Our schools POPE FRANCIS’ KEVIN McKENNA triumph at peace call in on Pope’s 2014 EDUCATION midst of Iraqi comments on AWARDS. violence. independence. Page 4 Pages 6-7 Page 10 No 5574 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday June 20 2013 | £1 A knighthood for Professor Devine By Ian Dunn LEADING Scottish Catholic Professor Tom Devine has been awarded a Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday honours list for his services to history. Also recognised in the list was Dr Frank Dunn, current President of the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians in Glasgow and a leading member of the Scottish Catholic community, who has been awarded a CBE for services to cardiology. Professor Devine was recognised—as he prepares to retire from academia— with a special event featuring Gordon Brown in Edinburgh on Monday night. The leading Catholic academic told the SCO that he felt that the award was a recognition of ‘the huge transformation in the quality’ of Scottish history in the past 25 years rather than a personal accolade. At the event on Monday, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised Professor Devine, describing him as ‘a great teacher, great scholar and great Scot’ and also read tributes to him from Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond. Professor Devine’s colleague and peer, Owen Dudley Edwards, the Irish historian, said that the award was in recognition of ‘a wonderful historian who has done wonderful work both with primary sources and bringing the history Handle independence vote with care to the widest possible reading public.’ “He has transformed our under- standing of the highlands, the low- lands, the towns, the Irish and Scotland I Reaction to Holy Father’s opinion on the subject ahead of September’s referendum and the Scots across the world,” he By Ian Dunn Pope Francis entered the debate on Scottish independence said. “He has made a particular fine tish Church as a useful guide for Scottish Catholics. recently saying that the issue must be ‘handled with care’ contribution to Scottish Catholic his- Peter Kearney, the director of the Scottish Catholic tory itself and the award salutes his POPE Francis has entered the debate over Scot- Media Office said of the remarks that ‘although achievement as the foremost Scottish tish independence by saying that it must be addressing the situation in Catalunya, the Pope’s com- us will make in our lives,” he said. “We are also con- Catholic historian of our times. This ‘handled with care.’ ments are measured and thoughtful and do not seek fident that when most people, including Christians, award also honours the Irish in Scot- In an interview with a Catalan newspaper, the Pope to prejudge the outcome of any political process.’ do study the case for a Yes vote they’ll conclude that land as well as the great strides made was asked if he was worried about the risk of sepa- John Deighan, the Scottish Bishop Conference’s independence is the surest route to a more socially just in recent Scottish history.” ration between Spain and Catalunya. parliamentary officer, said that both sides in the ref- Scotland. Pope Francis continues in a long line of He also added that Professor The Holy Father replied that he was worried about erendum debate could take positives from the Holy Roman Pontiffs who have steadfastly supported Scot- Devine was not only well-liked but ‘any division’ and in his answer he touched on the Father’s comments. land’s historic right to self-determination including, ‘well-loved and respected.’ Scottish situation. “Understandably the Pope is concerned about divi- most notably, Pope John XXII who signed the Decla- Dr Dunn, a former pupil of St “There is independence by emancipation and inde- sion and sees unity as the presumed position,” he ration of Arbroath in 1320. Indeed, the Vatican is one Aloysius’ College, said it was a great pendence by secession,” he said. “The independences said. “I think he is being careful not to impose a par- of the few international organisations where Scotland honour to be recognised in this way. by emancipation, for example, are American, that ticular position on any people, so he does note that has always had independent representation.” “I am thrilled to have been they were emancipated from the European states. The great care has to be taken to make decisions on seek- On the other side of the debate, Stirling Labour awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birth- independences of nations by secession is a dismem- ing independence on a case-by-case basis. Supporters MP Anne McGuire said that the Pope’s intervention day