SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR ONLY NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SEE PAGE 11 FOR DETAILS No 5289 Do you want to get away from it all? Pages Inspiration if you are planning your next holiday or going on retreat 12-13, 16 No 5394 www.sconews.co.uk Friday December 10 2010 | 90p Bishop Logan to step down PRO-LIFE VICTORY I Cardinal O’Brien and Archbishop Conti express sadness at news from Dunkeld By Ian Dunn CARDINAL Keith O’Brien and Archbishop Mario Conti have paid tribute to Bishop Vincent Logan of Dunkeld following the announcement that he is to step down due to ill health. Bishop Logan has tendered his res- ignation to Pope Benedict XVI on health grounds after almost 30 years of service as head of Dunkeld Diocese. He had been unable to take part in the ARCHBISHOP CONTI Papal Visit to Scotland earlier this year delighted by defeat but did meet the Holy Father at Oscott College in Birmingham. of assisted suicide bill Bishop Logan’s superiors in the hier- and hopes the MSPs’ archy both said he will be a great loss. decision is final Bishop’s decision “I deeply regret having to make this Page 3 decision, but I have no choice,” Bishop Logan said in a statement released last weekend. “My health means I am no WARNING ON SUDAN longer able to give 100 per cent and I feel the Church deserves no less. “I owe it to the priests and people of VIOLENCE FEARS: Dunkeld to step aside and let someone Cardinal O’Brien else give them new leadership. “It has been an honour, a privilege and writes to UK Foreign a pleasure to serve the priests and people Secretary ahead of of Dunkeld Diocese as their bishop for 30 years. I am immensely grateful to priests, deacons, religious and people ful developments. I think of the Priests Bishop Vincent Logan hopes to continue to referendum countless people who have supported of his diocese in an exemplary fash- for Scotland initiative; of the many contribute to the Church in Scotland even me loyally throughout my ministry. ion,” the cardinal said. “In a particular courses and retreats that have been run after he steps down as bishop due to Page 4 “I pay tribute to my priests and dea- way he built outstanding links with all in Rome and in Salamanca; of his ill health cons who labour tirelessly on behalf of involved in every aspect of life in his overseeing of the Great Jubilee cele- PIC: PAUL McSHERRY our Lord and His Church in an increas- diocese, especially forging strong links brations and his insight into the plans NEW MONSIGNORS ingly secular world, to the Religious with all involved in civic life. to establish a new headquarters for the for their enormous contribution to “Sadly, failing health has frustrated Bishops’ Conference.” resignation,” Dundee West End diocesan life, and I thank God for the him in recent years and I know that The archbishop added: “I have spe- Councillor Richard McCready said. lay people who witness to the values this tendering of his resignation will be cial reason to be grateful to him. He “He has done a great deal of good work of the Gospel in their daily lives.” a great loss also to the Bishops’ was the first to support me after I intro- not just for the Catholic community in The bishop acknowleded the work- Conference of Scotland on which he duced the permanent diaconate to Dundee and throughout Scotland. ing relationship he has enjoyed with served with distinction on a variety of Aberdeen and he has been a strong “I hope that Bishop Vincent’s health the wider community throughout the our committees and commissions.” supporter of that programme ever improves and that he has a long and diocese and thanked ‘all of them for As a close friend of Bishop Logan, since. He will be greatly missed but I happy retirement.” their courtesy and friendship over the the cardinal also said he was praying hope that by stepping down form the years.’ for his recovery to full health. “As one demands of running the diocese he will Changes to come “It will take some time before my suc- who knew him very well for five years be able to regain some of his health and Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, the cessor is appointed, but I felt it was only as a fellow student at St Andrew’s continue to serve the Church.” Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio to Great fair to make my decision known so that College, Drygrange, then as a curate in Britain, last month announced his the priests and people of the Dunkeld his native Bathgate, and following this, Diocese responds retirement because of his own ill health. Diocese can plan for the future,” he said. our 25 years together as bishops, I pray Paying tribute to Bishop Logan, Mgr He was expected to return to Spain last “My hope is that, God willing, I will still that his health will strengthen so that he Ken McCaffrey, vicar general of Sunday. The nuncio traditionally plays be able to make a contribution to the life will be able to fulfil his next ambi- Dunkeld Diocese, said: “On behalf of a significant role in the process of of the Church in Scotland, both at tion—namely to continue in his retire- the priests and people, I thank Bishop installing new bishops. Neither a suc- CARDINAL O’BRIEN national and diocesan level, albeit in a ment, to serve God and God’s people in Vincent for his dedicated ministry as cessor for the nuncio or for Bishop names four new less public role. Once again I offer my whatever way he possibly can in the our bishop and shepherd over 30 years. Logan has been named at this time. heartfelt thanks to everyone who has years which lie ahead,” he said. Since his appointment in 1981, at the Bishop Logan is the first of a number monsignors of St worked with me over the last 30 years Archbishop Conti said he was also age of 39, he has given outstanding of members of the eight-strong Scottish Andrews and and I pray that everyone will understand very sorry to hear the news. leadership to the priests and people of hierarchy who are due to stand down in Edinburgh Archdiocese why I, very reluctantly, have had to “News of the bishop’s resignation Dunkeld. He has been responsible for the next few years. Archbishop Conti come to this decision.” has come as a real sadness to me, many initiatives over the years that and Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen Page 23 though given his state of health it is have encouraged our people to live by have already reached the retirement age Reaction not a surprise,” he said. “He will be the values of the Gospel... We are of 75 and have tendered their resigna- Cardinal O’Brien led the tributes to greatly missed in his beloved Dunkeld deeply sorry that his recent ill health tions to the Holy Father, as required by Bishop Logan saying ‘it was with a Diocese, which he has served so faith- has forced this decision, but we fully Canon Law. Cardinal O’Brien and deep sense of sorrow’ that he learned fully and well for 30 years. I will also understand why he has had to make it.” Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell the Dunkeld Bishop had tendered his miss his contribution to the work of A representative of Dundee City are expected to follow suit in the next resignation. the Bishops’ Conference where his Council also paid tribute to the depart- few years. “In his almost 30 years’ service as skills of administration and manage- ing bishop. “I am very sorry to hear Bishop of Dunkeld, he led and served ment have given rise to many success- that Bishop Vincent has tendered his [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 December 10 2010 St Andrew’s Day kept in fine style at Scots College THE Pontifical Scots homilies and addresses as well College in Rome held spe- as the example of his person as cial celebrations for the a platform for evangelisation feast of St Andrew, the col- and catechesis,” Bishop Philip lege patron. Tartaglia of Paisley said in his The feast day is always a day homly in the fest day Mass at of special festivity for the col- the college lege, and many distinguished Five Scottish priests, former guests and friends come to pupils of the college, who are Christmas blessings in Glasgow Mass and lunch. celebrating their silver jubilees Among those present this were also present: Fr Gerard Archbishop Mario Conti of year was Francis Campbell, Tartaglia (Glasgow Glasgow joined Glasgow City British Ambassador to the Holy Archdiocese); Mgr William Council leaders for the service See, to whom the college made McFadden (Galloway Diocese); of the blessing of the crib at a presentation during lunch to Fr Michael McMahon (Paisley George Square on December mark his service in Rome Diocese); Fr Paul Morton 2. The joyful celebrations went (above). Mr Campbell will be (Motherwell Diocese),and Mgr ahead in spite of heavy snow. leaving for another post very Leo Cushley (Motherwell Children from The Gorbals soon and the college wanted to Diocese, now working in the Community Choir, made up of acknowledge the role he played Vatican’s Secretariat of State).