Bishop John Deacon McKenna Keenan marks on the Sacrament Christian unity of the Sick, World at Greenock Day of the Sick. event. Page 2 SUPPORTING 50 YEARS OF SCIAF, 1965-2015 Pages 12-13 No 5604 COMING NEXT WEEK: SOUVENIR SCIAF GOLDEN JUBILEE SECTION Friday January 23 2015 | £1 Commandments for proclaiming the Gospel online By Daniel Harkins THE Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) has launched a new ‘internet commandments’ resource for schools that it hopes will help young people to take their Faith online. To encourage responsible and respectful use of the internet for Proclaiming the Joy of the Gospel— the theme for this year’s Catholic Education Week next month—SCES has produced an illustrated new set of ‘10 commandments’ to be followed in cyberspace and which aims to spread the Gospel in the online world, encourage Christian practice and help educate young people about digital media. “It is hoped that these words will encourage both young people and adults to use the opportunity provided by social media to tell the Good News of Christ,” Michael McGrath, director of the SCES (below), said. The commandments have been adapted with permission from the THE MASSIVE work of Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, who posted a list of advice for Catholics online on the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference website. Last year, Pope Francis PAPAL MASS spoke about the internet as ‘the streets where people live’ and said the Church had to go out into them. The Holy Father warned though By Ian Dunn about the problems of people left behind by not having access to social POPE Francis told the largest Papal Mass media, and said that ‘the speed with congregation ever gathered that all Catholics must which information is communicated protect the family ‘against insidious attacks and exceeds our capacity for reflection programmes contrary to all that we hold true and and judgement, and this does not sacred, all that is most beautiful and noble in our make for more balanced and proper culture.’ forms of self-expression.’ At least 6 million gathered in Rizal Park, Manila, last Sunday to attend the final event of the Holy Father’s I Continued on page 5 trip to the Philippines at which his homily reprised several other themes he had explored during the four- day visit, including environmental problems, poverty and corruption. Despite continuous rain, the congregation began to assemble the night before the afternoon Mass. The crowd was so dense in spots that people passed hosts to fellow worshippers unable to reach priests distributing Communion. The government estimated total crowd size at 6 million-7 million people. According to Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi that would be the largest number of people ever to gather to see a Pope. A Mass with St John Paul II in the same place 20 years earlier is believed to have drawn 4 million-5 million people, often described as the largest live crowd in history. I Continued on page 7 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 JANUARY 23 2015 Bishop Keenan marks Week of Prayer for Christian Unity By Daniel Harkins how terrorised peoples have become throughout the earth, no SPOTLIGHT ON ‘NO MATTER how ter- matter how oppressed our faith rorised peoples have become may seem to be even in our own throughout the earth… the country, no matter how distant well of God’s unifying grace some religions, even Christian, is always deeper,” Bishop seem to be moving from each John Keenan of Paisley other, the well of God’s unifying preached in his homily at a grace is always deeper.” solemn evening of prayer to The Christian unity week mark the Week of Prayer for theme this year was chosen by Christian Unity. churches in Brazil, a country People of different denomina- that suffers from high rates of tions gathered in St Mary’s violence and some intolerance Church, Greenock, last Sunday between religions. in celebration of the annual Bishop Keenan said we prayer week that has been held should thank God that competi- for more than 100 years—both tion between churches is not in the UK and internationally— such a big issue in Scotland. and that runs this year from Jan- “But the challenge still goes uary 18-25. The theme for this on for us to be ever more visibly year’s events comes from the one,” he added. “Let us do as An ecumenical group that fights homelessness celebrated its 20th Gospel of John and concerns the Jesus shows us today, taking anniversary with a service in St Andrews Cathedral, Glasgow, last encounter between Jesus and the steps towards each other on the Saturday. Samaritan Woman at the Well. basis of our common need of The Catholic Church was represented at the