VATICAN RELEASES DETAILS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II’S BEATIFICATION SEE PAGE 9 No 5289 Parties answer election questions Pages Detailed responses to the SCO hustings in three-page special report 12-14 No 5410 www.sconews.co.uk Friday April 8 2011 | 90p Condemnation of IVORY COAST MASSACRE a callous murder I Church leaders and politicians unite to decry the killing of Catholic PSNI officer Ronan Kerr By Martin Dunlop CHURCH leaders and politicians have decried the murder of a Catholic policeman in Omagh, Northern Ireland, as graffiti praising the killing and threatening further attacks was found daubed on walls in Derry. As the SCO went to press, the funeral of Ronan Kerr (right), a constable for the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI), was set to take place at the Immaculate Conception Church in Beragh. He was killed when a bomb exploded under his car on Saturday afternoon. Dissident republicans, who are believed to be deliberately targeting Catholic officers in order to try to deter them from joining the PSNI, have been blamed for the weekend’s attack in Omagh’s Highfield estate, which killed the 25-year-old policeman. Edna Kenny, the Irish Prime Minister. Church Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s deputy Mr Kerr’s mother Nuala has urged young first minister and one of Sinn Féin’s most promi- Catholics not to be deterred from joining the nent figures and former chief of staff of the police force in Northern Ireland, a call that was Provisional IRA, this week warned dissident backed by Bishop Seamus Hegarty of Derry, who republicans that they are fighting a ‘useless war said that ‘this crime, against a man who served against peace’ and said the killers of Mr Kerr were and protected the public, is a crime against all in the ‘enemies of the people of Ireland.’ our society.’ Mr McGuiness, also expected at the funeral, was Ireland’s most senior Catholic clergyman, joined at Stormont on Monday by Mr Robinson, Cardinal Seán Brady, spoke of Mr Kerr’s ‘coura- David Ford, Northern Ireland’s justice minister, geous’ decision to join the PSNI and urged and Matt Baggott, chief constable of the PSNI, to Catholics to join the police force in defiance of condemn those who targeted Mr Kerr, who was a those who murdered Mr Kerr. member of a Gaelic football club. Archbishop Alan Harper of Armagh and Rev “Our community has been absolutely united Ken Good, the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, said over the course of the weekend,” Mr McGuinness there was ‘no words to adequately describe the said. “We have had a united voice from the com- inhumanity’ of the murder. munity, from church leaders, from civic leaders, “The cruelty and shame of those who commit- from leaders of all the political parties, north and ted this act, either in planting the device or in sup- south and, very powerfully, from the Gaelic plying of information, is displayed to all of the Athletic Association. world,” they said in a joint statement. “It has “The people who murdered Ronan Kerr need to brought needless devastation to the family of this consider all of that, consider how isolated they young officer. It is also an act for which those are, and they need to bring their activities to an Tens of thousands of refugees are seeking sanctuary in a Catholic mission following a reported massacre responsible will indeed answer not only to their immediate end.” of a thousand people in the town of Duekoue, in western Ivory Coast. Violence has worsened in the West conscience but to their maker.” Mr McGuinness warned the dissidents they African country over the results of a contested election last year and Pope Benedict XVI has launched an would not destroy the peace process or derail the urgent appeal for peace, declaring ‘Violence and hatred are always a defeat!’ at Wednesday’s general audi- Political backlash power-sharing government, adding that if they ence. The Holy Father added that he was ‘following with great concern the dramatic events that the dear Mourners at Wednesday’s Funeral Mass were intended it to embarrass Sinn Féin, that, too people of the Ivory Coast and Libya are going through at present.’ (Above) A soldier loyal to Alassane expected to include Peter Robinson, Northern ‘would not happen.’ Ouattara mans a checkpoint at one of the principal entrances to the city of Abidjan. Full report, see page 8 Ireland’s First Minister—the first Catholic PIC: PA PHOTOS funeral Mass he has attended—and Taoiseach I continued on page 7 APOSTOLIC NUNCIO PRO-LIFE GROUPS ST JOSEPH SISTERS to attend the condemn the honour St Mary of reopening of decision to allow the Cross with a St Andrew’s non terminally ill new shrine at St Cathedral, Glasgow woman to die Mary’s Church ST ANDREW’S MacKILLOP SHRINE Page 3 Page 7 ASSISTED SUICIDE Page 5 visit 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 April 8 2011 Cardinal O’Brien joins Citizens UK in supporting grassroots charity work CARDINAL Keith O’Brien, presi- dent of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, was present at a meeting of Citizens UK at Coatbridge’s Conforti Institute last Thursday. Citizens UK is described as ‘a power- ful grassroots charity, working with local people for local people—with their goal being social, economic and environmen- tal justice.’ Neil Jameson, the charity’s leader, and representatives of Citizens UK were present at Coatbridge to speak to Cardinal O’Brien and various mem- bers of faith and religious organisations who were also in attendance. Speaking ahead of the meeting, the cardinal said that Citizens UK reaches its goal by ‘training people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds to take action together for change.’ “Their dynamic campaigns have secured many victories for people in communities in England,” the cardinal said. “Their journey began in 1996 and their membership today includes a great variety of organisations in the UK. “It is made up of more than 200 institutions, such as churches, schools, mosques, trade union branches, uni- versity departments and so on, all working together for change.” The cardinal added that he hoped the might be looked at in a Scottish context. ices and their impact on families and in civil society to find more effective Cardinal Keith O’Brien with members of meeting would provide an opportunity to “Daily reports and stories of increas- communities make it necessary for us means of addressing the challenges Citizens UK at the Conforti Institute in discuss the charity’s vision and how this ing unemployment, cuts in public serv- as faith communities and participants that confront us all,” the cardinal said. Coatbridge PIC: PAUL McSHERRY A golden day for the UCM in Motherwell A warm welcome to the Church in Paisley The largest branch of the Union of Catholic of Mothers (UCM) in Motherwell Diocese celebrated its golden BISHOP Philip Tartaglia of All 47 people will be Bishop Philip Tartaglia welcomes the jubilee at the end of March. Bishop Joseph Devine concelebrated a Thanksgiving Mass for the UCM of St Paisley welcomed 19 received into the Catholic 19 Catechumens and 28 Candidates Columba’s Church, Viewpark, at their own parish to celebrate their 50 years of service in the community. Catechumens and 28 Church at the Easter Vigil in at St Mirin’s Cathedral in Paisley Mary Tochel, the group’s president, and committee members were pictured after the Mass with Bishop Devine, Canon Edward Glackin, St Columba’s parish priest, and Agnes Long, UCM national president. Candidates from 20 parish- their respective parishes. PIC: TOM EADIE es across the diocese to St Afterwards the elect, as they Mirin’s Cathedral, Paisley, are now called, joined the bish- This is the largest number to on the First Sunday of Lent, op along with their families, be received into the Church in for the RCIA Rite of catechists and priests in the Paisley Diocese since the Election. cathedral hall for refreshments. RCIA was started. SPOTLIGHT ON... FIND THE NEW FRIENDS OF THE SCO PAGE ON FACEBOOK Medjugorje 2011 June 19th and 26th September £519 excluding insurance Departing from Edinburgh contact Roger Foster 01475 793 987 Do you have a story for EWTN CATHOLIC TV IS ON SKY EPG 589 us here at the Scottish Sky Freesat £175 total cost , no monthly charges. Catholic Observer? You 200 Free channels including EWTN TV & Radio. can call us on 0141 Call Sky on 08442411602 for installation. 221 4956 or send us Call EWTN on 020 83502542 or e-mail [email protected] an e-mail to Pupils from St Patrick’s Primary School in Coatbridge gave a stirring vocal performance at the recent St Patrick’s for free monthly posted programme guide and Day Festival in the town. The school choir was one of a number of performers on the day who added sound and [email protected] colour to the festivities PIC: GERARD GOUGH visit www.ewtn.co.uk formoreinfo. Friday April 8 2011 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER NEWS 3 Papal visit St Andrew’s Cathedral ready to re-open in style bomb hoax Archbishop Mario Conti will welcome Apostolic nuncio, making his first visit to Scotland, to celebratory events caller given By Martin Dunlop ment will be read out during the ed in the Holy Land and has the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.