KEVIN McKENNA chooses his top SPUC SCOTLAND commends Dr Roger ten Scots who are an inspiration to Kiska’s debunking of the myth that Catholics but will you agree with abortion is considered a ‘right’ in his selection? Page 10 international law. Pag e 11 No 5463 www.sconews.co.uk Friday April 20 2012 | £1 Nation’s new priest among three deaths in Scottish clergy By Martin Dunlop FR GRAHAM Turner, Scotland’s newest priest, passed away peace- fully on Monday, a week after he had been ordained in hospital for St Andrews and Edin- burgh Archdiocese by Cardinal Keith O’Brien. Parishioners of St Andrews and Edinburgh are also mourning the deaths of two other priests in the archdiocese last weekend, Fr David Barr and Fr Patrick Kelly. “Please remember these, our brother priests, in your prayers—remembering also their families and friends and their former parishioners,” Car- dinal O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, urged Catholics in his archdiocese and in Scotland this week. Fr Turner Knights champion marriage Cardinal O’Brien ordained Fr Turner (above), 48, on Easter Monday after his treatment for leukaemia failed. The ordination of the deacon of St Mary’s I Cathedral in Edinburgh took place in Salford Royal Knights of St Columba give Deputy First Minister petition from her constituents chapel in Greater Manchester in front of Fr By Ian Dunn Brian Henry, flanked by his fellow Knights of St Columba Turner’s parents, brother and sister and friends in Henry, secretary of Province 1 Knights of St Columba. members and Asian community representatives, hands the clergy including Mgr Michael Regan, St Mary’s Mr Henry said he believed the petition repre- over the petition against same-sex ‘marriage’ to Nicola Cathedral administrator. MEMBERS of the Knights of St Columba have sented the views of many Catholics. Sturgeon MSP, the Deputy First Minister, at her surgery in When the cardinal visited the new priest again presented Scotland’s Deputy First Minister with “We don’t see any reason for a change in the law,” Gorbals Library PIC: PAUL McSHERRY last Friday he noticed that the hospital staff had a petition signed by 1000 Catholics in her con- he said. “The sanctity of marriage is one of our decorated Fr Turner’s room with the congratula- stituency opposed to same-sex ‘marriage.’ Sacraments within the Catholic Church and that is tion cards he had received and photographs from The meeting between Nicola Sturgeon and the something that we, as a faith, hold very strongly to.” the ordination ceremony itself, taken by the lay Catholic group at the weekend is the latest Charlie McCluskey, a director of the Knights of Response chaplains, which gave him comfort. development in the ongoing campaign against St Columba also present at the meeting, said the After receiving the petition, Ms Sturgeon, who is “The hospital chaplains had taken the photo- same-sex ‘marriage,’ a campaign led by the Church petition was also representative of broader Scot- the Scottish Government spokeswoman on this graphs during the ordinations and they gave him that is increasing in intensity ahead of the Scottish tish society, not just Catholic voters. issue, said no decision had yet been made even great strength in his final days,” the cardinal said. Government’s response to its public consultation “I am happy that Nicola Sturgeon will give serious though her government has previously said it However, Fr Turner’s condition remained critical. on the issues that is due in the next two months. consideration to the views of both her Catholic and ‘tended towards the initial view’ that same-sex “I received a phone call from the hospital chap- Muslim constituents,” he said. “And hopefully she will ‘marriage’ should be introduced. lain at Salford Royal at 10pm on Sunday night and Opposition to Government come to the conclusion that there is absolutely no need “Decisions will be taken in due course and, as was told Fr Turner’s condition had changed and Representatives from the order of Catholic laymen to change the present laws concerning marriage.” the government has always made clear, if the deci- that he ‘looked different,’” Cardinal O’Brien said. handed the petition to the MSP for Glasgow Bashir Maan, a leading member of the Muslim sion is to legislate for same-sex ‘marriage’ then “They called in his parents at 3.45am and he was Southside at her surgery last Saturday. They had community in Glasgow and former city councillor there will be protections to ensure that no religious given