Fr Colin ACN reacts to Pro-life activists MacInnes unanimous ISIS stand up in reports from genocide Edinburgh and quake in recognition by Glasgow. Ecuador. Page 7 MPs. Page 3 Pages 4-5 No 5669 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday April 29 2016 | £1 Greens oppose environment of Catholic schools in Scotland I Controversial stance omitted from 2016 Scottish Green Party manifesto but still remains party policy By Ian Dunn and Daniel Harkins what the thinking behind that policy is. last year, the group said that ‘our posi- Catholic education in Scotland out of education in Scotland. It doesn’t seem to be about tolerating tion stated in [a] 2013 report has not their manifesto for the 2016 elections. “I am very supportive of state-funded THE Scottish Green Party has other people’s wishes, or allowing changed from the belief that sectarian- Mr McGrath suggested the hostile Catholic schools,” Ms Sturgeon told the admitted that it remains intent on parental choices, but instead imposing ism would not be eradicated by closing response the party received in 2007 to SCO last year. “They perform ending state-funded Catholic edu- a one size fits all system contrary to all schools.’ its education policy may have moti- very well.” cation in Scotland. developments in education all over Another Green candidate, David vated members to leave it out of their Ms Davidson has also told the SCO Despite the policy being left out of the world.” Officer, who is on the Scottish Green manifesto this time. that she ‘wholeheartedly supports the party’s 2016 manifesto ahead of the Party’s list in the North East, went as far “They are trying to cover their Catholic education.’ May 5 elections, a Green spokesman Policy from the top as to say that ‘secular schools’ were so tracks,” he said. “Indeed, I only wish that more faith told the SCO that ‘the Scottish Greens’ Many of the Scottish Green candidates, important to him he would want them “They should be brave enough to groups, charities and other organisa- policy remains to move toward an non- including co-convenors Patrick Harvie to be made part of the constitution of an stand behind their policy. They should tions were able to play a similar role in denominational education system in (above left) and Maggie Chapman, have independent Scotland. be transparent about their desire to end education, and were able to set up state Scotland, the focus of this is not to publicly spoken about their desire to Ross Greer, who is the lead Green Catholic schools.” schools themselves,” she added. close down schools but for greater inte- end Catholic schooling in Scotland. candidate for the West of Scotland Recent polls suggest the Scottish gration.’ “The Greens support an integrated region, has said that ‘no religion should Green Party could win up to a dozen I Editorial, page 8 Michael McGrath (above right), secular education system,” Mr Harvie have an institutional place in education. seats in the Scottish Parliament. I [email protected] director of the Scottish Catholic Educa- told the SCO last year. “Children have 100 per cent secular is the way to go. I [email protected] tion Service, said this was a policy the right to a neutral education.” No to private faith schools as well.’ Other parties intended to ‘close schools, and end Ms Chapman said on Twitter that A spokesman for the Scottish Labour Catholic schools in Scotland.’ denominational schools could ‘rein- Omission Party said it was ‘committed to retain- “They don’t want Catholic schools force’ sectarianism. However, the Scot- The Scottish Green Party’s 2007 mani- ing Catholic schools in Scotland.’ and it’s important the electorate know tish Government’s advisory group on festo said it would ‘move towards the SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and that voting Green means you’re voting tackling sectarianism has repeatedly integration of state funded religious Scottish Conservative leader Ruth to end Catholic schools,” Mr McGrath stressed that Catholic schools are not schools into nondenominational educa- Davidson have both spoken about their said. “I would be interested to know responsible for the problem. In a report tion’ but leaders left this policy to end commitment to continuing Catholic SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] Contact SPUC Scotland for candidate question pack for the Remember the Value of forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on 5th May 2016 Phone: 0141 221 2094 LIFE when you cast your Vote in May 2 PICTURE NEWS SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER