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Do Not Devalue Democracy

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Do Not Devalue Democracy No 5442 http//:wwww.sconews.co.uk Friday November 18 2011 | £1 NEW EVANGELISATION CARDINAL O’BRIEN PAYS TRIBUTE IN DUNDEE TO THE FALLEN Cardinal Keith O’Brien with BISHOP TARTAGLIA Thomas Lennie, the last survivor warns that Catholics of the Artic Convoy, at the Remembrance Sunday service face a fight for survival on HMS Unicorn in Dundee. in an increasingly During the service the cardinal said that ‘those who had laid hostile, secular Scotland down their lives in the service of their country would not be Page 3 forgotten.’ Remembrance Sunday round-up from Dundee, Glasgow and Afghanistan on DEFENDING MARRIAGE page 2 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY CARDINAL O’BRIEN urges renewed support for the Church’s campaign against same-sex ‘marriage’ Do not devalue democracy and calls on Catholics I Cardinal calls on politicians to raise their game; seeks Catholic perseverance on new Missal translation to send in the Defend Marriage postcards By Ian Dunn sions to read of politicians insulting, to be involved in’ same-sex ‘mar- Scottish Catholics will celebrate the found in parishes demeaning and attacking one another in riages.’ In another incident Labour MP Mass many have grown up with. THE president of the Bishops’ Con- the most intemperate way,” his homily Ian Davidson claimed the SNP were a “Today for the last time we use Page 4 ference of Scotland will use his hom- notes. “All too often these exchanges ‘neo-fascist’ party. Yet the cardinal’s words that have been dear to us and ily on the feast of Christ the King, result in too much heat and too little message prompted a mixed response precious to us as, from next, Sunday the this Sunday, to warn politicians that light, they devalue our politics and from politicians this week. full implementation of the new transla- GLOBAL RECOGNITION ‘insulting, demeaning and attacking degrade discussion.” Bill Kidd, senior SNP whip, was sup- tion of the Roman Missal takes place,” one another’ devalues democracy. The cardinal believes that many portive of the cardinal’s position. he will say. “As we leave those previ- The hard-hitting message from Cardi- members of the electorate are turned off “Instead of scaremongering or petty ous words behind we know that for us nal Keith O’Brien, Britain’s most senior by political ‘slanging matches’ and do attacks the electorate deserve serious, the coming weeks and months will be a Catholic clergyman, which the SCO has not vote. He also flags up that the recent informed debate that takes place in a time of adaptation as we seek to get seen in advance, includes the warning bad example set by Scottish politicians calm and constructive manner,” he said. used to new phrases; but with perse- ‘when ordinary citizens hear their politi- may to lead to an overall drop in ‘stan- However, while Willie Rennie MSP, verance these new words will become cians speak coarsely and with malice dards of politeness and decorum,’ espe- leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, part of our prayer life and will help to they become disillusioned not just of cially among the young. He believes agreed with the cardinal that ‘there is a continue our development in faith.” them but of the political process itself.’ that the Scottish public wants ‘their clear difference between outright abuse and The cardinal will say that it was the politicians to be constructive, collabo- and vigorous debate’ he also said ‘colour- beginning of a ‘new era.’ “The new Speaking up rative and charitable.’ ful language’ was a political necessity. translation of the Roman Missal, which On Sunday Cardinal O’Brien will say “This is required more than ever in “Politicians are sometimes guilty of is the fruit of a remarkable cooperation ‘charity and compassion’ are all too our world of today when so very many going too far, using words like racist of the Holy See, the bishops and rare in amongst politicians today and critical issues are discussed. Robust and fascist, which in my view is experts from all over the world, is Catholics should be guided by their debates are good for democracy; rude- entirely wrong,” he said. “However, we intended to enrich and deepen the sac- Faith in speaking up for moral values ness and discourtesy are not,” he says need to continue to use colourful lan- rifice of praise offered to God by His like marriage, even though they may be in his homily. guage to energise debates so that the people,” he will say. “Make every FR BRIAN GOWANS abused for it. wider Scottish public, not just the polit- effort to help Catechists and musicians “May our strong faith