service—which “The woman reminded Jesus each other in Christ. was lead by Rt Rev Bruce Cameron, associate convener of Scottish that the Well was deep, just as “He calls us to approach one Churches Housing Action—by Miriam McHardy, the Justice and our desire for visible Christian another in need and trust and, Peace co-ordinator for St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese, unity must be very deep and when we do, we see the face of and a board member of the homelessness charity. heartfelt in our lives and work,” God in the face of each other and As part of the service, a drama on the homeless was performed Bishop Keenan said during his draw, from the deep Well of His in the cathedral by Aria Theatre Group, titled Friends and homily. “As Christians our faith grace, the life that first refreshes Neighbours and featuring Colin Wallace and Niall Simpson. in the Lord Jesus lets us see that us and then, together with us, Over two decades Scottish Churches Housing Action have run a His grace… runs much deeper renews the face of the earth.” number of schemes in Scotland including education campaigns to that the disturbed surface of increase the understanding of homelessness and a befriending misunderstanding, division and I [email protected] programme to reduce social isolation and loneliness violence that, in these days, so PICS: PAUL McSHERRY troubles our world. No matter PICS: PAUL McSHERRY INSIDE YOUR SCO INDEX TO NEWS, OPINION AND FEATURES THIS WEEK EWTN - THE CATHOLIC SATELLITE CHANNEL The perfect Christian present NEWS pages 1-7 COMMENT pages 10-11 CHILDREN’S PAGE page 21 Tel: SAS 0141 774 5000 or 07971 514 703 LOCAL NEWS pages 2,3,4 and 5 CENTRE SPREAD pages 12-13 INTIMATIONS pages 17-20 WORLD NEWS pages 6-7 REVIEWS page 14 BISHOPS’ ENGAGEMENTS page 20 for our special offer VATICAN NEWS pages 6-7 SPIRITUAL REFLECTION page 15 SPECIAL OCCASIONS page 22 LETTERS page 9 PUZZLES pages 16 and 21 CHURCH COUNCILS page 24 SAS - SCOTLAND’S CATHOLIC SATELLITE COMPANY WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK FRIDAY JANUARY 23 2015 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER NEWS 3 Assisted suicide plans ‘not fit for purpose’ By Ian Dunn THE latest plans to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland are ‘not fit for purpose,’medical professionals told the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday at the latest hearing on a controversial bill. MSPs on Holyrood’s health committee were told ‘there is a lack of safeguards against vulnerable patients being pressurised by friends and family into ending their lives if they become a burden.’ John Deighan, parliamentary officer to Scotland’s bishops (right), said the mounting The archdiocese is healing, criticism of doctors and lawyers about the suggested change in the law being open to abuse meant MSPs would find it hard to Archbishop Cushley says accept the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill put forward by Green MSP Patrick Harvie. ARCHBISHOP Leo Cushley great gentleness,” Archbishop “Predominately the medical and legal of St Andrews and Edinburgh Cushley said. “Because there are profession are against it, because the more says that the archdiocese is still people on both sides of this you look into it, the more problems you healing after the resignation argument who are hurting. And find,” Mr Deighan said. “I think even of his predecessor—Cardinal who are looking for answers.” MSPs who may support the principle will Keith O’Brien, the archbishop The archbishop (above) also see there are too many problems.” emeritus—just before the said during the interview on the Mr Deighan added that while everyone election of Pope Francis. US Catholic television network was ‘for compassion’ MSPs need to think “It’s a very wide spectrum—how do that is already happening in the Netherlands “Time is a great healer, and that he was very impressed carefully about ‘this dangerous proposal you guard against it? A doctor may be able —people who are tired of life, on the basis that is certainly helping us,” with the way last year’s that risks undermining the common good.’ to assess it if they knew the family—do we of autonomy, are also accessing euthanasia. Archbishop Leo Cushley of St referendum on Scottish That analysis was echoed by Robert live in that kind of society? My doctor has There are not many, but there are a few. Andrews and Edinburgh said in independence was conducted. Preston, a director of the Living and Dying never been to my house in 12 years.” “On the basis of quality of life... a lot of an interview with EWTN last “There was a huge turnout, it Well think tank, who told the health Dr Calum MacKellar, of the Scottish people who are unconscious have a poor week.