Honours List,” he said. “I am berment, sometimes it’s very obvious.” of independence will be encouraged by that point showed the positives that could underpin a No vote. privileged to have been associated The Holy Father went on to say that every case for whilst supporters of the Union will be encouraged by “This is an interesting and welcome intervention with the people of Glasgow, the independence had to be looked at individually. the importance the Pope places on unity.” from Pope Francis,” she said. “The Pope is right to patients and staff at Stobhill Hospi- “Let’s think of the former Yugoslavia. Obviously, warn about the impact of division on society, and to tal, and the people of East Dunbar- there are nations with cultures so different that could- Yes and No camps draw the distinction between independence for eman- tonshire for most of my life.” n’t even be stuck together with glue,” he said. “The To that end, both the Yes and No camps had praise for cipation and that for secession. Yugoslavian case is very clear, but I ask myself if it is the Holy Father’s comments. “We live in a large, interdependent world and the I Full interview with Professor Devine, so clear in other cases—Scotland, Padania, Catalunya. Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber best way to secure our future is to work together as pages 12-13 There will be cases that will be just and cases that will and Badenoch and convener of Christians for Inde- part of something bigger. Coming on the back of the not be just, but the secession of a nation without an pendence, welcomed the comments of Pope Francis interventions by US President Barack Obama, antecedent of mandatory unity, one has to take it with that any proposal for independence ‘must be studied Hillary Clinton and JK Rowling, the comments from a lot of grains of salt and analyse it case by case.” on a case-by-case’ basis. Pope Francis highlight just how important the deci- “We welcome the call by Pope Francis for voters sion we have to make in September is.” Praise in Scotland to analyse the case for independence very The Pope’s comments attracted praise from the Scot- closely as this is the biggest political decision any of 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 JUNE 20 2014 Canon Healy celebrates six decades of service to the Church What’s On By Daniel Harkins ST CHARLES’ Parish, Paisley, held a Mass of A weekly guide to upcoming Church-related Thanksgiving for Canon events, more online at www.sconews.co.uk Brendan Healy to mark 60 years in the priesthood. FRIDAY JUNE 20 Patrick’s at 3pm. Procession Parish priest Fr Stephen I Orchestral concert. Queen’s leaves at 4.30pm. Mass in Baillie was joined by Bishop University Symphony Orchestra St Paul’s celebrated by Emeritus John Mone at the perform in St Andrew’s Archbishop Philip Tartaglia at anniversary celebrations for Cathedral, Glasgow. Begins at 6.30pm. Organised by the retired priest, who was 7.30pm. Glasgow University Catholic ordained on June 6, 1954. chaplaincy. All welcome. Parishioners young and old SATURDAY JUNE 21 came together after Mass as I Feast Day Mass. Mass TUESDAY JUNE 24 Canon Healy was presented celebrating the feast of St I South African Bishop’s with a cake (right) and met Aloysius. Followed by a cup Lecture. Lauriston Jesuit two surprise royal guests, or of tea and grand raffle draw in Centre, Edinburgh, 7.30pm. rather, two Paisley parish- the auditorium. 12.30 in St Bishop Kevin Dowling of ioners wearing some alarm- Aloysius’, Garnethill. Rustenburg, South Africa— ingly lifelike Prince Philip I Mass for the Sick. A Mass The Joy of the Gospel then and and Queen Elizabeth masks. for the Sick will be celebrated, now, from Archbishop Denis followed by refreshments in Hurley to Pope Francis. Admis- I [email protected] the hall. There will be no sion by donation in aid of the PIC: PAUL McSHERRY parish Mass for the sick in Denis Hurley Centre, Durban. July but it will resume on The Denis Hurley Centre, Saturday August 16. 10am, St presently under construction SPOTLIGHT ON John the Baptist, Perth. close to Durban’s Cathedral, will be home to about a dozen SUNDAY JUNE 22 projects which provide medical I Parish Barbecue. St Peter’s care, a soup kitchen, job Partick. Begins after 10am training, support for people Mass and last throughout the living with HIV/AIDS and in day. All welcome. particular offer assistance to I David Gemmell Living refugees, asylum seekers and Memorial Fund. You are migrants. Over £300,000 has warmly invited to join still to be raised by September, members of the L’Arche when completion of the Centre communities from Inverness is scheduled.