show itself in Behaviour and reactions ical bubble, get engaged and involved.” in their respective preparations to ren- named president of our Christian actions,” he will say. “In While the cardinal has not cited specific A Labour spokesman said: “Robust, der the celebration of the Roman Rite global commission of the ways in which we uphold and pass examples of politicians acting ‘coarsely honest and open debate is part and par- in your dioceses a moment of greater on our Christian moral values, especially and with malice,’ recent heated cel of politics, but as Cardinal O’Brien grace and beauty, worthy of the Lord prison chaplains with regard to marriage and family life; exchanges have been documented, par- points out personal attacks have no and spiritually enriching for everyone.” Page 5 and eventually bear fruit and values by ticularly surrounding Scottish independ- place whatsoever in politics, nor do which all will live in our country.” ence, anti-sectarian legislation and cynical and dishonest attempts to smear I Renewed call for support in the It is not only Catholics who are the same-sex ‘marriage’ proposals. political rivals.” Defend Marriage campaign, page 4 victims of intemperate language, The SNP MSP John Mason was MSP called to task over alleged according to the cardinal. branded a ‘bigot’ by a member of his New Missal translation sectarian remark, page 7 “In recent weeks, many people have own party for tabling a motion at Holy- The cardinal’s homily also recognises been dismayed on a number of occa- rood which said no one should be ‘forced that this Sunday is the last Sunday I [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 November 18 2011 Fr Ian Stevenson, Army Senior Scots bishops chaplain, Afghanistan “I felt a sense of pride to celebrate the 2011 memo- rial service at the Task attend Remembrance Force Helmand headquar- ters in Lashkar Kah, an area that we have handed back to the locals (so a services on Sunday sense of progress) yet with another soldier killed in action this week, the loss is overwhelming and heart By Ian Dunn continue to work for peace in our wrenching. Success costs world.” lives, limbs and heartache. CARDINAL Keith O’Brien and The cardinal—who met Thomas Together with this and the Archbishop Mario Conti of Glas- Lennie, the last survivor of the Artic daily sacrifices that families give in order that their son, gow took part in Remembrance Convoy at the service—said those father, loved one can be services on Sunday to honour the who had laid down their lives in the here to serve their Queen memory of Britain’s war dead. service of their country would not be and country, at a cost that Cardinal O’Brien led a Remem- forgotten. no amounts of money brance Sunday service aboard the “Here on HMS Unicorn we could ever compensate.” HMS Unicorn in Dundee while remember those men and women Archbishop Conti took part in an who have indeed “gone down to the ecumenical service of church and sea in ships” and who with the help civic leaders in Glasgow’s George of God were rescued from their suf- Square. ferings and who were brought ‘safe The cardinal’s homily on board to the port they were bound for,’” he the HMS Unicorn, an antique war- said. “Please God that will continue ship launched in 1824 that is now a to be the case in the years which lie tourist attraction, focused on the ahead. May that peace of God importance of Remembrance Serv- descend on all who are troubled at ices. this present time—and eventually “It is indeed a privilege being with lead us all to that peaceful haven you again here on the HMS Unicorn which is Heaven for us all.” as we call to mind the dead of the In Glasgow Archbishop Conti was two World Wars and of those many joined by members of the Armed wars and conflicts which have taken Forces, past and present, and repre- place over the years,” he said. sentatives the Royal British Legion “Many peoples throughout our coun- ,the Scouts and the Boys Brigade at try will be gathering as we are with the Remembrance Sunday Service. many others at cenotaphs or other Lord Provost Bob Winter and memorials for special Remembrance Deputy First Minister Nicola Stur- Sunday services.“ geon were among those who laid The cardinal went on to say he wreaths in Remembrance of the understood how hard it was for those fallen at the Cenotaph. A Guard of who had lost a relative or loved one Honour was provided by The Royal in conflict. Highland Fusiliers, the 2nd battalion “I am sure those of us who have of the Royal Regiment of Scotland a lost loved ones in either of the great two-minute silence was also (Top) Cardinal Keith O’Brien on board wars or in most recent wars at this observed at the event.
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