FRIDAY APRIL 29 2016 PAISLEY SYNOD IN SESSION THE first session of the his- The afternoon session was toric Paisley Synod got under- addressed by Bishop John Keenan way last Saturday at Notre (bottom left). The bishop told dele- Dame High School in gates that they were under the pro- Greenock. tection of Mary and that the rebirth It is the first synod in Scotland to of the diocese would come about involve lay people and more than through devotion to our Lady. He 150 of them from all over the dio- also stressed he truly wanted lay cese were present for the day people to step forward and be bold long event. and said he would amend their pro- The morning session was posals as little as possible. addressed by Mgr Denis Carlin (top “Many people said they were left), parish priest of St Mary’s surprised at how bold they were Greenock who gave a powerful asked to be,” delegate Ronnie address acknowledging the dra- Convery said. matic way in which the Church “There was a lot of discussion engages with society had changed about how we need to be more rad- since he was ordained in the mid ical in the way we deal with fami- seventies and challenged delegates lies. The traditional family ideal to find new ways to respond to that maybe doesn’t exist in the way it reality. With the day organised used to and we need to find new around the theme of Calling, ways of engaging with families of addressing how to bring people to all shapes and sizes.” the Church, delegates were split into There will be a further four ses- working groups whose response to sions of discussion before the different issues would then be sum- synod’s proposals are voted on in marised by the synod organisers. the final session. Archbishop Philip Tartaglia SPOTLIGHT ON welcomed nearly 350 primary 7 pupils to St Andrew’s Cathedral on Tuesday for a celebratory Mass before they head off to high school.The children were from ten schools in East Dumbartonshire and Castlemilk. The schools were: Holy Family Primary and St Agatha’s and St Flannan’s Primary in Kirkintilloch, St Andrew’s in Bearsden, St Joseph’s in Milngavie, St Helen’s and St Matthew’s in Bishopsbriggs, St Machan’s in Lennoxtown and John Paul II and St Bartholomew’s primary in Castlemilk PICS: PAUL McSHERRY INSIDE YOUR SCO INDEX TO NEWS, OPINION AND FEATURES THIS WEEK EWTN CATHOLIC TV IS ON SKY EPG 589 Sky Freesat £175 total cost , no monthly charges. NEWS pages 1-6 COMMENT pages 9 FAITH IN CULTURE page 14 200 Free channels including EWTN TV & Radio. LOCAL NEWS pages 2,3, 4-5 CENTRE SPREAD pages 10-11 PUZZLES pages 12 and 14 Call Sky on 08442411602 for installation. 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WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK FRIDAY APRIL 29 2016 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER NEWS 3 Knights urge voters to ACN on UK MPs’ recognition of genocide keep Catholic values By Ian Dunn The Knights of St Columba views and beliefs.” have called on parties and Key issues mentioned in the A LEADING Catholic charity has voters to consider ‘the core letter from the lay Catholic welcomed a unanimous vote in the values of Catholic social organisation are abortion, House of Commons recognising teaching’ ahead of election assisted suicide, homelessness, Daesh (ISIS)’s attacks on Christians, on May 5. the rights of low paid workers Yazidis and other ethnic and religious In an open letter, Supreme and Catholic Schools. minorities as genocide. Knight Charlie McCluskey said “I would also call for all The motion, which also called on the the Church’s teachings ‘bring political parties and the elec- Government to refer the issue to the United balance to our society and torate to look at the core values Nations Security Council in a bid to bring which ensure quality of life and of Catholic Social teaching, those committing the genocide to justice, care for the most vulnerable in values that bring balance to our was passed by 278 to 0. Neville Kyrke- our communities.’ society and which ensure qual- Smith, the national director of Aid to the “This includes the unborn, ity of life and care for the most Church in Need (UK), welcomed the result the aged and infirm and of vulnerable in our communi- of last Wednesday’s vote. course those brought to our ties,” the Supreme Knight said. “We are delighted by this result—as it shores through war and vio- “This includes the unborn, the should now lead to action for Christians lence in so many parts of our aged and infirm and of course and other persecuted minorities in the Mid- world today,” he said.