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Former Glasgow Lord Provost Cardinal Keith O’Brien ALEX MOSSON on the urgent bestows a Papal knighthood need to support Palestine and its on LORD GILL, the Lord Justice people. Pages 12-13 Clerk of Scotland. Page 2 No 5435 www.sconews.co.uk Friday September 30 2011 | £1 Church must Over 4.5 million Ethiopians face starvation battle attack of secularisation I While in Germany, the Holy Father said that Catholics must oppose same- sex marriage and euthanasia proposals By Martin Dunlop life from God, the Christian Churches in Germany—including Orthodox and Ori- POPE Benedict XVI defended the ental Orthodox Christians—are walking ‘integrity’ and ‘uniqueness’ of marriage side by side along the path of peaceful between a man and a woman, during witness for understanding and solidarity his four-day state visit to Germany among peoples, on the basis of their faith last week in which he underlined in the one God and Father of all,” the Christian unity, interfaith dialogue Holy Father said. “At the same time they and the urgent need for religion in an continue to place the miracle of God’s increasingly secularised society. incarnation at the centre of their procla- The Holy Father was making his first mation. Realising that on this mystery all official visit to his homeland as Pope human dignity depends, they speak up and, in addition to defending the sanc- jointly for the protection of human life tity of marriage in light of bids in Scot- from conception to natural death.” land and internationally to redefine it for same-sex couples, he also spoke out Scottish reaction against abortion and euthanasia. The Holy Father’s messages from Ger- many had particular resonance with Guided by God Catholics in Scotland, particularly his “Faith in God, the Creator of life, and defence of the integrity of marriage. unconditional adherence to the dignity of The Pope’s words followed a recent every human being strengthen faithful statement from the Bishops’ Conference Christians to oppose vigorously every of Scotland, in which they emphasised manipulative and selective intervention that they would ‘strenuously oppose’ any in the area of human life,” the Pope said attempts from the Scottish Government in an address to Orthodox church leaders to redefine marriage to include same-sex at the Seminary Hörsaal, Freiburg, on couples, while similar plans have also Saturday. “Knowing too the value of been proposed in England and Wales. marriage and the family, we as Christians attach great importance to defending the I continued on page 7 integrity and the uniqueness of marriage between one man and one woman from I German Consul General in Scotland any kind of misinterpretation.” says Church rallied round visit, page 9 The Pope said that, in this respect, ‘the common engagement of Christians, I Full coverage of Pope’s visit to his including Orthodox and Oriental Ortho- homeland, pages 8-9 Many Ethiopian farmers are facing starvation as large numbers of the livestock upon which they depend have died due to the dox Christians, makes a valuable contri- ongoing East African drought. This is the finding of SCIAF’s Val Morgan currently visiting the country. Over 4.5 million Ethiopians bution to building up a society equipped I Read all the homilies and addresses are in need of emergency food aid and a quarter of a million cattle have died because of a lack of water on grazing land. SCIAF, its for the future, in which the human per- of Papal visit in full at sister agencies and partners in Ethiopia are helping farmers by providing cash and food to the most vulnerable, cash-for-work for son is given the respect which is his due.’ http://www.sconews.co.uk/ the able-bodied and emergency livestock feeding. Donate now on 0141 354 5555 or online at www.sciaf.org.uk. Further reports “In the present climate, in which many from Mr Morgan on Ethiopia in future SCO editions PIC: VAL MORGAN/SCIAF would like, as it were, to ‘liberate’ public I Editorial, page 14 SCIAF REPORT NEWS pages 1-9 IONA COMMUNITY’S launch at Scottish OPINION pages 10-11 rehabilitation plans Parliament; Aid FEATURES pages 12-13, 21 receive support agency calls for LETTERS page 14 from Roseanna direct support COLUMNS pages 15-16, 22 Cunningham MSP INTIMATIONS pages 17-20 INSIDE THE SCO Page 5 CHANGE CLIMATE CELEBRATING LIFE page 24 Page 3 visit www.sconews.co.uk TACKLING SECTARIANISM TACKLING SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 e-mail [email protected] 2 PICTURE NEWS SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday September 30 2011 Cardinal O’Brien presents Papal knighthood at Red Mass By Martin Dunlop CARDINAL Keith O’Brien was the main concelebrant at the annual