St Andrews and Bishops Toal Edinburgh pilgrims and Robson at meet up with Grandparents’ Dunkeld’s at Mass at Carfin. Lourdes. Page 6 SUPPORTING 50 YEARS OF SCIAF, 1965-2015 Page 2 No 5634 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday August 21 2015 | £1 Bishops’ Conference of Scotland president joined by members of the hierarchy to respond to the McLellan report on abuse handling PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Bishops apologise, ‘shamed and pained’ by abuse By Ian Dunn and added in his homily. “That this abuse of Scotland Moderator, said at the report’s secrecy with openness.’ ent system of monitoring the Church’s Daniel Harkins should have been carried out within the release that his commission had found safeguarding procedure outwith Church Church, and by priests and religious, there was ‘no doubt’ that ‘abuse of the Recommendations control and for the Church to pay for ARCHBISHOP Philip Tartaglia of takes that abuse to another level. Such most serious kind has taken place within Dr McKellan said his commission— counselling for survivors of abuse. Glasgow has offered a ‘profound actions are inexcusable and intolerable. the Church in Scotland.’ made up of a dozen people from a wide Dr McLellan said that all too often in apology’ on behalf of Scotland’s bish- The harm the perpetrators of abuse have Dr McLellan, a former head of HMI range of backgrounds including two the past ‘words had led nowhere’ but ops to those who have been abused caused is first and foremost to their vic- prison inspectorate who the bishops’ con- bishops—had eight key recommenda- these recommendations ‘can be meas- within the Church, and to those who tims, but it extends far beyond them, to ference asked to chair the independent tions the Scottish Church can follow to ured’ and the Church should be able to believe they have not been heard. their families and friends, as well as to commission, added that dealing with the ensure it is ‘a safe place for all.’ demonstrate ‘one year from now, three The president of the Bishop’s Confer- the Church and wider society.” legacy of abuse in the Church is the Firstly and most importantly the years from now, how much progress has ence of Scotland (above) was responding The archbishop, who was joined at ‘greatest challenge facing the whole report says the Church ‘must reach out been made.’ to the publication of the McLellan report the Mass by Bishop Joseph Toal of Catholic Church in Scotland.’ to survivors,’ listen to survivors and He said he believed monitoring this on Tuesday morning into how the Scot- Motherwell, Bishop Hugh Gilbert of He told the SCO that he had been make a ‘public apology to all survivors progress was ‘so important’ because our tish Church handles allegation of abuse, Aberdeen, Bishop William Nolan of ‘deeply distressed’ by the stories of of abuse within the Catholic Church.’ report gives the Church ‘the beginning which said the Church must ‘put sur- Galloway, Archbishop Emeritus Mario abuse survivors he had heard while com- Further recommendations say the of a way to change.’ vivors first’ from now on and apologise Conti of Glasgow and Bishop Emeritus piling the report. Church must rewrite its safeguarding “Change will come when—and only publicly for past wrongdoing. At Mass on Maurice Taylor of Galloway, said that “I spent seven years of my life in the policy, introduce independent monitor- when—the whole membership of the Tuesday afternoon, Archbishop Tartaglia survivors of abuse should know ‘the prison service,” he said. “I have been ing of its safeguarding procedures, Church own this desire for change and publicly apologised for clerical abuse say- Catholic bishops of Scotland are involved in all sorts of terrible cases, yet I measure their ongoing effectiveness, embrace the agenda set out in this ing: “We apologise to those who have shamed and pained by what you have was deeply distressed by the depth of cru- and ensure the Church’s approach to report,” he added. “If they take this found the Church’s response slow, suffered.’ “We say sorry,” he said. “We elty and wickedness of some of the sto- safeguarding is consistent. opportunity the Church will be a safer unsympathetic or uncaring and reach out ask forgiveness.” ries which are in the report. I was even The report also calls on the Church place for all.” to them as we take up the recommenda- The archbishop then repeated what he more distressed by evidence of the dam- to: Commit to ensure no one within the tions of the McLellan Commission.” had said when the McLellan Commission age this abuse can do to the rest of the vic- Church ever prevents justice from being Church reaction “Child abuse is a horrific crime,” he was announced: “We recognise the tim’s life. So often people have their life done; ensure high quality safeguarding Bishop Joseph Toal, the Scottish bishop trauma and pain that victims and sur- damaged to the point of destruction by training is widespread and continuous responsible for safeguarding, said the vivors of abuse have suffered and we are what has happened to them.” across the Church; and create a new Church accepted the report fully and committed to providing for them both jus- He said that the bishops of Scotland ‘theology of safeguarding.’ renewed its ‘commitment to protect and tice and healing.” admitted there had been a ‘culture of The recommendations also include safeguard everyone in our parish com- secrecy’ with the Church in the past, but setting up a way for whistle-blowers to munities.’ McLellan report that they had told him they were ‘deter- reveal abuse within the Church without Dr Andrew McLellan, the former Church mined to face up to that past and replace fear of the consequences, an independ- 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 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER FRIDAY AUGUST 21 2015 Grandparents in Carfin Grotto for their 5th annual pilgrimage By Daniel Harkins Bishop Steven Robson at the grandparents pilgrimages held Mass celebrated inside St in England and Ireland, and GRANDPARENTS from Francis Xavier’s Church, the organisation was created across Scotland came to where the grandparents were in 2009. Carfin Grotto last Sunday joined by their grandchildren The first pilgrimage in for the annual grandparents and other family members. Scotland took place in 2011 day. Amongst those in atten- with Bishop Peter Moran of Now in its fifth year, the dance was Dennis Aberdeen leading celebrations grandparent’s day celebrates McCormick from Wishaw in Carfin. Scotland’s grandparents and is who received the Sacrament organised by the Catholic of Anointing from Bishop Grandparents Association. Robson. I [email protected] Bishop Joseph Toal of The Catholic Grandparents Motherwell was joined by Association was born out of PIC: TOM EADIE Syro-Malabar celebrations in Motherwell and St Andrews and Edinburgh parishes By Daniel Harkins In Livingston the pilgrims one of the 23 Eastern Catholic and Dan McGinty came to St Andrew’s Church last Churches who are in full com- month (below) for feast of St munion with the See of Rome. It The Syro-Malabar community Alphonsa, where the community traces its roots back to St Thomas in Scotland celebrated the feast there welcomed pilgrims from all the Apostle in the 1st century and of St Alphonsa and the Feast of across the British Isles. Mass at its liturgy follows the Eastern Syr- the Assumption of The Blessed St Andrew’s was followed by a ian Rite, and there are around 4.6 Virgin Mary, drawing pilgrims procession around the Craigshill million Syro-Malabar Catholics from across the UK. area of the town. The day con- around the globe. In Motherwell Diocese the cluded with an Indian meal and “With God’s grace everything community came to St Bride’s celebrations held in nearby River- went very well,” Fr Sebastian Church in Cambuslang last Sun- side Primary School. Thuruthippillil, chaplain to the day, bringing colour to the streets St Alphonsa who lived from Syro-Malabar Community within as they progressed into the church 1910-46 was a Syro-Malabar St Andrews and Edinburgh Arch- where Bishop William Nolan of Franciscan nun who, in 2008, diocese, said. “More than 500 Galloway, a former Motherwell became the first native Indian to people attended the Solemn priest, celebrated Mass for the be canonised, and is honoured Mass and procession thereafter.” Feast of the Assumption of The especially in the Syro-Malabar Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholic Church. The Church is PIC ABOVE: PAUL McSHERRY SPOTLIGHT ON Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow (inset) welcomed the Mayor of Bethlehem to St Andrew’s Cathedral for the vigil Mass last Saturday. Vera Baboun (main photo) was visiting Glasgow and took part in the mass ahead of an ecumenical lunch the following day PIC: ROBERT WILSON BISHOPS’ ENGAGEMENTS Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Dunkeld, BISHOP KEENAN Succour to mark the 50th www.dunkelddiocese.co.uk Paisley, www.rcdop.org.uk ARCHBISHOP TARTAGLIA anniversary of the church. TUE AUG 25 11AM Meeting re THU AUG 27 7PM Mass for the Glasgow, www.rcag.org.uk Fertility Clinic, Diocesan Office. 50th Anniversary of SCIAF in St EWTN CATHOLIC TV IS ON SKY EPG 589 MON AUG 24 7PM Mass at St BISHOP GILBERT WED 11AM Meeting of Confir- Mirin’s Cathedral, Paisley. Sky Freesat £175 total cost , no monthly charges. Bartholomew’s Church to mark Aberdeen, www.dioceseof mation Group, St Andrews SUN 10AM Mass in St 200 Free channels including EWTN TV & Radio.