DON’T MISS YOUR SCO PAPAL VISIT SOUVENIR SUPPLEMENT IN PARISHES NOW No 5289 Why ‘cafeteria Catholicism’ is off the menu Pages Professor Reilly explains why the Pope is leading the Church correctly 12-13 No 5384 New website at www.sconews.co.uk Friday October 1 2010 | 90p MSPs listen to Church on suicide I Church leads opposition to Margo MacDonald’s End of Life Assistance Bill at Scottish Parliament By Ian Dunn THE Catholic Church led opposition to Margo MacDonald’s assisted suicide bill this week while campaigners demonstrated against the legislation outside the Scottish Parliament. The End of Life Assistance Bill committee is currently hearing evidence about the bill prior to a final version being voted on by MSPs. Danger of the bill John Deighan, the Church’s parliamentary officer in Scotland, was among those giving evidence to the committee on Tuesday and he wasted no time in spelling out the End of Life Assistance Bill’s dangers. “The hearing gave me specifically the opportu- nity to note the threat that these proposals have for the vulnerable, especially those who at present face various forms of abuse from family or car- ers,” he said. “It was also possible to explain the failure of safeguards to protect the vulnerable in Oregon and in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is a particularly sobering case study given that the pool of those who can be killed has grown steadi- ly since the practice began in that country.” He added that the situation of Dr Chabot who killed a woman by euthanasia because she claimed she could not face life after the death of her sons was ‘an important case which I took the opportunity of raising with the committee, as was that of Barbara Wagner who was refused the pro- vision of life extending treatment for breast can- cer but was told that her health insurance would cover the cost of her assisted suicide drugs.’ “We have to hope that our politicians reflect seriously on the warnings that such cases raise and thus opt to maintain the protection of all lives under the law,” he said. Demonstrations Campaigners have been protesting this week out- John Deighan (above centre back) presented MSPs with abled people had nothing to fear from her bill. tening of the death of another person, you can side the Scottish Parliament against the proposed Care Not Killing’s cards opposing the End of Life “The bill has nothing whatsoever to do with never go back,” he said. assisted suicide bill. Assistance Bill in June of this year. The Church has disabled people, and I think it is absolutely dis- Dr Calland added that if legislation allowing Members of Inclusion Scotland said Ms continued to lead opposition against the bill graceful that such vulnerable people should have assisted suicide was passed it would inevitably MacDonald’s bill discriminates against disabled been used here today,” she said. ‘creep’ into other areas. people and contradicts the independent living ple to live on their own terms, not provide support Earlier this month Elaine Stevens, from the agenda. They were protesting as evidence about for them to die,” he said. Medical opposition Independent Association of Nurses in Palliative the bill was being heard inside the parliament. The bill would make it legal for doctors to Last month, it came to light that the majority of Care, asked: “Does Scotland really want to be Disability support worker Catherine Garrod assist those who wish to die. It is designed to help doctors steadfastly oppose the proposed legalisa- recognised as a ‘death tourism’ destination?” said a double standard was in evidence. those with a terminal illness and those whose tion of assisted suicide in Scotland, according to She also warned that people would register “I think it is offering assisted suicide to dis- physical disability makes life intolerable. a British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland with doctors who took part in the scheme, even if abled people but a non-disabled person who was submission to the Holyrood committee. they didn’t live in the area. suicidal would be given counselling,” she said. Personal interest Last week Dr Tony Calland, chairman of the In June over 14,000 people signed a Care Not Dr Colin Cameron, a disability equality trainer, In response to the protests this week, Ms BMA’s Medical Ethics Committee, warned Killing petition against the bill. backed her view. MacDonald, MSP for East Lothian who herself against the bill. “Once you’ve crossed the rubicon “We need to provide support for disabled peo- suffers from Parkinson’s disease, has claimed dis- of changing the law to allow premeditated has- I [email protected] GULF BETWEEN THE BISHOP TOAL SAYS POPE BENEDICT XVI rich and poor in we must reflect speaks about the Scotland