WIN A TRIP TO JOIN THE GRANDPARENTS’ PILGRIMAGE AT KNOCK SEE PAGE 2 No 5289 New national director appointed by MISSIO Pages Fr Tom Welsh speaks about his new role and we look at modern day missions 8, 16 No 5422 www.sconews.co.uk Friday July 1 2011 | 90p In defence of our schools POPE’S DIAMOND JUBILEE I Church criticises Conservative MSP for claiming faith education fuels sectarianism By Martin Dunlop THE Scottish Church this week rallied to defend Catholic educa- tion after a Conservative MSP claimed denominational education fuelled the problem of sectarianism in Scotland. At last Thursday’s Holyrood debate on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill, John Lamont, the Conservative Party’s CARDINAL O’BRIEN justice spokesman in Scotland, accused the education system in the west of leads the Scottish Scotland of overseeing ‘state-sponsored tributes on the 60th conditioning of sectarian attitudes.’ anniversary of Pope Offensive Benedict XVI’s priestly Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell, ordination the president of the Catholic Education Commission, said ‘the claim that Page 9 Catholic schools are the cause of sec- tarianism is offensive and untenable.’ “There has never been any evidence SCOTTISH ORDINATIONS produced by those hostile to Catholicism to support such a malicious misrepresen- tation,” the bishop said. He added that NEW PRIESTS Mr Lamont should ‘either produce the hard evidence to support such irre- Fr Domenico Zanre sponsible claims or withdraw them.’ and Fr Michael Kane The bishop noted that ‘40 million students are taught in Catholic schools ordained for Aberdeen in the UK, Europe, Australia, New and Motherwell Zealand, Canada and the US.’ “If Catholic schools do breed sectari- Page 4 anism, why is there no sectarian prob- lem in all of these other countries around the world?” Bishop Devine said. SCIAF IN SUDAN “The blunt truth is that it is the sectari- anism that already exists in Scotland that fuels the continuous attack on Catholic education in Scotland.” expect our politicians to display qualities “In short, Catholics are accused of Bishop Joseph Devine (above left) and As MSPs debated legislation last of wisdom, maturity, sensitivity and being the authors of their own destruc- Bishop Philip Tartaglia (above) moved to Thursday aimed at tackling sectarian- respect. Mr Lamont’s comments suggest tion via an atavistic compulsion to have defend Catholic schools (top) after related behaviour at football matches a lack of these qualities and more. It is their children educated in accordance Conservative MSP John Lamont claimed and online, Mr Lamont said: “The real- mystifying that, despite criticisms from with their faith,” Bishop Tartaglia said. that faith schools helped to fuel sectarianism ity is that young men who are at these other political parties about his com- “In so doing they sever the otherwise in Scotland football matches are acting in a way ments, the Scottish Conservative Party is harmonious fabric of Scottish society ABOVE AND ABOVE LEFT that is a result of the conditioning that is not prepared to demand his resignation and introduce separation and difference PICS: PAUL McSHERRY started at a very early age. I would from his post as a party spokesperson.” where none existed. Such nonsense tancing themselves from the remarks argue that certain parts of society, Murdo Fraser, deputy leader of the does beg a few questions. What’s wrong made by a senior spokesperson,” Mr admittedly small, in west Scotland have Scottish Conservative Party, said, how- with difference? Since anti-Catholicism McCluskey said. “There is no evidence promoted the culture, including partly ever, that Mr Lamont’s remarks were long predates the existence of Catholic to associate sectarianism and Catholic through our education system. This made in a personal capacity and did not schools surely it can’t logically have education and uninformed and reckless segregation of our young people has reflect party policy. “John was making been caused by them? statements like this by politicians do brought them up to believe that the two these comments in a personal capacity “When will Scottish society get past great harm to the cause of religious communities should be kept separate.” speaking from personal experience,” the mentality which considers any harmony and unity. Catholic schools in Mr Fraser said. “He supports the presence of Catholic Faith in the public Scotland are a success story and as DANIELLE BATIST Calls to resign Conservative Party’s view, which sup- domain as a provocation?” the bishop such should be praised not derided.” explains how SCIAF is First Minister Alex Salmond said that ports the right of parents to choose added. “This is the anti-Catholic senti- The introduction of the Offensive helping Sudan’s lepers Mr Lamont should either withdraw the Catholic education for their children.” ment which is the real sectarian