THANKSGIVING MASS FOR NEW SAINT IN ST COLUMBA’S, OBAN SEE PAGE 2 Holy Father elevates 24 new cardinals Page Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Bishop Philip Tartaglia join celebrations in Rome 24 No 5392 New website at www.sconews.co.uk Friday November 26 2010 | 90p Church steadfast on doctrine ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL I Experts say Pope Benedict XVI’s comments on HIV and condoms in new book have been misunderstood By Liz Leydon their use can be justified on pragmatic grounds as a policy of AIDS prevention. POPE Benedict XVI’s latest com- “The Pope suggests that in excep- ments on HIV, condoms and sexual- tional circumstances use of a condom ity have been misinterpreted as a could be a ‘first step’ in someone change in Catholic teaching, accord- recognising their moral responsibility, ing to Church experts. but it is not the last step. The only In what has been perceived as a dra- responsible moral response is to find a matic statement, The Holy Father says different way of living altogether. in a new book that the use of a condom “It is also important to note that in JOHN DEIGHAN could be ‘a first step in the direction of the same answer, the Pope says: ‘We a moralisation, a first assumption of cannot solve the problem by distribut- believes MSPs will reject responsibility’ in relation to male pros- ing condoms.’” Margo MacDonald’s titution, HIV and AIDS. He makes the The Scottish Catholic International statement in German journalist Peter Aid Fund, an agency of the Bishops’ proposed legislation Seewald’s book Light of the World: Conference of Scotland, is taking the Page 3 The Pope, the Church and the Signs of long view on the issue. the Times published this week. “As the official aid agency of the However the Vatican and leading Catholic Church in Scotland, SCIAF’s ASYLUM DISGRACE Catholic bioethics experts believe work is in line with the teaching of the there is nothing ‘revolutionary’ about Church,” Paul Chitnis, SCIAF’s chief the Pope’s pastoral comments on these executive, said. “We support many pro- ARCHBISHOP CONTI subjects—made in the first one-to-one grammes in developing countries help- supports protest interviews the Pontiff has granted to a ing people affected by HIV and AIDS. journalist—and say they do not reflect This includes initiatives to prevent the against the forced a change in Catholic doctrine. spread of the virus through education eviction of families as and community based healthcare for Condoms and sexuality those affected and their families.” Glasgow City Council In the book the Holy Father goes on to He added that: “Over the coming loses UKBA contract say that condoms are ‘not the proper months, we will be considering the way to deal with the horror of the HIV implications of Pope Benedict’s com- Page 3 infection,’ a clarification that the ments for our work.” Vatican has been quick to underline. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Abuse and resignation HOWSON UNVEILED Lombardi issued a statement stressing While the Holy Father’s comments on that the Holy Father’s comments nei- condoms have dominated headlines this ther ‘reforms or changes’ Catholic week, other important issues before the teaching, which forbids use of con- Church today are also addressed in Mr doms and other contraceptives. Seewald’s book, which is based on a “The reasoning of the Pope cannot series of interviews with the Pope dur- certainly be defined as a revolutionary ing the summer. turn,” he said. The Holy Father said clerical abuse On Tuesday he added the Pope’s Pope Benedict XVI’s comments in a book of the World, the cardinal indicated was like ‘the crater of a volcano, out of remarks were equally applicable to written by Peter Seewald (right) about HIV, that the Pope’s words on AIDS and the which suddenly a great cloud of filth men and women. condoms and sexuality have been misin- use of condoms had attracted attention came, darkening and soiling everything.’ “I personally asked the Pope if there terpreted, say Church experts worldwide and he referred to the He added that when a member of the was a serious, important problem in words of Fr Lombardi: “The Pope clergy appointed to lead someone to the choice of the masculine over the On the issue of sexuality the Holy again makes it clear that his intention God abuses him and leads him away feminine,” Fr Lombardi said. “He told Father underlines: “The meaning and [in the book] was not to take up a posi- from God: ‘Faith becomes unbeliev- me ‘no.’” direction of sexuality is to bring about tion on the problem of condoms in able’ and ‘the Church can no longer Leading Catholic experts agree that the union of man and woman, and in general; his aim, rather was to reaffirm present Herself credibly as the herald initial widespread interpretations of this way to give humanity, posterity, with force that the problem of AIDS of the Lord.’ FIRST LOOK the Pope’s comments infer too much. children, a future. This is the determina- cannot be solved simply by distribut- Commenting on calls for his resig- at Peter Howson’s “Does this represent a change of tion internal to the essence of sexuality.” ing condoms, because much more nation over the issue he said that: “One Vatican policy towards condoms and He adds that ‘everything else is needs to be done: ‘Prevention, educa- must not run away from danger and painting of St John HIV? No, this is not a change of poli- against sexuality’s intrinsic meaning tion, help, advice, accompaniment, say that someone else should do it,” Ogilvie for St Andrew’s cy,” according to one leading Catholic and direction,’ and ‘this is a point we both to prevent people from falling ill but added that he would resign if he Cathedral, Glasgow bioethics expert. “Some people will need to hold firm, even if it is not and to help them if they do.’” were no longer ‘physically, psycholog- argue that this paves the way for a new pleasing to our age.’ Peter Kearney, director of the ically and spiritually capable’ of exer- Page 6 Vatican policy of at least tolerating the Scottish Catholic Media Office, agreed cising office; in this case he has ‘a distribution of condoms: which it may Scottish reaction that the exception the Pope considers in right and, under certain circumstances, to some extent. But this is more than Cardinal Keith O’Brien emphasised theory with regards to condoms does also an obligation to resign.’ the Pope says and to move too quickly that the teaching of the Pope was not change the rules of the Church. to further possible implications is to important not only to Catholics “Crucially, the Pope is not saying that continued on page 5 risk losing the significance of what the throughout the world but to peoples of the use of condoms is moral or virtu- Pope is actually saying.” all faiths and none. Referring to Light ous,” he said. “Nor is he saying that [email protected] SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 e-mail [email protected] For quality religious Christmas cards bringing Aid to the Church in Need... www.acnuk.org 0845 241 6068 2 PICTURE NEWS SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday November 26 2010 Double cause for celebration at Oban Cathedral By Liz Leydon Peter Moran of Aberdeen and In her message Sr Anne said of homecoming,” he said recall- “Thank God for our cathe- Cardinal O’Brien, Bishop Toal and Cardinal Keith O’Brien at the that it was the Faith of her ing the saint’s own life and trav- dral… and thank God for their brother bishops (above left) CATHOLICS from Argyll celebration. They were piped Scottish ‘grandparents, parents, els, which included a visit to Blessed Mary MacKillop,” he celebrate the Mass of Thanksgiving and the Isles and beyond into the cathedral—which has uncles and aunts’ that had ‘such Scotland. said. “May He keep us strong in for the Canonisation of St Mary of gathered for a double cele- undergone renovation work— an impact on ‘young Mary “Rome, despite its faults and the Faith of our Fathers.” the Cross at the newly-refurbished St Columba’s Cathedral in Oban at bration in Oban last week. by Bishop Toal’s nephew Sean MacKillop and the road to her failings, draws us. Mary was The cardinal encouraged the which the cardinal was presented The Thanksgiving Mass for Cameron, in front of a congre- sainthood.’ honoured in a very special way congregation to continue to with a picture of the new saint by the Canonisation of St Mary of gation with members from Roy Sr Anne added that she was there… We want to be touched support the renovation work on Bishop Toal (above). Piper Sean the Cross coincided with the Bridge, Fort William, South very proud of ‘our first by the Holiness and the good- the cathedral, and on churches Cameron and other relatives of St reopening of St Columba’s Uist, including relatives of the Australian saint, our saint of ness of her life.” in the diocese. Mary of the Cross carry the icon Cathedral in Oban last Thursday, new saint. Scottish blood.’ “May Scotland Mary Mackillop was an edu- On behalf of the diocese, into the cathedral (below) November 17. contribute many more Mary cator and Bishop Toal also Bishop Toal presented the cardi- PICS ABOVE: PAUL McSHERRY Nuns from the Sisters of St Story of a saint MacKillops,” she concluded.