Caritas Award 2013: All the emotion of the day Pages SCO special report on the achievements of 900 plus recipients on Sunday 6-7 No 5521 YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLICwww.sconews.co.uk NEWSPAPER SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH Friday June 7 2013 | £1 Scottish hierarchy down to four I Vatican accepts resignation of Motherwell Bishop I Nuncio predicts new Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh within a month By Ian Dunn BISHOP Joseph Devine of Motherwell has FAITH ON THE STREETS OF GLASGOW formally retired, after more than 30 years in the role. At a meeting last Thursday, the priests of Moth- erwell Diocese were told by Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the Apostolic nuncio to the UK, that the Vatican had accepted the bishop’s resignation and that Bishop Joseph Toal of Argyll and the Isles will be acting as Apostolic administrator until the Vat- ican appoints a new bishop. While in Scotland, the nuncio also suggested that a candidate for the vacant bishop’s chair in St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese would be named this month and Episcopal appointments would soon come for Paisley and Dunkeld as well. In the meantime, however, the Bishops’ Con- ference of Scotland has been reduced from eight to four non-retired members. Stepping down Bishop Devine tendered his resignation in August of last year, having reached his 75th birthday, the age at which bishops must offer their retirement. The bishop said he had been proud to serve as Bishop of Motherwell but his time in the role was at an end. and happy’ to be standing down. “Thirty years is around 11,000 days and well over “He had hoped that his successor would be 10,000 of these days have been very happy ones for appointed shortly [after his 75th birthday] but he me,” he said. “Of course there have been sad days, was told, however, that that would be unlikely and days in which I presided at the funerals of over 80 that he would have to continue into 2013,” the priests, three of them were barely 40 years old. But spokesman said. “He is now relieved and happy after such a long time in office I will be very glad, that, ten months after tendering his resignation, the like the old soldier, simply to fade away.” burden of office is now being handed initially to an Bishop Devine also said he will always retain administrator, as has happened in other dioceses, ‘a deep and abiding fondness for the people of and in the fullness of time to a younger man, who Lanarkshire’ and that he was ‘profoundly appre- will be ordained as the new Bishop of Motherwell.” ciative of their loyalty, support and generosity not Bishop Toal of Argyll and the Isles, and Moth- only from my own congregations but from people erwell Diocese’s new administrator, offered of all faiths and none.’ Bishop Devine his heartfelt thanks for ‘his long The new emeritus bishop made particular refer- service to the diocese.’ ence to two hallmarks of his bishopric: his full “I am happy to accept the request of the Holy throated defence of Christian values in a secular age Father to become the Apostolic administrator of and his commitment to ecumenical co-operation. the Diocese of Motherwell, before a permanent “In particular, I send a heartfelt thank you to many appointment of a new bishop is made,” Bishop members of the Church of Scotland and Evangelical Toal said. “I will strive to serve the diocese and churches for their constant and steadfast support to the Church in every way I can and I look forward me throughout my many public campaigns in to working with the clergy, religious and lay Faith- defence of Christian truths and values,” he said. ful of Motherwell.” “Were it not for the support of my Presbyterian friends I am not certain I would have been able to Vacant bishops’ chairs The Corpus Christi procession on Sunday, organised by the West End deanery in Glasgow Archdiocese, contribute to the public debate to the extent I did.” Motherwell now becomes the fourth of Scotland’s was the first of its kind in the area in generations. Fr John Keenan led the procession from St Patrick’s in eight dioceses to be without a Vatican-appointed Anderston to St Paul’s in Whiteinch on the day Pope Francis led worldwide adoration of the Blessed Changing of the guard bishop. Sacrament. Protestors interrupted the procession in Glasgow, however. Full report, pages 8 and 9 A spokesman for the diocese said the bishop, who PIC: DAN McGINTY has had health issues in recent years, was ‘relieved I Continued on page 4 PROFESSOR GILFREDO ON THE 1450TH Marengo speaks anniversary of his to audience at arrival in Iona, St St Ninian Institute Columba continues in Dundee to inspire us ST COLUMBA ST Page 5 YEAR OF FAITH Page 10 FAMILY AND MARRIAGE AND FAMILY 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 THE SCO SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday June 7 2013 Official faults health board complaint about US chastity speaker at school NHS Greater Glasgow and Mr McGrath said he was at Clyde has been criticised for the event