UKIP Stoking Sectarianism? I Ex-Senior Member Accuses Party of Using Religious Hatred in Scottish Elections by Ian Dunn
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POPE calls for Fears for the Strength the release of future of through Faith kidnapped CATHOLIC for the UCM priest EDUCATION Scotland. Pages 6-7 Pages 10-11 Pages 4-5 No 5667 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday April 15 2016 | £1 UKIP stoking sectarianism? I Ex-senior member accuses party of using religious hatred in Scottish elections By Ian Dunn A FORMER senior member of UKIP Scotland has accused the party of run- ning an ‘extremely cynical’ election campaign intended to appeal to anti- Catholic bigots. Pope tells us not to judge, Dr Jonathan Stanley (right), former treas- urer of the party who resigned last year over says Bishop John Keenan what he then called ‘sectarian racist filth,’ has told the SCO that he believes that the POPE Francis is calling helping hand rather than turn party—which has no MSPs at present—was on Scottish Catholics to them away because they have making a cynical attempt to appeal to resid- ditch ‘judgementalism,’ not attained some degree of ual anti-Catholic sentiment in Scotland. according to Bishop John perfection. UKIP Scotland Party Leader David Coburn Keenan. As synod members did, the (below right) has denied the allegations say- Bishop Keenan of Paisley, Pope insisted that God’s plan ing his party is ‘open to all,’ but one of one of the Scottish bishops for the family is that it be UKIP’s candidates for May’s Scottish elec- with responsibility for mar- built on the lifelong union of tion has posted online calling Catholicism riage and the family, said it one man and one woman ‘filthy mysticism.’ was important that Catholics open to having children. read the Papal exhortation The Holy Father’s docu- Cynical tactics Amoris Laetitia, Pope Fran- ment touches on all the “I think they’ve chosen to go down this route cis’ reflection on issues issues raised at the synods because they believe it will get them to 6 or raised during the 2014 and and gives practical advice on 7 per cent,” Dr Stanley said, referring to the 2015 meetings of the Synod raising children, urges a usual threshold for winning seats in the Scot- of Bishops on the Family. revision of sex-education tish Parliament elections. “If they were gen- The document, released last programmes and decries the uinely anti-Catholic, that would be one Friday, does not change many ways the ‘disposable thing, but if this is just an attempt to dig up Catholic doctrine but encour- culture’ has infiltrated family the bones of sectarianism, I don’t think it The Edinburgh-based surgeon, said that he He stepped down from his UKIP role earlier ages much greater attention life and sexuality to the point will work.” had personally experienced senior members of this year over accusations he’d made inde- to the language and attitude that many people feel free to A recent Survation poll suggested UKIP UKIP Scotland making anti-Catholic remarks. cent phone calls to a number of women. used when explaining Church use and then walk away could win as many as six seats in the Scottish “They would drop in a comment, as a test, see Caroline Santos, one of UKIP’s candi- teaching and ministering to from others. Parliament on May 5. if you responded and if you said nothing they’d dates in May’s Scottish Parliamentary elec- those who do not fully live Bishop Keenan said the Dr Stanley said his criticism only applied to go further,” he said. tions, has used the social networking site that teaching. heart of the document is the Scottish branch of UKIP and not the party “When I resigned from the party raising this Twitter to make a number of controversial “No family drops down that ‘Pope Francis wants us as a whole. and other issues I got a very hostile, very nasty remarks about Catholics. from heaven perfectly to be close to all people, no response.” In December of last year, the UKIP can- formed; families need con- matter what their situation didate for the regional South of Scotland list stantly to grow and mature in or how far from the Church Evidence of claim said she was against Catholic schools the ability to love,” Pope they feel.’ The party’s former chairman Arthur ‘Misty’ because ‘I don’t want my taxes subsidising Francis writes in Amoris Thackeray, Mr Coburn’s chief of staff, had gobbledygook, simple’ and suggested the Laetitia (The Joy of Love), Continued on page 6 previously made disparaging remarks about existence of such schools meant Scotland adding that people grow in Catholicism, saying it was based on a ‘fas- ‘was still stuck in the religious dark ages.’ Holiness, and the Church I Bishop Keenan’s cist ideology’ and complained of a ‘suffo- must be there to give them a comments in full, page 10 cating culture of anti-loyalism’ in Scotland. Continued on page 5 SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] 2 WHAT’S ON SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER FRIDAY APRIL 15 2016 Cemetery Mass at Hawkhead unites mourners, diocesan clergy PAISLEY Catholics young and old came out in numbers for the annual Hawkhead Cemetery Mass last weekend. Bishop John Keenan was principal cele- brant with Fr Stephen Baillie of St Charles’ in Paisley concelebrating the event which honours the dead and offers comfort to bereaved families. PICS: PAUL McSHERRY What’s On A weekly guide to upcoming Church-related events, more online at www.sconews.co.uk SUNDAY APRIL 17 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall I Paisley Year of Mercy Fam- on Friday April 22 at 7.30pm. ily Gathering and Mass. Fami- Box Office Tel: 0141 353 lies are encouraged to come 8000. along to the Diocesan Year of Mercy Family Gathering on SATURDAY APRIL 23 Sunday April 17 from 2pm in I Scotland’s annual pro-life St. Mirin’s Cathedral hall. The chain. Edinburgh SPUC invite day will begin with refresh- you to their National Pro-life ments and social time, fol- Chain—a silent witness against lowed by a virtual pilgrimage legal abortion. They host this and family activities focused event every year to mark the on the Year of Mercy, leading anniversary of the 1967 to a procession through the Abortion Act coming into Holy Door for Mass with effect. Bishop John at 4pm. Meet at 10.45am outside the Usher Hall for 11am start. SPOTLIGHT ON PIC: GERARD GOUGH TUESDAY APRIL 19 Rosary before, at 10am in the I Paisley Synod Opening Sacred Heart Church in Lauris- Missio Scotland welcomed Bishop Joseph Toal and its diocesan directors to the Catholic charity’s National Council meeting at its HQ in Coatbridge. See here are (back, left to right): Fr Tom Welsh (National Director of Missio Scotland), Fr Richard Reese (diocesan director for Aberdeen), Canon Leo Glancy Mass in St. Mirin's Cathedral ton followed by an address by (diocesan director for St Andrews and Edinburgh), Fr David Connor (diocesan director for Argyll and the Isles), Fr Bernard Zulu (development on Tues 19 April at7.00pm. John Deighan—SPUC CEO. do-ordinator for Missio Scotland), Kerry Shearer (fundraising manager for Missio Scotland), Sr Stacey Cameron (mission formation co-ordinator for The dioceses wants as many as Refreshments after event also. Missio Scotland), Helen McCarron (admin assistant for Missio Scotland) possible to join us to celebrate Call SPUC Scotland on 0141 (Front, left to right): Fr Michael Freyne (Diocesan Director for Dunkeld), Fr Vincent Lockhart (Diocesan Director for Motherwell), Deacon Graham Kelly and pray for the success of our 221 2094 for more informa- (Diocesan Director for Paisley), Bishop Joseph Toal (Trustee of Missio Scotland), Fr Martin Chambers (Diocesan Director for Galloway). Synod. All welcome! Refresh- tion. Diocesan Director for Glasgow (not pictured) is Fr Joseph Boyle ments in the Hall afterwards. There is a bus being run from Glasgow, leaving at FRIDAY APRIL 22 8.30am. If you would like a I Bishop Joseph Toal of Mother- ‘Erskine’ 100th Birthday seat on the bus, contact Louise well and Archbishop Emeritus Concert performed by The on 0141 221 2094 or Mario Conti of Glasgow blessed Glasgow Phoenix Choir at [email protected] a new Statue of Our Lady of Palestine at Carfin Grotto on the E-mail [email protected] Feast of the Annunciation, Mon- day April 4.The statue has been erected in the sunken garden in Carfin Grotto, facing the main tunnel entrance and was donated by the Knights of the EWTN CATHOLIC TV IS ON SKY EPG 589 Holy Sepulchre. Our Lady Queen Sky Freesat £175 total cost , no monthly charges. of Palestine is the patroness of the order. Her feast day tradi- 200 Free channels including EWTN TV & Radio. tionally falls on the last Sunday Call Sky on 08442411602 for installation. in October. Before the dedica- Call EWTN on 020 83502542 or e-mail [email protected] tion, Bishop Toal and Arch- for free monthly posted programme guide and bishop Emeritus Conti celebrated Mass in St Francis visit www.ewtn.co.uk for more info. Xavier’s Church WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK FRIDAY APRIL 15 2016 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER NEWS 3 SCIAF urges voters to take the Catholic primaries hit by capital PPP flaw Government to task over poor SCIAF is urging its support- ers to call on the Scottish By Daniel Harkins Government to do more for the world’s poor. CLOSE to 1000 Catholic primary “Whoever wins the Scottish children were left in limbo this week elections in May we want them after Edinburgh City Council closed to hear our call for a change of their schools due to concerns around direction,” a statement for the the safety of the buildings.