is shown on the Holy importance of his in new statistics Father’s words recent historic state on abortion and act on them visit to the UK POPE’S MESSAGE ABORTION REPORT ABORTION Page 3 Page 8 Page 24 VISIT INSPIRATIONAL 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 October 1 2010 Red Mass celebrated at St Mary’s The annual Red Mass was celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, September 26 with Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Bishop Philip Tartaglia, Bishop Emeritus Ian Murray, Mgr Michael Regan, Mgr Peter Magee, Mgr Henry Docherty, The Lord Justice Clerk Lord Brian Gill, and The Hon Lords James Edward Drumond Young, Hugh Matthews and Raymond Doherty in attendance PIC: PAUL McSHERRY SPOTLIGHT ON... Bishop Joseph Toal joined priests 75 years at St Patrick’s and altar servers at St Patrick’s, Mallaig to celebrate its 75th anniversary with a solemn dedication of the church. Bishop Toal took great delight in meeting the congregation as they left Cardinal Keith O’Brien joined the Sisters of Mercy community at their packed convent in Edinburgh for church after the service their special Feast Day Mass PIC: PAUL McSHERRY PICS: ANTHONY MacMILLAN Australian priest receives medal for help with British forces ON September 13, a very moving ceremony took place at Edinburgh Castle. Fr Peter Comensoli, a priest from the Diocese of Wollongong, Australia, was pre- sented with the Catholic Forces Bishopric Medal by Bishop OLIVERʼS Richard Moth, the Catholic Boulevard & Drumry Taxis Bishop of the Forces, in the Drumchapel presence of a distinguished 24 Hours Service - Cars for all occasions number of Army personnel, Radio Controlled Cars - All Calls Monitored including Brigadier G E Lowder SINGLE PASSENGERS TRAVEL SAFELY MBE, Commander of the 51st 0141-944 8111 0141-944 7374 (Scottish) Brigade and Bishop Moth read the citation Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Fr Peter Comensoli was awarded Lieutenant Colonel N Kitson, indicating something of the out- Archbishop of St Andrews and the Catholic Forces Bishopric Medal 0141-944 8222 0141-944 4079 the Commanding Officer of the standing services which Fr Edinburgh, indicated how from Bishop Richard Moth, Catholic 0141-944 8333 0141-944 8444 3rd Rifles, along with various Comensoli had rendered to the happy he had been to receive Fr Bishop of the Forces. Cardinal Keith Army personnel, including troops stationed at Redford Comensoli into the archdiocese O’Brien and representatives from NO BOUNDARY CHARGES Catholic Chaplains. Barracks prior to their service in for four years while he contin- the forces joined in the ceremony In presenting the medal, Afghanistan. ued with academic studies. PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Friday October 1 2010 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER NEWS 3 Church: Government policy on Abortion gap between rich and poor sex education is a ‘blind alley’ Church says that statistics show an alarming gulf in abortion rates along class lines By Ian Dunn unplanned pregnancies. It is just a shame that we are still living By Ian Dunn THE Church has welcomed in a period in which ideology a new report that says the trumps information.” THE Church has said new figures Scottish Government’s pro- The report also said that its that show a ‘huge gulf’ in abortion motion of sex education is findings ‘challenge the notion rates between the poorest parts of not working. that population based interven- Scotland and the most affluent com- The report on the impact of tions such as school education munities highlight the failure of gov- a £5million government cam- linked to sexual health clinics ernment policies. paign to improve the sexual are able to affect the sexual Statistics for 2009 showed 3723 abor- health of young people has health of the most needy in tions were performed on women from the concluded that it has had ‘lim- society.’ most deprived areas. That is more than ited beneficial impact’ and had The research was carried out double the total for women from the most failed to reach vulnerable by a team of internationally- well off areas, where there were 1753 teenagers. renowned researchers from pregnancies terminated. A higher propor- An evaluation focused on Edinburgh Napier University, tion of women in better off areas also had Healthy Respect Two, the sec- the MRC Social and Public earlier abortions with 67.5 per cent of ond phase of the government’s Health Research Sciences Unit procedures on women from the least aim to integrate education, sex- based at Glasgow University deprived areas carried out before nine ual health services and infor- and the social research body weeks, compared to 58.5 per cent in the mation for young people aged ScotCen.