CLUTHA TRAGEDY. ARCHBISHOP HOLY FATHER Crackdown on CUSHLEY tells sets up sectarianism; MSPs of Scots commission funerals begin. law’s faith roots. on abuse. Page 3 Page 3 Pages 6-7 No 5548 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday December 13 2013 | £1 I offer Bishop Stephen my warmest NEW BISHOP congratulations on his appointment and assure FOR DUNKELD him of my prayers and support as he prepares to POPE Francis has appointed Bishop Stephen Robson as the new Bishop of Dunkeld. begin his ministry. Bishop Robson said he was ‘deeply honoured to have been chosen by Pope Francis’ for this role. Bishop Emeritus Vincent Logan (below) “Dunkeld is a beautiful diocese set in the heart of Scotland and I look forward to living and working there, getting to know the clergy, religious and laity and accompanying them on their Christian journey,” he said. “I look forward to trying to build up the Peo- ple of God in the Faith and in the confidence of being Catholic in a challenging world. I look forward espe- cially to helping the young and families to live the Gospel and to serve Christ in the Church. A big prior- ity must also be to encourage vocations to the priest- hood and religious life.” Bishop Robson, currently Auxiliary Bishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese, will replace Bishop Emeritus Vincent Logan, whose resignation on the grounds of ill health was accepted in June 2012. Both Bishop Robson and Bishop Logan were present for the announcement at the diocesan pastoral centre in Dundee on Wednesday morning. Reaction Welcoming the appointment of his successor, Bishop Logan said he was ‘delighted’ by the news. PIC: PAUL McSHERRY I Continued on page 4 Mourning Nelson Mandela I Tributes to former South African president from Holy Father, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, charities and from around the world By Ian Dunn his special envoy to participate in Tuesday’s official cer- emony in Johannesburg in memory of the former Pres- POPE Francis has led the world’s tributes to Nel- ident of the Republic of South Africa, ahead of the son Mandela, the former South African president, official funeral on Sunday. who died last Thursday aged 95. Cardinal Turkson was joined by nearly 100,000 ordi- The Holy Father said it was with ‘sadness’ that he nary South Africans for the celebration on Tuesday and had learned of the death of the late South African pres- more than 90 world leaders, including David Cameron ident but that Mr Mandela’s example would ‘inspire and Barack Obama, were expected to visit the country generations’ to come. this week. That message was echoed in Glasgow, the first place to award Mandela the freedom of the city, where Arch- Scottish tributes bishop Philip Tartaglia called him a ‘great example.’ Archbishop Tartaglia, the Archbishop of Glasgow and Former South African President president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scot- Nelson Mandela met Pope John Memorial and funeral land, said that Mr Mandela left behind a wonderful Paul II at Johannesburg Mr Mandela had been receiving home-based medical legacy of forgiveness. International Airport in 1995 at care for a lung infection after three months in hospital, “I will remember Nelson Mandela not only for his the start of the Pope’s first official visit to the country when he died. courage and his ideals,” the archbishop said. “Rather I “I pay tribute to his steadfast commitment to pro- will remember him for the great example he gave of the moting the human dignity of all the nation’s citizens and power of forgiveness. And from his forgiveness great forging a new South Africa, built on the firm founda- hope grew.” inspire us all in the coming years.” tions of non–violence, reconciliation and the truth,” the Philippa Bonella, SCIAF’s head of communications Fr Tom Welsh, director of Mission Matters Scotland, Holy Father said. and education, said the late politician would also con- said Mr Mandela and his organisation shared a ‘mutual “I pray his example will inspire generations of South tinue to inspire the Scottish Catholic International Aid concern for the freedom and dignity of the poor and the Africans to justice and the common good at the fore- Fund’s work. marginalised of South Africa.’ front of their political aspirations.” “Our thoughts and prayers are with Nelson Mandela He also thanked God ‘for the gift of his life.’ Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Peter Turkson, pres- and his family at this time,” she said. “The world has ident of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, as lost a truly global leader but his legacy will continue to I Continued on page 8 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 DECEMBER 13 2013 In Edinburgh (below), Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh led prayers for the city in St Andrew Square Gardens at the crib blessing on Sunday December 1. Representatives of many religious faiths from the city were present at the blessing, which was attended by Lord Provost Donald Wilson of Edinburgh and members of the local authority. Among the guests in attendance was Sir Tom Farmer, Catholic entrepreneur and philanthropist PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Church and civic representatives joined together for Glasgow’s crib blessing at the city’s George Square on Wednesday December 4 (above). Mgr Gerry Fitzpatrick, director of the St Mungo Singers, was among the clergy who joined Lord Provost Sadie Docherty of Glasgow City Council for the blessing. Among those providing the musical entertainment were children from St Monica’s Primary School and St Andrew’s Secondary School, both Glasgow PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Senior citizens of PICTURE OF THE WEEK the parish of St Mary’s Cathedral in What’s On Edinburgh recently enjoyed their annual A weekly guide to upcoming Church events Christmas lunch, organised by the SSVP.Prior to lunch, Mass was SUNDAY DECEMBER 15 with soup and sandwich at I celebrated by Mass for the 80th anniver- 1.15pm following Mass at Archbishop Leo sary of St Anne’s Church, 12.30pm. Retreat 2pm-3pm. Cushley of St Glasgow. Mass at 11.30am WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18 Andrews and with Archbishop Philip Edinburgh, Tartaglia. I Advent Retreat with the Archbishop I Christmas Tree Festival, St Franciscan Sisters, St Joseph’s Emeritus Ian Murray Mary’s Chapel, Blairs, Church, Aberdeen. Prayer of Argyll and the Aberdeen. Fundraising event after 9.30am Mass followed Isles, Mgr Michael for parish renovations, 1pm- by coffee break then prayer Regan, cathedral 5pm. Musical entertainment until 11.30am. administrator, and and refreshments will be pro- I Mary in the New Testa- Fr Jeremy Milne vided. To sponsor a tree or sign ment, session four – Four Ses- up for the Christmas Tree sions on Miriam of Galilee in Choir, contact Rachel Gambro Paul and the Gospels. St PIC: PAUL by email at: Patrick’s Church, Dumbarton, McSHERRY [email protected] 12pm-1.30pm. Includes soup or by telephone on: 07964 at noon. 698789. Further information I Monthly pro-life Mass with can be found on the website: the Sisters of the Gospel of http://www.stmarysblairs.org Life, Govanhill, Glasgow. An I Young Catholics from Carols for Peace, 30, Glas- opportunity to celebrate Mass across St Andrews and gow City Chambers. and pray for the unborn and Edinburgh Archdiocese for all affected by abortion. MONDAY DECEMBER 16 were invited to St Mary’s Our Lady of Consolation Cathedral, Edinburgh, on I Taize Prayers in Advent, Church, Glasgow. Exposition, Sunday December 1 for Immaculate Conception 6pm, Rosary, 7pm, Mass, a youth reconciliation Church, Maryhill, Glasgow, 7.30pm. Tea, coffee and bis- service.Archbishop Leo 7pm-7.40pm. cuits in the hall afterwards. Cushley of St Andrews I Catholicism – Adult Forma- and Edinburgh was tion Programme based on Fr THURSDAY DECEMBER 19 joined by clergy from Robert Barron’s DVD series, I Service of readings and car- across the archdiocese session three. Christ the King ols, St Mary’s Cathedral, for the service, which Church hall (upper), Glasgow, Aberdeen, featuring the was entitled, Come 2 Me 7.30pm. Tea and coffee pro- Aberdeen Diocesan Choir and vided. the Aberdeen African Choir. Begins at 8pm, followed by PIC: PAUL McSHERRY TUESDAY DECEMBER 17 mulled wine and mince pies. I Advent Retreat with the I More events on the SCO Franciscan Sisters, St Peter’s website at http://www. Church, Aberdeen. Begins sconews.co.uk E-mail [email protected] DON’T MISS YOUR DOUBLE EDITION OF THE SCO, IN PARISHES DEC 20 PRICED £2 EWTN - THE CATHOLIC SATELLITE CHANNEL The 2013 Double Christmas/New Year edition of your national Catholic The perfect Christian present weekly newspaper offers messages from Scotland’s dioceses, Christmas Tel: SAS 0141 774 5000 or 07971 514 703 fiction and a special pull-ot section offering an exlusive SCO look back for our special offer over the past 12 months. Don’t miss it, in parishes December 20. SAS - SCOTLAND’S CATHOLIC SATELLITE COMPANY WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK FRIDAY DECEMBER 13 2013 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER NEWS 3 Clutha crackdown and funerals Scots law has sacred Christian roots THE Lord Advocate has told tion to the events at the Clutha prosecutors to crack down on bar,’ there will be a presumption ‘hateful’ comments about the in favour of taking criminal By Ian Dunn Clutha helicopter disaster proceedings. after anti-Catholic comments “It is important that COPFS ARCHBISHOP Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh were posted online in the [Crown Office and Procurator Fis- has reminded Scottish politicians that Christianity is one of wake of the tragedy.