Cardinal Defends Christian Freedom

SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR ONLY NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SEE PAGE 24 FOR DETAILS No 5289 Vatican warning over WikiLeaks’ claims Page Prudence is advised for those reading the latest diplomatic cables 24 No 5395 www.sconews.co.uk Friday December 17 2010 | 90p Cardinal defends Christian Freedom I His Eminence Cardinal Keith O’Brien stands up for the Christian faith at Westminster Carol service By Ian Dunn CARDINAL Keith O’Brien has made a stir- ring defence of the Christian faith, saying religious freedoms in the United Kingdom are not as they ‘should be.’ Speaking at the annual Carol Service for Christians in Government at Westminster Cathedral, London, Cardinal O’Brien said it was vital the politicians present sought to uphold ‘freedom of religious expression.’ The cardinal told an audience of around 1800 including Home Secretary Theresa May MP, Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell and the Attorney General Dominic Grieve MP that whether ‘priest or politician’ they had a ‘common vocation’ to follow God’s way. Under attack The main thrust of the cardinal’s address was the assault on Christians in British public life. “Our own Christians in politics do sometimes risk public ridicule, loss of office, being over- looked for promotion, and so on because of their beliefs,” he said. In response the cardinal said he had backed the Westminster 2010 Declaration of Christian liber- ties, and urged all those present to do the same. “I ask you to consider endorsing [the declaration] as it does uphold the rights of conscience of all peoples particularly those in positions of responsibility and especially concerning Christian beliefs and values, and the dignity of human life and marriage,” he said. “The declaration calls upon all those in positions of leadership, responsibility and influence in the UK to pledge to respect, uphold and protect the rights of Christians to hold their beliefs and to act according to their Christian conscience.” The cardinal said he believed the declaration was a ‘timely initiative’ as Christians in Scotland and the UK were no longer willing to tolerate the Speaking at the annual Carol Service for Christians at my own cathedral I indicated that I saw the letters world born among us in poverty and simplicity abuse they routinely received. Westminster, Cardinal Keith O’Brien called on politicians P and C as standing not for ‘political correctness’ 2000 years ago.” “Within the last week Christians across the UK present to defend religious freedoms but rather for ‘proclaiming Christianity.’ That is The service was organised by the non-denomi- have endorsed the Not Ashamed campaign urging PIC: PAUL MCSHERRY certainly at the basis of our vocation as Christians national group Christians in government that us all not to be ashamed of our Christian heritage, in politics.” works to support Christian civil servants. The serv- while in Scotland Catholics have raised their voic- red carpet in a packed Westminster Hall —remind- ice raised more than £3000 for the charity es against sectarianism and intolerance directed ing so many of us of that figure of Jesus standing Christian message Christians Against Poverty. against the Church,” he said. “Clearly, these before Pilate as He was condemned to death,” he In closing, Cardinal O’Brien, told those present, to While in London the cardinal also addressed actions show that freedom of religious expression, said. “One might say that Pope Benedict XVI had think on the vital nature of the Christian message Scottish MPs and had individual meetings with a basic human right, is not upheld in our midst as similarly been condemned over the years and espe- as they ‘pray before the cribs and various nativity Michael Moore, the Secretary of State for Scotland widely and as completely as it should be.” cially since his election as Pope for his views and scenes in our homes, our churches and public and Ann McKechin, the Shadow Secretary of State for his outspoken ways of proclaiming the ‘truth’ places’ in the coming weeks. for Scotland, as well as with Jim Murphy, the Papal concern of Jesus Christ and His teaching. It almost seemed “As we do let us pray for those whom we are Shadow Secretary of State for Defence. The cardinal also said that Pope Benedict XVI’s that, as his words were proclaimed, that he was in called upon to serve and for our own role in serv- The cardinal also took time to meet with the speech at Westminster Hall earlier this year spoke turn defending his message of truth.” ice,” he said. “Let us ask the good Lord to executive of the Catholic Union, representatives of urgently to these very concerns. The cardinal said he had never been shy about strengthen us in our own living out of our bap- ‘Catholic