Deputy First Tom Clarke CBE Minister Swinney responds to addresses Catholic bishops’ general headteachers. election advice. Pages 4-5 SUPPORTING 50 YEARS OF SCIAF, 1965-2015 Page 10 No 5619 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday May 8 2015 | £1 MSPs set to reject flawed assisted suicide proposal I Bill puts pressure on vulnerable people to kill themselves, says expert By Ian Dunn crossing a legal and ethical “Rubicon” stridently condemned the legislation. Rev that are raised by assisted suicide,’ that Sally Foster-Fulton, convener of its THE Scottish Parliament appears the bill contains no requirement ‘for church and society council, said they BISHOPS BACK poised to reject the Assisted Suicide mandatory psychiatric assessment’ to any ‘remain concerned with both the general (Scotland) Bill after the Holyrood request for assisted suicide by a person... principles and the specific content of the committee reviewing the controversial with a history of mental disorder, and that assisted suicide bill.’ “Critical flaws in the legislation said that it contained ‘legislation to permit assisted suicide proposed legislation include an absence SCIAF PUSH(BIKE) ‘significant flaws.’ seems discordant with a wider policy of of any mental health check and a mini- Holyrood’s health and sport committee suicide prevention by “normalising” mum age of 16,” she said. “Both make reported that—as it is a matter of suicide and seeming to endorse it.’ the bill in its present form untenable.” conscience—it had chosen to make no Mr Macdonald said the report ‘confirms formal recommendation to parliament on what [Care has] said all along.’ MSPs the bill which means the Scottish “The bill is poorly thought out, ill- Green MSP Patrick Harvie agreed to Parliament will vote on the bill in its current conceived, badly-drafted and effectively take the bill forward following the death form. That will happen before the end of not fit for purpose,” he said. “We are of independent MSP Margo MacDonald, May and MSPs are expected to reject it. delighted that the committee agrees who had campaigned for assisted with us that the bill contains significant suicide to be legalised in Scotland. Right direction flaws which are likely to prevent it from Responding to the committee’s Peter Kearney, director of the Scottish being enacted. It is gratifying to note a concerns, Mr Harvie said he was open Catholic Media Office who backs the majority of the committee is against the to suggestions as to how the legislation Church’s opposition to the bill, told the bill although they have not made a formal could be strengthened. SCO he believed the chances of the bill recommendation to the Parliament to “This committee report makes no progressing are ‘very, very slim and reject the bill.” formal recommendation to MSPs, and rightfully so.’ He also highlighted that the leaders of it’s right that members decide on this issue Gordon Macdonald of the campaign Scottish Labour, the Scottish Liberal each having considered it carefully,” he group Care Not Killing said it would be Democrats and the Scottish National said. “It is however disappointing that ‘absolutely astonishing’ if a majority of Party have all said they are opposed to the committee has placed so little MSPs voted for the proposals to legalise the legislation of assisted suicide. emphasis on the responses I and others assisted suicide to pass stage 1 in the “I am delighted the First Minister and have given to the criticisms of the bill, Scottish Parliament after the committee other party leaders including Jim Murphy many of which are grounded in an was so critical of it. Among the ‘significant (Labour) and Willie Rennie (Liberal ideological opposition to personal choice.” flaws’ highlighted by the health and Democrats) have expressed their Labour MSP Michael McMahon, a sport committee were that ‘there are opposition to the legalisation of assisted Catholic and an opponent of the bill, ways of responding to suffering which suicide,” he said. “They clearly understand told the SCO: “I hope that any of my Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow and Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell, president do not raise the kind of concerns about it would bring pressure on vulnerable colleagues who remain open to persuasion of SCIAF, gave SCIAF’s director Alistair Dutton and Gemma Lamarra their blessing as people to end their lives and put the appreciate the criticisms of the bill Mr Dutton set off on a 700 mile cycle pilgrimage around Scotland to thank schools, elderly and disabled at risk of abuse as contained in the report and that this parishes and supporters for helping to change the lives of millions of people over the well as very ill young children.” leads to this dangerous proposal receiving