the Sacraments. His parents, brother and sis- gathered the signatures from Catholic churches in joined the knights for the presentation of the peti- group is compelled to take part in same-sex ‘mar- ter were there when he died peacefully at 7.15am.” Ms Sturgeon’s constituency, including Blessed tion. He spoke with Ms Sturgeon, highlighting the riage,’” she said. John Dun Scotus in the Gorbals. concerns of her Muslim constituents at this pro- I Continued on page 5 The petition was handed to Ms Sturgeon by Brian posed legislation. I Continued on page 3 CARDINAL O’BRIEN BISHOP TOAL STIRLING PARISHIONER joins students to rededicates St is supporting celebrate the Donan’s parish charitable work second Sunday on Eigg after in Ghana in late of Easter refurbishment husband’s memory LET US SHINE US LET ST ANDREWS ST Page 2 Page 5 REDEDICATION Pages 12 &13 visit www.sconews.co.uk SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] 2 PICTURE NEWS SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday April 20 2012 Cardinal O’Brien visits St Andrews University amid silent protests in support of same-sex ‘marriage’ CARDINAL Keith O’Brien dition joined as we are to the of this ancient university—and joined students and Faithful whole human race both as part of that celebration must from St Andrews University regards the past and the present.’ surely be a celebration of at St Salvator’s chapel to “And what we say, what we Christianity over those past 600 celebrate a service marking do, what we believe, and how we years despite difficulties at Phoenix Choir plans a real gem of a concert the second Sunday of Easter. hand on teachings which we have times particularly when Chris- Cardinal O’Brien was wel- received will indeed have that tian fought Christian—and MEMBERS of Glasgow ing special guests: Dorothy Paul, Choir members also had fur- comed to St Andrews by Rev wonderful influence on those indeed when our consciences Phoenix Choir are preparing Peter Morrison, Gordon Cree and ther cause for celebration at the Donald MacEwan, university who come forward after us,” the tear us apart in different ways. to perform, Gems are Ever- the Dunfermline Junior Chorus. beginning of the year when Mar- chaplain (above with cardinal), cardinal, himself an honorary “It has always been a proud lasting, a concert that forms As a result of a sponsorship ilyn Smith, conductor, was Fr Andrew Kingham, Catholic graduate of St Andrews, said. clarion call of the Christian part of the choir’s diamond deal with Co-Operative Funeral- awarded an MBE in the Queen’s chaplain, and students from the The cardinal also referred to that: ‘We shall conquer by the jubilee celebrations. care, the choir has recently been New Year’s Honours’ List. Catholic chaplaincy at St Pope Benedict XVI’s invitation Cross!’— and at this present The Phoenix Choir (above), able to take on more fundraising Andrews, the Canmore Society. to all of us ‘within our own time I would suggest that our one of the UK’s most successful concerts for many worthy causes I Gems are Everlasting will be Not all students, however, respective spheres of influence, conquering must be of the and widely traveled mixed voice and has been able to travel fur- performed at Glasgow Royal welcomed the cardinal’s visit, to seek ways of promoting and minds and hearts of all those choirs, has performed at many ther afield. Concert Hall on Friday April 27. with a section opposed to his encouraging dialogue between around us and perhaps in a spe- Catholic parishes, and for next The choir has raised more than Tickets can be purchased from comments on government pro- faith and reason at every level cial way those responsible for week’s performance members £1.5million for many charities in the concert hall’s box office by posals to legalise same-sex of national life.’ legislating in our country.” are looking forward to welcom- its 60 years of existence. telephone at: 0141 353 8000. ‘marriage’ marking the occa- “And that is the challenge Following the service, the sion by holding a silent protest. which I give to Christians in cardinal took time to speak Speaking in his sermon to the University of St Andrew at with students from St Andrews those gathered at St Andrews on this present time,” he said. “As and enjoyed a lunch prepared Sunday, Cardinal O’Brien high- you well know you will soon for him by students of the Can- lighted that, as Christians, ‘we be celebrating the 600th more Society (below). 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