Schools Face 'Bigoted' Attack

SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR ONLY NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SEE PAGE 2 FOR DETAILS No 5289 Protests after Christian deaths in Egypt Page Army accused of failure after arson attack on churches; 12 people are killed 8 No 5415 www.sconews.co.uk Friday May 13 2011 | 90p Schools face ‘bigoted’ attack MESSAGE TO MSPS I Bishop Devine leads dismissal of legal group’s claim Catholic education causes sectarianism By Ian Dunn LEADING Scottish Catholics have united in their condemnation of an extreme attack on Catholic schools that purported their abolition was the only way of ‘confronting and counteracting sectarianism’ in Scotland. Senior Catholic clergy, lawyers and educationalists have resoundingly dis- missed the Scottish Legal Action Group’s call for an end to Catholic SCOTLAND’S SENIOR state education on these grounds. clergymen welcome new Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell told the SCO that the editorial in the Scottish Government Scolag journal was a ‘malicious propos- and MSPs and speak al’ and nothing short of an ‘outrageous attack on the freedom and democratic out on role of Church principles of our country.’ Page 3 Sectarian attack Bishop Devine, the member of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland with VOCATIONS SUNDAY responsibility for education, went on to say that he believed that sectarian- National vocations ism itself was behind attacks on Catholic schools. director’s and Cardinal “The blunt truth is that sectarianism O’Brien’s messages; fuels the continuous attack on Catholic education in Scotland,” he said. “The new series on the real enemy of all religious people is permanent diaconate secularism which breeds sectarianism and those who espouse it and propa- Pages 3,11&12-13 gate it are Christianity’s greatest foes. “I challenge these groups to produce the hard evidence to support their irre- their recognition of the value of solution to these problems without Bishop Joseph Devine, seen here during a sponsible claims or withdraw them. Catholic schools in providing their conceding that this would be penalis- visit to St Ninian’s Primary School, Hamilton, HOLY FATHER IN VENICE Around 130,000 young people—just children with an excellent academic, ing people of faith. has led the condemnation of claims by the over 20 per cent of the school popula- spiritual and well-rounded education.’ “Taking that to its conclusion ‘plu- Scottish Legal Action Group that Catholic tion—are taught in 369 Catholic schools ralist secularism’ solves a problem by schools help foster sectarianism across Scotland. It would appear that the Expert opinion denying rights of one group in society PIC: PAUL McSHERRY greater the achievements of [our] Michael McGrath, director of the when apparently it’s all of society’s “The Scottish Parliament has express- Catholic schools… the greater the hys- Scottish Catholic Education Service, problem. That is discriminatory and ly legislated to make religious discrimi- teria grows for their abolition.” said he believed that Scolag was opin- inconsistent with tolerance, a key nation an aggravation to a criminal ing on a subject about which it was not component of a mature and confident offence,” it says. “But the degree to Political support knowledgeable. liberal democracy.” which such legal measures can counter- Bishop Devine pointed out that both “To say this is entirely outwith the Peter Kearney, of the Catholic act sectarianism is questionable and Prime Minster David Cameron and parameters of its expertise would be media office, also condemned the arti- even doubtful when in other regards our First Minister Alex Salmond have fair,” he said. “It is interesting and dis- cle outright, saying ‘the Scolag editor- law and civic bodies continue to been wholehearted in their praise of appointing, that a supposedly informed ial’s analysis of sectarianism in enshrine, protect and systematically pro- Catholic schools. journal would come to such a conclusion. Scotland is so fatuous that it really mote social division on religious lines. “The Prime Minister believes that “If they consult the facts and the doesn’t merit a response.’ “That is done most widely and faith schools should be seen as the evidence I think they would have to He did, however, speak of the legal effectively in our education system model for all state schools to follow, withdraw their assertions. If they are implications. “These comments on where the maintenance of religious while Scotland’s First Minister urges so willing to ignore the reality of the Catholic schools, though published in instruction and observance, along with us to celebrate our distinguished situation it’s hard not to come to the an obscure and arcane journal, still the public funding of denominational POPE BENEDICT XVI achievements,” he said. conclusion that their assertions are constitute an ill informed and unpro- schools create and perpetuate religious calls Catholics to All the major political parties con- based in prejudice.” voked attack on religious freedom,” he discrimination.” testing the Scottish parliamentary said. “The European Convention on The editorial also claims its call renew their Faith, election on May 5 told the SCO that Legal argument Human Rights enshrines the right of would serve ‘an even wider purpose, and be more accepting they would continue the current set up Maurice Jamieson, a Glasgow-based parents to have their children educated confronting and counteracting sectari- of immigrants of Catholic state education. Catholic advocate, said he was baffled at in accordance with their beliefs.” anism as well as exclusion and discrim- “Most important of all, of course, is the conclusion the piece had arrived at. ination in other forms if, at long last, a Page 9 the fact that over 95 per cent of “Looking at the editorial, there is no Scolag clear division was established in Catholic parents freely choose to have evidence to support their conclusion The editorial in the May edition of the Scotland between church and State by their children educated in Catholic and, as a lawyer, I find that concern- Scolag journal was written in response ending religious instruction and denom- schools,” the bishop added. ing,” he said. “It also seems to suggest to the recent media furore over sectar- inational schools.’ He also said that in many Catholic taking away the right of Catholics to ianism that has seen parcel bombs sent schools a substantial percentage of the send their children to Catholic schools, to high profile Catholics. Professor Tom Devine to lead debate school roll consists of children who are a right which is enshrined in law. And The article attacking Scotland’s on sectarianism in Scotland, page 3 not Catholic, something he said was ‘a the assumption seems to be that taking Catholic schools is perceived as an clear demonstration by their parents of that right away will somehow create a extreme view at the fringes of society. [email protected] 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 May 13 2011 Cardinal O’Brien meets with Catholic mothers THE Union of Catholic Mothers (UCM) in Scotland held their national AGM at the Conforti Institute, Coatbridge, at the weekend. Cardinal Keith O’Brien, pres- SPOTLIGHT ON... ident of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, joined members of the UCM from across the country for a celebration of Mass to open the meeting on Friday afternoon. Joining Cardinal O’Brien in celebrating Mass were Fathers; Damien Gilhooley; George Rodgers; Ross Crichton and David Brown. Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell also celebrated Mass with the mothers on the Saturday, at which he was joined by Fr Gilhooley. Agnes Long, UCM national president, said the members had enjoyed their weekend, which included a talk from Michael McMahon MSP at Friday’s Cardinal Keith O’Brien was present for a meeting of church leaders at Scottish Churches House in social evening, and she was glad Dunblane, on Monday. The meeting was facilitated by Right Rev John Christie and Rev John Humphreys. to see a wide-representation of Also at the meeting were incoming moderators of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland, Rev David Arnott and United Free Church of Scotland, George McRobb and the principal clerks of these mothers from across the country. two churches Rev John Chalmers and Rev Martin Keane, respectively PIC: PAUL McSHERRY “We enjoyed two lovely con- celebrated Masses and we had UCM members from each dio- cese present,” she said. Catholic composer’s song of praise for the Pope Ms Long added that the mothers are continuing their RENOWNED Scottish prayers for more vocations to Catholic composer James the priesthood. MacMillan has been invited Following their AGM, the to participate in a project mothers are now looking for- celebrating Pope Benedict ward to their national pilgrim- (Top) Cardinal Keith O’Brien with the national committee of the UCM and XVI’s 60th anniversary of age to Holywell in Wales, which (above) members of the UCM, with the national committee seated in the ordination to the priesthood. takes place from May 20-23. front row, listen intently at their AGM PICS: PAUL McSHERRY On June 29, Pope Benedict will celebrate 60 years as a priest and Mr MacMillan (right) has been invited to submit pages from his Tu Es Petrus, which We have a waiting list of 7 Missionaries, was performed at the Pontifical Mass at Westminster Cathedral in September last year, during the visit of the Holy Father to CAN YOU HELP REDUCE IT? the UK, to an exhibition in has invited him to be patron Archbishop Longley, one of our Rome by leading artists, organ- along with the archbishop of most astutely musical pastors, to By donating a subscription of the ised by the Pontifical Council Birmingham.

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