WIN A TRIP TO JOIN THE GRANDPARENTS’ PILGRIMAGE AT KNOCK STARTING NEXT WEEK No 5289 Medjugorje marks 30th anniversary of visions Pages Testimony from lay Catholic, priest and religious. Vatican still to decide 12-13 No 5421 www.sconews.co.uk Friday June 24 2011 | 90p Proceed with due caution NEW EVANGELISATION I Church urges the use of prudence and wisdom in laws to govern football fans By Martin Dunlop THE Catholic Church has urged the Scottish Government to show suitable caution as it presses ahead to bring in new legislation before the football season begins next month. As the SCO went to press, the Scottish Parliament was set to vote on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill, BISHOP TARTAGLIA a bill that would increase jail terms to a maximum of five years for those found urges lay Catholics guilty of abusive or sectarian behav- to get involved ahead iour, whether they are watching match- of next year’s synod es at the stadium, in a pub or making comments online. on behalf of the The justice committee at Holyrood, Scottish bishops however, has raised concern that the proposed legislation is being rushed Page 3 and Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley, on behalf of the Scottish Bishops, said this week that ‘enacting laws and poli- EUCHARISTIC ADORATION cies aimed at resolving such problems must be pursued with prudence and wisdom to ensure that measures are GERALD WARNER suitable and proportionate for the says restoring the problem they seek to address.’ Feast of Corpus Christi Consultation would be a step in the The justice committee quizzed police, church, legal and football representa- right direction tives ahead of Thursday’s vote in par- liament, and the Catholic Bishops’ Page 10 Conference of Scotland submitted its own statement to the committee. “The Catholic Church condemns CELEBRATING LIFE behaviour and beliefs which foster hatred of any individual or group,” Bishop Tartaglia, president of the Scottish Bishops’ Communication Commission, told the committee. “All persons are entitled to respect and to live without fear and intimidation.” Bishop Tartaglia, recognising the need for the government to maintain public expectation for the new laws to be put the Catholic Media Office, added: Bishop Philip Tartaglia (inset top) has urged order but also to protect ‘the freedom of in place sooner rather than later. “The Sign of the Cross should not be Community Safety Minister Roseanna citizens,’ said: “In light of these obser- “Football is our national game— deemed offensive—at any time. There Cunningham (inset bottom) and the Scottish vations we welcome the determina- millions of people are passionate will be occasions where a Catholic Government to show caution with regards tion of the Scottish Government to about it,” Ms Cunningham said. “But football fan will make the Sign of the to legislation on offensive behaviour outlaw offensive behaviour and we we really can’t tolerate the complete Cross in good faith. There may also be recognise that there may very well be corruption of that passion into hate— occasions where they [do so]—per- a case for introducing new measures whether it is mass sectarian chanting haps with malicious intent. Glasgow clubs Celtic FC and Rangers to tackle the problems surrounding or bullets and bombs in the post, we “I would be very wary of suggest- FC and the recent appearance of two football matches and threatening com- all know that it must stop.” ing that either the police or our crimi- men in court after suspected bombs munication, where it can be shown Ms Cunningham told the justice nal justice system are equipped to dif- were sent to Celtic FC manager Neil that current legal provisions are inad- committee this week that singing ferentiate in such circumstances. The Lennon and two other high-profile sup- DON’T MISS equate.” Flower of Scotland or God Save the same applies to flying the Union flag porters of the club. more Scottish The bishop added that: “Swift Queen would not be considered offen- or the Saltire.” Earlier this week, the new owner of Communions and action aimed at overcoming offending sive behaviour under the new legisla- Archbishop Mario Conti of Rangers FC, Craig Whyte, denied the behaviour and preventing deteriora- tion. However she cited an example of Glasgow said this week that the latest club had a problem with sectarian Confirmations tion of the situation can be indicated, having seen Celtic fans making the moves to prevent intolerance in singing and warned First Minister but suitable caution must be observed Sign of the Cross to Rangers fans in a Scottish society are welcome. Alex Salmond not to single the club Page 24 in order to ensure that laws are not manner which could potentially be “If the problem is rooted in poverty, out in the latest proposals to combat introduced with undue haste.” construed as offensive. alcoholism and violence, it is there that it sectarianism. Mr Whyte added that he Bishop Joseph Devine of must be addressed and the government’s fully supported Mr Salmond’s efforts Sign of the Cross Motherwell said that any ‘sign, song or bill is a start,” the archbishop said. to stamp out religious hatred in foot- Roseanna Cunningham, the communi- picture,’ can be ‘abused.’ ball and society, but had also told the ty safety minister, who is fronting the “So the minister is correct in saying On the terraces First Minister to be ‘very careful’ how new legislation, welcomed the justice that in certain circumstances such ges- The new proposals follow a tempestu- the measures were enforced. committee’s decision to take evidence tures can be provocative,” he said. ous Scottish football season, which on the bill but said there was an However, Peter Kearney, director of saw trouble flaring at matches between [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 June 24 2011 SPOTLIGHT ON... The closing of St Anthony’s Novena took place at Blessed John Duns PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Scotus Church on Monday June 13. The occasion was marked by the Blessing of the Lillies, which was performed at three services at the Getting on board with our seafarers Glasgow parish PICS: PAUL McSHERRY Cardinal Keith O’Brien drops in on the Apostleship of the Sea charity in Grangemouth By Martin Dunlop the cardinal onboard the vessels and began almost 100 years ago. while there, he showed them pictures of One of the volunteers, Anne Marie CARDINAL Keith O’Brien visited himself with Pope Benedict XVI. Stephen, shared with the cardinal her expe- the port of Grangemouth last Monday During his conversations, the cardinal rience of ship visiting as a woman: “Often, to learn more about life at sea with the was struck by the fact that even though in this predominantly male world of ship- seafarers’ charity Apostleship of the the seafarers’ centre and supermarket are ping, seafarers will open up to [a woman], Sea (AoS.) within a half hour walk from the docks, sharing problems and concerns,” she said. During the visit, Cardinal O’Brien, the turnaround time of the ships in port is Port chaplain Fr Haggarty spoke of Martin Foley, the charity’s national director, often so short that the crew are unable to how the limited time in port for seafarers, and the AoS port chaplain, Fr Richard get to the facilities for some respite. particularly on container ships, meant that Haggarty visited three container ships and The cardinal also spent an hour last there was little contact time, but that this took time to speak to the mainly Filipino Monday with some of the AoS volunteer made the work of the Apostleship of the ship crew (above), who were happy to share ship visitors who pay on board visits to Sea all the more valuable for seafarers. stories of their lives at sea with the cardinal. ships not only in Grangemouth but also in The crew were delighted to welcome Leith and on the Clyde, where the charity I [email protected] Having difficulty getting your copy of the ? Don’t be disappointed! Take out a subscription today from only £14 and claim an Sacred Heart and St Anthony’s parishioners inspirational free book with every annual subscription. Call our circulation team for more details: 0141 241 6112 celebrate 25 years of new church building Recipient Details PLEASE RETURN FORM TO: CARDINAL Keith O’Brien church, and the celebrations Cardinal Keith O’Brien joins the joined the community of the were enjoyed by parishioners parishioners of Sacred Heart and Name: Scottish Catholic Observer St Anthony, Armadale (above) after Address: 19 Waterloo Street, Sacred Heart and St Anthony young and old. parish, Armadale, to mark Included in the congregation their 25th anniversary Mass. He Contact Telephone: Glasgow, G2 6BT also met with the pupils from St the 25th anniversary of the were staff and pupils from the Anthony’s Primary School (below) dedication of the church. local St Anthony’s Primary PICS: PAUL McSHERRY Annual Subscription: £55 Per Quarter: £14 The cardinal celebrated the School. The young pupils led Instruction to your bank / building society to pay direct debits: Mass alongside Fr James the singing of the hymns and hugely impressed all those Please fill in the whole form using a ballpoint pen and send to: Boyle, parish priest at the psalms, in a performance that gathered. The Catholic Herald Ltd, Freepost 22527, Herald House, 15 Lamb’s Passage, Bunhill Row, London, EC1B 1EY Names of Account Holder(s) Bank / Building Society Account No.