cancer Behaviour at Football and Threatening comments or quit as his party’s justice in Scotland.” Communications Bill has now been rebuild their lives spokesman. Further condemnation delayed by six months after concerns Michael McGrath, director of the Mr Lamont’s comments were, however, Defence had been raised about the pace of Pages 12&13 Scottish Catholic Education Service, further condemned by Bishop Philip Further defence of Catholic schools in change. The Catholic Church had last added that he hopes that Mr Lamont ‘has Tartaglia, the president of the Scottish Scotland was made by Charles week urged the government to proceed now come to realise the offensiveness of Bishops’ Communications Commission, McCluskey, provincial grand knight of with caution as they sought to bring in his comments on Catholic education.’ who, writing in a Sunday newspaper, the Knights of St Columba in Glasgow, new legislation for those found guilty “His remarks not only showed a total said that ‘in Scotland in 2011 a chilling- who said the knights were ‘astonished’ of abusive or sectarian behaviour at ignorance of Catholic education, but ly similar sentiment is being expressed’ at the statements made by Mr Lamont. football ahead of the new season they betrayed a crass understanding of to the ‘it’s your fault for being different’ “We are also seriously concerned beginning next month. the problems of sectarianism in view of the racist white majority in the that leading figures in the Conservative Scotland,” Mr McGrath said. “We US during the 1920s and 1930s. Party in Scotland do not seem to be dis- [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 July 1 2011 SPOTLIGHT ON... Cardinal Keith O’Brien was present in Rome for the recent ordination of deacons from the city’s Pontifical Beda College. The ordinations were celebrated on Friday June 17 at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls (above). At the celebrations, Cardinal O’Brien ordained Deacon Jeremy Milne (below), who will be ordained as priest for the cardinal’s St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese next summer PICS: MARTIN TATE A celebration of Biblical proportions THE 400th anniversary of edition, the project aims to net secretary for culture and the King James Bible was reconnect the British public with external affairs, Elaine Duncan, marked as Cardinal Keith the Bible by allowing a number CEO of the Scottish Bible O’Brien attended the launch of people to write two verses of Society and George Grubb, of the People’s Bible at the Holy Book by hand. Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Edinburgh Castle on Sunday Cardinal O’Brien was among As part of the celebrations the June 19. the first to write two verses last guests joined together to cut a The People’s Bible is a joint Sunday at the project’s launch, celebration cake designed in the venture between the Bible held on the anniversary of the form of the King James Bible Society in England and Wales birth of King James VI/I at the (above). and the Scottish Bible Society castle in 1566. The People’s Bible will now and will take the form of a nation- Joining the cardinal at the tour venues across the UK over al tour to produce a unique, hand- launch were David Arnott, mod- the coming months, ending at written edition of the Bible. erator of the General Assembly London’s Westminster Abbey In the year of the 400th of the Church of Scotland, on November 16. anniversary of the King James Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s cabi- PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Does your grandparent(s) Tell us why your grandparent(s) deserve to be deserve to visit Knock? Win flights and five nights dinner, bed and breakfast for two adults and one child for the Grandparents’ Pilgrimage flown to Knock for the Grandparents at Knock Shrine on September 11 courtesy of Knock House Weekend on Sunday September 11th Hotel and Flybe THE Catholic Grandparents’ Last year over 5000 people Association was formally came to praise the grandparents Win flights and 5 nights dinner, bed & breakfast for two founded in Westport, of Jesus and to honour all Ireland in 2007 and contin- grandparents living and dead adults and one child for the Grandparents’ Pilgrimage at ues to grow. Máire Printer, for all they have done for us who hails from Scotland but over the years especially in the Knock Shrine on September 11th courtesy of has been living in Westport, passing on of the Catholic Ireland, for many years, was Faith. recently elected as associa- Thanks to Knock House Knock House Hotel and Flybe. tion president. Hotel and Flybe, who fly “The shrine in Knock has directly from Edinburgh to become our spiritual home, and Knock, a grandchild, grandpar- there is no doubt its special ent and an other adult can join place as a Marian place of wor- in the festivities at Knock on ship has contributed enormous- Sunday September 11.