Red Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, on Sunday, marking the opening of the new legal year in Scotland. Sunday’s Mass was an extra special occasion for Lord Gill, the Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, when his outstand- ing service to public life in the country was recognised. Cardinal O’Brien, rep- resenting Pope Benedict XVI, bestowed upon him the Papal Knighthood. Joining the cardinal and Lord Gill at Sunday’s Mass, were various members of the legal profession in Scotland and their families, including Lord Gill’s fellow judges, Lord Hardie, Lord Drummond Young, Lord Matthews and Lord Doherty. Also present were Frank Mulholland QC, the Lord Advocate, Richard Keen QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, and Austin Lafferty, vice president of the Law Society of Scotland. In his homily at Sunday’s Mass, Car- dinal O’Brien urged Catholic lawyers in Scotland to remain strong and true to their religious beliefs. “There is no doubt that one of the biggest challenges facing Catholic lawyers in Scotland today is a challenge which has faced many people and dif- ferent groups in society down the ages: how do you live and act out your pro- time the only serving Catholic judge in Joining Cardinal O’Brien and Lord Gill fessional lives while at the same time Scotland—Lord Gill went on to become (inset with Papal knighthood) at Sunday’s remaining true to the teachings and doc- chairman of the Scottish Law Commis- Mass, were members of the legal trine of the Church?” Cardinal O’Brien sion, a post he held until 2001 when he profession and their families, including said. “Specifically for lawyers the chal- was appointed Lord Justice Clerk. Lord Gill’s fellow judges, Lord Hardie, Lord lenge must be how can you represent “Lord Gill is at present Scotland’s Drummond Young, Lord Matthews and your clients’ interests to the best of your longest serving judge—undertaking a Lord Doherty PICS: PAUL McSHERRY abilities while applying the law of the review of the Scottish Civil Courts on land, when at times these two pressures behalf of the Scottish Government and him the honour of a Knighthood of the may be in conflict with your own fulfilling various other roles on behalf Order of St Gregory the Great. Catholic Faith.” of the UK and Scottish Governments,” “It is an award that I am sure will be The cardinal said that, in so doing, he the cardinal said. “He has enjoyed the warmly welcomed by both the Catholic was ‘echoing the words’ of Pope Bene- take confidence from the Word of God. Bar as an Advocate in 1967. From 1964 support of his wife, Kate, and family, Community and the whole legal dict XVI during his address at West- Prior to bestowing upon Lord Gill— to 1977 he lectured in the Faculty of having been married for 42 years and profession.” minster Hall during his visit to the UK who was attending his 44th consecutive Law at the University of Edinburgh. having five sons and one daughter along “It is an honour and a privilege to last September. Red Mass—the Papal Knighthood, the Lord Gill went on to become an with 14 grandchildren. He is a loyal receive a knighthood from this great “The Pope called upon the lay Faith- cardinal spoke about Lord Gill’s life and Advocate Depute; then, as an Advocate. and active parishioner in St Columba’s Pope,” Lord Gill said. “I was touched ful, ‘within their respective spheres of some of his many achievements. He was also appointed as Standing Jun- Parish, Edinburgh and at national level by the gracious words of the cardinal at influence,’ to seek ways of promoting Following on primary and secondary ior Counsel to the Foreign and Com- has assisted the Bishops of Scotland. the Red Mass.” and encouraging dialogue between schooling at St Thomas’ Primary monwealth Office, the Home Office “It is then I am sure you will agree, Faith and reason at every level of School and St Aloysius’ College, Glas- and the Scottish Education Department; entirely appropriate that the Holy Father I [email protected] national life,” the cardinal said, while gow, Lord Gill attended Glasgow Uni- and in 1981, he was appointed a has seen fit to recognise Lord Gill’s I Read Cardinal O’Brien’s homily to the encouraging those present to consider versity, gaining the degrees of MA and Queen’s Counsel. exceptional contribution to public life in legal profession in full in next week’s the message of the day’s readings and LLB before being called to the Scottish Appointed a judge in 1994—at that Scotland and to graciously bestow on SCO Bishop Devine rededicates re-opened St Mary’s, Lanark BISHOP Joseph Devine of Motherwell joined the com- munity of St Mary’s Church, Lanark, as they celebrated the dedication of their reno- vated church building with a Mass on Sunday.