Ahead of relics New series Missionaries arriving, links begins from give insight for between Scotland Scottish Network Mission Sunday and St John of Catholic appeal. Paul II. Page 22 Students. Page 15 Pages 8, 12-13 No 5642 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday October 16 2015 | £1 Holy Father apologises I Pope Francis and Christians UK leaders unite in for scandals praise of Aid to the in the Vatican are being Church in Need’s new POPE Francis has asked for report that reveals forgiveness for recent scandals that have taken place in the Christians are being Church and in the Vatican. run out of much During his general audience in St ‘ethnically Peter’s Square on Wednesday, the Holy Father said: “Before beginning of Africa and the the catechesis, I would like to ask Middle East forgiveness in the name of the Church for the scandals that have happened in this last period both cleansed’ in Rome and at the Vatican. I ask forgiveness.” Some commentators have linked By Ian Dunn sustained persecution of Christian minorities,” the apology in part to this week’s she added. “Only by publishing reports such leak of a Letter of 13 cardinals to the POPE Francis, Nicola Sturgeon and David as this and identifying the extent and scale of Pope contesting the direction and Cameron have united in praising a new report the problem can we hope to take steps to methods of the current Synod of that reveals the shocking scale address the persecution of minorities that Bishops on the Family, which was of Christian persecution around sadly still exists across the world.” followed by a series of denials the world. At a time when Aid to the Church in and clarifications. The Holy Father has given his full Need has been criticised by secular Cardinal Gerhard Müller, Prefect support to Persecuted and Forgotten? groups in Scotland for its commitment of the Congregation for the Doctrine the new report produced by Aid to the to religious freedom, the charity of the Faith, said that although the Church in Need (ACN) that has found welcomed the First Minister’s statement leak of the letter is ‘a new Christians are being ‘ethnically cleansed’ that she is ‘committed to creating a modern, Vatileaks,’there is no great dispute from much of Africa and the Middle East and inclusive Scotland which protects and respects over the family synod. Scotland’s First Minister and the UK Prime human rights.’ “The scandal is that it makes Minister have praised ACN. “This includes upholding freedom of thought, public a private letter of the Pope,” A letter from the Vatican Secretary of State conscience and religion and we support our faith Cardinal Müller, believed to be a Cardinal Pedro Parolin reveals that the Pope was communities and promote interfaith initiatives signatory of the letter, said. “This is pleased to learn of the report—that details because we recognise the invaluable contribution they a new Vatileaks: The Pope’s private global persecution of Christians between 2013- make to building a safe and peaceful society,” she documents are private property of 2015—ahead of its launch at the House of Lords said. “We will continue to promote freedom of religion the Pope and no one else. No one can on Tuesday and in Scotland yesterday. in all our relationships with other nations and work publish it, I do not know how that “He prays that those in positions of authority will with others to end persecution and oppression against could happen.” diligently strive not only to end religious discrimination all people.” Cardinal Wilfrid Napier has in their own nations,” the letter says. And ‘also seek Among the findings of the report are fear of a Christian confirmed that he signed a letter, but ever more effective ways to increase international ‘genocide’ has prompted a migration of Christian said that it was different to the text cooperation to overcome these offences against human refugees of the Middle East and Africa, that Christianity that has been published, while dignity.’ is on course to disappear from Iraq within five years Cardinal George Pell, another and Christians around the world are increasingly the reported signatory, said the letter to Scottish launch target of nationalist religious movements— ‘Muslim, the Pope was private and ‘should The Scottish launch of the report took place at Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist.’ remain private.’ St Mary’s Cathedral in Aberdeen yesterday and First Cardinal Müller also said it was Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she ‘strongly House of Lords not true to say there was great dispute condemns persecution or oppression of any kind At the launch at the House of Lords on Tuesday, over the family synod: “I do not and we are concerned by the horrifying persecution Prime Minister David Cameron also know anyone here who is against the of Christians and others that continues across signalled his support in a statement. Pope. Always the synod discusses the world.’ how to improve procedures, “This report by Aid to the Church in I Continued on page 7 everyone has the freedom to say Need provides welcome evidence- their opinion on this.” based analysis of the His views were echoed by Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, one of Pope Francis’ closest advisers. “Some in the media want to present it that way because that is the style of the world today,” Cardinal Maradiaga said. “Here we are all united under the light of the Holy Spirit and under the love of God.” 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 OCTOBER 16 2015 What’s On A weekly guide to upcoming Church-related events, more online at www.sconews.co.uk FRIDAY OCTOBER 16 TO SUNDAY OCTOBER 18 SATURDAY OCTOBER 17 IHealing Service at St Colum- I Renewal Weekend at St bkille’s Hall, Kirkwood St, Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull, Rutherglen on Sunday October Perth. Friday Oct 16 to Satur- 18 at 2pm. Speakers: Fr Dou- day Oct 17 glas MacMillan and Joe Liv- I All-night Prayer Vigil for ingston. Vocations from 10pm on Fri- I Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary day October 16 until 8am Mass Annual Crowning Pilgrimage on Saturday October 17 at St on Sunday October 18 at Catharine’s Convent of Mercy, Schoenstatt Scotland, Ken- 4 Lauriston Garden, Edin- tenich Way, Campsie Glen, burgh. Please consider taking Glasgow. Rosary at 3pm fol- part in some or all of this lowed by Mass at 3.30pm. important initiative. Presider: Bishop John Keenan. I All Night Prayer Vigil for Tel 01360 312 718. Women. Women from all dio- I A Festival Mass of Thanks- ceses are warmly invited to this giving at St Mungo’s, Town- all-night prayer vigil of head on Sunday October 18 at Eucharistic Adoration. For 7pm. Celebrating 50 years of information, call 01475 the Vernacular at Mass. Music 726318. October 16 8pm to led by The St Mungo Singers, October 17 8am. singers and cantors from the Glasgow Archdiocese. FRIDAY OCTOBER 16 TO SUNDAY OCTOBER 18 MONDAY OCTOBER 19 Special day for Jericho community I DIOCESE OF ABERDEEN I Bingo Tea St John the Bap- RENEWAL WEEKEND tist Perth Church Hall, 7pm, Pope Francis has announced in aid of Funds for the Keep in Bishop John Keenan and Dom that 2016 should be the Year of Touch Group. Tickets £1 also Stephen Horton OSB Mercy. In preparation for this available from the shop Prior and Novice Master of Aberdeen Diocese has made I Songs of Praise will be Prinknash Abbey, Gloucester, led this the theme of its annual recorded for the BBC at the the celebration of Thanksgiving Renewal Weekend to consider Mass for the silver jubilee of The Cathedral on Thursday and Fri- House of Prayer of The Brothers how we might respond to day October 22-23, 7-10pm. of the Jericho Community, God’s mercy in our lives and in There will also be a rehearsal Kilbarchan, on October 8.They turn how can we be merciful to in the Cathedral on Monday 19 were joined by Fr James others. Organised by the October, 7-10pm. Ferguson and clergy from the Aberdeen Diocese Association Please make sure you have a Paisley.The occasion was also of Prayer Groups it is open to ticket to attend the recordings. marked by the reception of all CCR prayer group members Tickets available from Cathe- Br Richard of the Jericho in Scotland. The invitation also dral Office, 0141 204 2409, Comunity by Dom Horton as as a extends to members of other info@cathedralG1 .org, or Benedictine Oblate of Prinknash denominations who are happy from Tern Television 01224 Abbey. Br Richard recieved the to share in the Catholic atmos- 211123, annie.woolridge Scapula phere of the St Ninian Institute. @terntv.com Book online at http://www.dio- PICS: PAUL McSHERRY ceseofaberdeen.org/?event=dio TUESDAY OCTOBER 20 cese-of-aberdeen-renewal- I Exploring Catholicism Talks weekend St Thomas Aquinas Secondary, The pupils of St Ronan’s 112 Mitre Road, Glasgow, G14 SPOTLIGHT ON Primary, Bonhill, recently SATURDAY OCTOBER 17 9PP from 4.15-5pm. Free of marked the 40th I SSVP National meeting and charge. Tuesday October 20 annivresray and blessing Mass at Celtic Park, 10am. ‘Revelation: Jesus.’ of the new building with a visit by Archbishop E-mail [email protected] Philip Tartaglia, Fr Charles McElwee and Fr John Mulholland. Headteacher Clare Levens is seen here with pupils and Frs McElwee and Mulholland Kraków 2016 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY World Youth Day Urgent appeal Can you help 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? Anyone 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.