Voices’ and several pro-life groups, “It was an unforgettable moment for so many of proclaiming God’s Word himself. tismal vocation so that we will never be afraid to including Care Not Killing. us when the elderly slightly stooped figure of the “I myself have not been slow in proclaiming the proclaim Christ so that in our acts and our words Pope clad in white was outlined against the vivid Christian message,” he said. “One Easter time in we live out the message of the Saviour of the I [email protected] SCIAF WELCOMES GERALD WARNER CARDINAL O’BRIEN fresh ecological calls for a more sends first copy of progress but calls robust response souvenir DVD of for more aid to to attacks on the historic visit to the developing world Catholic Church Holy Father PAPAL VISIT DVD PAPAL Page 3 CHANGE CLIMATE Page 8 Page 5 visit PERSECUTED CHURCH? www.sconews.co.uk 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 December 17 2010 A feast of festive fun in the capital THERE was festive fun to Snow-stranded visitor Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral be had in Edinburgh Bishop Peter Moran of (below) before retiring to the recently as the St Vincent Aberdeen joined Cardinal hall with the parishioners for de Paul Mass and Keith O’Brien, Mgr Michael the Christmas meal and party Christmas party were cele- Regan and Fr Allan (above). brated. Ocdenaria to concelebrate the PICS: PAUL McSHERRY SPOTLIGHT ON... Lourdes Music group were hitting all the right notes recently as they held their annual Carol concert at St Joseph’s House, home to the Little Sisters of the Poor, in Edinburgh. Among the invited guests was Cardinal Keith O’Brien PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Local churches come to aid of St Mary’s, Lanark, during the busy Christmas period ST MARY’S Church, their own churches for the St consider using the church. Lanark, is to become a Mary’s community to celebrate “However all is not lost. ‘roaming’ Catholic parish at Christmas time. Rev Alison Meikle and Rev during the festive period Fr Joseph Brannigan, St Bryan Kerr have been very with Masses set to be Mary’s parish priest, informed generous in offering us use of celebrated in neighbouring his parishioners of the news their respective churches at this Church of Scotland recently. time. And for that I am very, parishes. “We had hoped that the ren- very grateful—both to the min- As a result of ongoing reno- ovations would have been well isters and to their parish com- vation work the St Mary’s enough advanced to allow us munities.” community will be unable to to use the church at Further Masses will be cele- celebrate Christmas Masses in Christmas,” he said to parish- brated at the local St their own church but all is not ioners. “However we now Catherine’s Convent. lost and the neighbouring know for certain that there is Church of Scotland communi- no chance of the new boilers I For further details on ties of Greyfriars Parish being installed in time for Christmas Mass times St Conducting carols in Glasgow’s cathedral precinct Church and St Nicholas Parish Christmas, and without a heat- Mary’s Church can be contact- The St Mungo’s Singers, along with Mgr Gerry Fitzpatrick, were on hand to give a rousing performance in the cathedral Church have offered use of ing system we simply couldn’t ed on: 01555 662234 precinct in Glasgow on Sunday December 11 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY REFRESH YOUR FAITH BETWEEN MASSES Friday December 17 2010 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER NEWS 3 Lockerbie bomber’s appeal case information is kept under wraps SCIAF welcomes climate change progress INFORMATION that led to Organisation is pleased with eco-advances but calls for more help for developing countries the case of the man convict- ed of the Lockerbie bomb- By Ian Dunn time to secure the fair, ambitious and binding being referred back to ing agreement the world so desperately the Appeal Court will not THE Scottish Catholic International needs.” be revealed. Aid Fund has welcomed the progress The Scottish Criminal Cases made at the UN’s climate conference Agreement reached Review Commission (SCCRC) in Mexico but warns that only a legal- Among the agreements reached at Cancun said it had been unable to get ly-binding deal can prevent further was that all countries promised to cut consent from all parties that had devastation in developing countries. emissions. In addition agreement was also provided it with material. The world’s governments last Saturday reached on funding for countries that did The news looks set to infuri- sent of those who had ‘directly or agreed a number of measures to combat not cut down forests; to provide up to US ate all those who had called for indirectly’ provided information.

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