPOTLIGHT pilgrimages and holidays for St has drawn attention because of the SCO on 0141 241 6107 or e-mail [email protected] Andrews and Edinburgh a growing recognition that the Archdiocese and was known for keeping the gardens at St Bennet’s in pristine condition. On Does your parish or school have group First the cardinal’s 70th birthday he Holy Communion or Confirmation photographs presented Mr Reddington with a you would like to see published in the SCO? Bene Merenti for his service to Donʼt delay, send them to [email protected] the Church. Mr Reddington’s widow, Ellen, was in attendance or post to Dan McGinty, The Scottish Catholic at the Mass, which also saw the Observer, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6BT re-dedication of the St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocesan Banner, which Joseph carried at all major pilgrimage sites at EWTN CATHOLIC TV IS ON SKY EPG 589 home and abroad. Mgr Stephen Sky Freesat £175 total cost , no monthly charges. Robson, auxiliary bishop-elect 200 Free channels including EWTN TV & Radio. for St Andrews and Edinburgh, Call Sky on 08442411602 for installation. joined Cardinal O’Brien and those Call EWTN on 020 83502542 or e-mail [email protected] gathered to pay tribute to Mr Reddington following the Mass for free monthly posted programme guide and PIC: PAUL McSHERRY visit www.ewtn.co.uk for more info. Friday May 25 2012 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER NEWS 3
Petition will be reordered, and will, where appro- priate, be returned to the dioceses of ori- Fears ‘culture of secrecy’ gin or to other more recent depositors, supports while the more recent papers of national significance, (Bishops’Conference mate- shrouds archive plans rial, Papal documents, material covering midwives Papal visits and so on) will be re-housed when the new General Secretariat opens Look beyond Edinburgh, opponents to move are told in Glasgow.” THE Society for the Protection but questions are raised by senior cleric over proposals Mr Convery also stated that this solu- of Unborn Children (SPUC) tion would save the Church money as it has launched a petition for peo- By Ian Dunn individuals but will serve the needs of the was currently subsidising Columba ple to show support for the two Church and the academic community.” House ‘to the tune of almost £100,000 per Glasgow midwives who were A LEADING Edinburgh cleric has year’ and he hoped to reassure Catholics told in February that they had warned against a ‘culture of secrecy’ Necessary move that ‘far from acting in a cavalier and to supervise abortions, regard- surrounding the planned dispersal of Another member of the Scottish Catholic thoughtless manner, the bishops have less of their conscientious the Scottish Catholic Archives. Heritage Commission has, however, said responded wisely and prudently to a situ- objection. Mgr Michael Regan, administrator of much of the opposition to the move is unsuitable as a long-term home for the his- ation which needed resolution.’ Mary Doogan and Connie St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh and a Edinburgh-centric in nature. toric collection and additional materials.’ Wood have since launched an member of the Heritage Commission of Herbert Coutts, Edinburgh’s former Remaining concerns appeal against the Court of Session the Bishops’Conference of Scotland that city curator and director of culture, said Digital archive Professor Thomas Clancy of Glasgow ruling and SPUC hope the petition oversees the archives, said the Church he is not unaware of the capital’s charms Ronnie Convery, a spokesman for Arch- University, convener of the Scottish campaign will help raise aware- had a responsibility to ‘be transparent and but added that those against plans to bishop Mario Conti, who is the president Catholic Historical Association, remains ness of their situation. give a cogent presentation’of the case for remove the archives from Columba of the Scottish Catholic Heritage Com- concerned about the facts and figures on “We hope it will achieve two moving the archives from their present House failed to see Scotland extended mission, said the offer fromAberdeen Uni- the move. Speaking on behalf of the asso- things,” Paul Tully, SPUC general home at Edinburgh’s Columba House. beyond the capital. versity meant ‘state-of-the-art storage and ciation’s council, he said they accepted secretary, said. “Firstly put pres- He was very surprised to learn in last “Edinburgh and the central belt do not display facilities’ would be available to that Aberdeen University library would sure on the midwifery council who week’s SCO that, in addition to the colle- encapsulate Scotland,” he said. “It is non- ‘both the Blairs Library (currently on loan ensure any material they took was ‘well should really have given more sup- cion currently held in Edinburgh’sColumba sense to suggest that lending the collec- to the National Library of Scotland) and curated’ and ‘accessible’ but added that port to Mary and Connie but have House going to Aberdeen University and tions to Aberdeen University’s hugely the Historic Archive of the Catholic they still had issues with the plans. not as yet, so we hope this will say the bishops’ planned new headquarters in impressive new library, with its state-of- Church in Scotland, namely that material “There are three main issues,” he said. to them: ‘this is the kind of cause Glasgow,material relating to individual dio- the-art facilities, will somehow diminish which predates the restoration of normal “The unnecessary and unsound splitting you should be supporting.’ The ceses could be returned to them. This is scholarship and our nation.” church governance in 1878.’ of the archive; the unnecessary move- second thing is, we hope this will an issue he said had never been dis- Mr Coutts said he believed that work- “This material will be conserved and ment of a national collection away from encourage people to go out and cussed by the heritage commission. ing with Aberdeen University (above) made available in Aberdeen to all who its proximity to the other national collec- talk about it,” he said. “Because “We live in a period where accounta- would be an ‘exciting new opportunity’ would access it in Columba House, tions; and finally the determined and there has been a lot of entirely bility is of great importance,” he said. “A and would boost the ‘capacity of the north- through a 30-year loan arrangement unconsultative way in which the move wrong coverage in the media about culture of secrecy has brought the Church east to contribute to Scottish Catholic stud- which also envisages the future digitisa- has been effected.” this case so we hope this will help into disrepute in the past and it is vital that ies, and is to be welcomed.’ tion of the material, thus eliminating Professor Clancy said that he and the get the right message out there.” we learn the lessons of the past and show He added the plan to move part of the gripes about the alleged ‘difficulties’ of SCHA council still believe ‘it would Donna Nicholson of SPUC that the bishops and the trustees of the archives was essential because for more travelling to Aberdeen,” he said. behove the bishops, and the Scottish Scotland said that supporting the Blairs Museum Trust have acted as than a decade ‘experts have viewed “The remainder of the material at Catholic Heritage Commission, under midwives’ appeal should be a pri- responsible trustees in this matter and that Columba House, which occupies part of a Columba House—that is the working whose auspices the move has been ority for all those who care about the move is not simply the whim of a few Georgian townhouse built in 1819, as papers of individual dioceses post 1878— allowed to go ahead, to pause and rethink.’ the pro-life cause. “SPUC Scot- land and its members and support- ers are fully behind Connie and Mary in their decision to appeal this judgment,” she said. “The women have taken these steps at Thomas Marin James Scott great personal cost to themselves Independent Funeral Directors Funeral Directors and their families, because they Your local Independent Funeral Director have been left with no alternative. “Stay local... keep it in the family... offer a prompt Over eighty years of It would be a travesty if they were giving undivided attention, and personal service 24 forced out of a profession they love 24 hour care and a level of service and have served well for decades hours a day... make it second to none. The only independent, because their senior status now affordable.” negates their right to conscientious family-owned business in the area. objection.” Thomas Marin 1926 Let our family look after your family Three generations later, his words are just I For a copy of the petition, call as important to our family business today. 314 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh EH15 2DA SPUC in London on 020 7091 62-64 St Mary Street, Tel: 0131 556 7192 or Edinburgh EH1 1SX Tel: 0131 669 6333 7091 or SPUC Scotland on 0131 556 6874 (24 hrs) or 0131 669 1285 (24hrs) 0141 221 2094. 7 Bridge Street, Musselburgh EH21 6AA Tel: 0131 665 6925 Knights hold a chain of prayer www.thomasmarin.co.uk www.thomasmarin.co.uk
THE Knights of St Columba are to mark the feast day of & ($ % ! $$ their patron saint with Chain of MMancuniaancunia ! $ $ %# #!%# $$%# ( ! #$ %#% %# Prayer initiatives in England, # )%# $%$ ' # *(# ! #$% $+ &,$ $!" Scotland and Wales to raise # #% ( %! &$ *