last 50 years. The moment was captured after the archbishop and the bishop marked the firm rejection it deserves.” SCIAF’s golden jubilee last Thursday by celebrating Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral. Ecumenical opposition Report, see page 3 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY The Church of Scotland has also I [email protected] 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 MAY 8 2015 Bishop Nolan returns for 50th of St Bernadette’s, Motherwell THE parish of St Bernadette’s in Neeson and John and Kitty Lowe; two Motherwell marked the 50th couples who were married in the new St anniversary of the opening of their Bernadette’s church 50 years ago. church last week with teachers, Following the Mass, Bishop Nolan was pupils, priests, bishops and politicians presented with a painting of the church joining parishioners for their half- where he was ordained 38 years ago century celebration. (above). The parish was formed in 1950, Returning to the parish to celebrate just three years after the erection of Archbishop Tartaglia at St Brigid’s 60th the Mass was Bishop William Nolan of Motherwell Diocese. It would be another Galloway who was ordained in St 15 years before a permanent church ARCHBISHOP Philip Tartaglia of School, who entertained parishioners St Brigid’s parish was established in Bernadette’s in 1977. building could be built and opened by Glasgow celebrated Mass in St with their singing and Irish dancing as 1955, with Fr Patrick Sheary as the first Gifts were brought forward at the Bishop Francis Thomson onApril 25 1965. Brigid’s, Toryglen, last Saturday part of the celebrations. parish priest, celebrating Mass in a house offertory procession by John and Betty PICS: TOM EADIE as the parish marked its 60th Following the Mass, Archbishop on Kerrylamont Avenue. Archbishop anniversary. Tartaglia joined one of the primary Donald Campbell of Glasgow presided Amongst those present at the Mass school’s youngsters in cutting a cake over the first Mass in the current with parish priest Fr Gerard Byrne specially made by a parishioner showing church building two years later. were pupils from St Brigid’s Primary the church building. PICS: ROBERT WILSON Kraków 2016 World Youth Day Jim Cassidy’s idea to raise funds to help Scottish youth travel to World Youth Day in Krakov, Poland, in 2016 in honour of the newly canonised Sts John Paul II (who founded WYD) and John XXII has prompted the SCO to launch an appeal fund. Any- one wishing to support this cause can send their donation to The Scottish Catholic Observer Appeal Account, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6BT marked WYD 16. The SCO will work with the Church and its associated youth ministries to make sure the funds go to helping young pilgrims get to Poland for the celebrations. INSIDE YOUR SCO INDEX TO NEWS, OPINION AND FEATURES THIS WEEK EWTN - THE CATHOLIC SATELLITE CHANNEL The perfect Christian present NEWS pages 1-7 LETTERS page 9 SPIRITUAL REFLECTION page 15 Tel: SAS 0141 774 5000 or 07971 514 703 LOCAL NEWS pages 2,3,4 and 5 COMMENT pages 10-11 PUZZLES pages 16 and 21 WHAT’S ON page 2 FR ROLHEISER page 11 CHILDREN’S PAGE page 21 for our special offer WORLD NEWS pages 6-7 CENTRE SPREAD pages 12-1 SPECIAL OCCASIONS page 22 VATICAN NEWS pages 6-7 REVIEWS page 14 INTIMATIONS pages 17-20 SAS - SCOTLAND’S CATHOLIC SATELLITE COMPANY WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK FRIDAY MAY 8 2015 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER NEWS 3 Thanks given to the ‘beating Police clear Cambuslang priest heart of Catholic generosity’ “WE ARE here for this is on a mammoth scale. A By Ian Dunn wonderful thanksgiving for world aid effort is underway. SCIAF, an agency that does SCIAF is part of that, along A MOTHERWELL diocesan priest has so much good on our behalf with its partner agencies in the been cleared by police after being falsely throughout the world,” region.” accused of sex abuse, but his family says Archbishop Philip Tartaglia SCIAF has widened its emer- he was denied ‘natural justice’as he was told the congregation at St gency appeal for Nepal into a unable to defend himself against the Andrew’s Cathedral, Glas- general appeal to help the unfounded historic allegation. gow, last Thursday. recovering country’s long-term While Fr Paul Morton, 55, (right), for- The Glasgow thanksgiving stability. merly of St Bride’s Cambuslang, cannot Mass for the 50th anniversary Archbishop Tartaglia also return to active ministry until the Church of SCIAF began and ended in a spoke of the need for Catholics concludes its own separate investigation, colourful display. The proces- to support international devel- Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell said he sion of flags before the Mass opment.