at St Andrew’s and attempting to control what said the audience of third year speakers Catholic schools and older pupils responded pos- invite. itively to the lecture. After Pamela Stenzel, a US “She had a message about abstinence expert, spoke at St abstinence and the importance Andrew’s Academy in Paisley of marriage that we would sup- last month, a health board offi- port,” he said. cial issued a warning to schools “And I think it is unfortunate and said a complaint to the that someone who was not local authority was planned. there has chosen to comment Nicky Coia, NHS Greater on it.” Glasgow and Clyde’s principal This is the latest incidence of health improvement officer for NHS Greater Glasgow and sexual health, emailed a num- Clyde reportedly pursuing an ber of schools after the talk at approach hostile to the Church. St Andrew’s Academy. The health board recently pur- “I wanted to alert you that a sued an expensive court case to school in one of our local try and force Catholic mid- authorities has recently brought wives to oversee abortions and in Pam Stenzel,” he said. “We last month, it complained to the are raising the matter with the Scottish Parliament about its local authority.” lack of control over sex educa- Michael McGrath, director of tion in Catholic schools in the Scottish Catholic Education its area. Service, said the health board Mr McGrath said the health had gone beyond its authority. board seemed committed to an “NHS Greater Glasgow and intolerant approach. Clyde has no locus to decide “It seems there is only one whom Catholic schools invite message tolerated,” he said. to speak,” he said. “It’s for the “And it doesn’t include a moral Members of the Glasgow Union of Catholic Mothers (UCM) attended the organisation’s AGM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Cardonald last Wednesday. schools to invite speakers and aspect which is fundamental to Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow celebrated Mass for UCM members and supporters, and was joined by chaplains and clergy from across the city. At for parents to decide if they what we do in Catholic schools. the end of Mass, the Glasgow UCM presented a cheque for £1475 to the Apostleship of the Sea charity. Euan McArthur, Scottish development officer for the want their children to attend, It is not for the NHS to try and Apostleship of the Sea, was delighted to attend and receive the cheque from UCM members, which will contribute to the charity’s ongoing support for sea- which is what happened in interfere with the moral code of farers PIC: PAUL McSHERRY this case.” Catholic schools.” Golden day in Motherwell Diocese FAMILY and friends of ing Central Scotland, lodged a Motherwell priest Mgr motion at the Scottish Parlia- Michael Conway turned out ment, expressing her congratula- in force last Sunday as he tions and commending the marked the 50th anniversary priest’s service to the Catholic of his ordination to the Church. She additionally praised priesthood. Bishop Devine and members of Bishop Emeritus Joseph the clergy for attending the cele- Devine of Motherwell was bratory Mass, Fr Gerarld Magui- among those present for the cel- ness and the St Ignatius parish ebration of Mass at St Ignatius for hosting the event and Fr Church, Wishaw the parish in Keenan for delivering the which Mgr Conway retired. homily. Fr John Keenan, chaplain to “Fr Conway has served the Glasgow University, a post pre- priesthood with dedication for viously held by Mgr Conway, 50 years, demonstrating the pos- preached the homily at the Mass. itive influence of Scottish mem- A number of family and bers of the Catholic Church and friends, some traveling from the wider community,” Ms England and Ireland, joined Adamson said. priests and parishioners at the “I am proud and impressed by jubilee Mass to pay tribute to the his commitment to his faith and priest. by his consistent goodwill In recognition of Fr Conway’s towards people of all faiths and years of service to the Church, none in Scotland.” Clare Adamson, MSP represent- PIC: TOM EADIE FIND AND LIKE THE NEW SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER PAGE ON FACEBOOK INSIDE YOUR SCO INDEX TO NEWS, OPINION AND FEATURES THIS WEEK NEWS pages 1-9 VATICAN/INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S LITURGY page 16 STRONG IN FAITH page 4 NEWS page 9 INTIMATIONS pages 17-20 LOCAL NEWS pages 2,3,5 COMMENT pages 10, 11 BISHOPS’ ENGAGEMENTS page 20 CARITAS AWARDS pages 6-7 CENTRE SPREAD pages 12-13 CELEBRATING LIFE pages 22-23 CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION page 8 LETTERS page 14 MISSION MATTERS page 24 Friday June 7 2013 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER THE SCO SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH NEWS 3 Marriage defenders step up efforts Scotland for Marriage prepares to oppose law here as peers pass English and Welsh bill By Ian Dunn OPPONENTS of the Scottish Gov- ernment’s plans to redefine marriage are stepping up pressure as the legis- lation is expected to come before the Scottish Parliament this month.