SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR ONLY NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SEE PAGE 24 FOR DETAILS No 5289 First anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti Pages Holy Father offers prayers and aid; Cardinal O’Brien visits with SCIAF 12-13 No 5398 www.sconews.co.uk Friday January 14 2011 | 90p Holy Father urges REBUILDING HOPE IN HAITI end to persecution I Pope Benedict XVI’s message on religious freedom to ambassadors is not well received by Muslim nations By Ian Dunn the Pope’s calls for Christian minorities to be respected were ‘an unacceptable interference in its THE Holy Father has called for an end to internal affairs.’ Muslim persecution of Christians in Pakistan. The Pakistan Prime Minster rejected the Pope’s In his annual address to the world’s ambassadors call for the country to scrap its anti-blasphemy law. to the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI said he was Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani said he had absolutely no concerned at growing assaults on religious free- intention of allowing ‘amendments to the blasphe- dom around the world, particularly on the Indian my law.’ Islamist extremists in Pakistan also called subcontinent. for a countrywide day of protest today. However the Irish Ambassador to the Vatican, Anti-blasphemy law Noel Fahey, said he thought it was a ‘very focused’ Pope Benedict has urged Pakistan to end its anti- and ‘very interesting’ speech. blasphemy law, which in recent months has seen a Christian woman sentenced to death on question- Religious freedom in the west able grounds and the governor of Punjab province Discussing threats to religious freedom in assassinated for campaigning against it. Western democracies, the Pope expressed con- The Pope said the law often ‘serves as a pretext cern about efforts to push religion to the margins of acts of injustice and violence against religious of public life and about situations in which citi- minorities.’ zens are denied the right to act in accordance with “I once more encourage the leaders of that coun- their religious convictions, such as in the health try to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law,” care profession on right to life issues. he said to the diplomats. “The tragic murder of the He also condemned educational programmes governor of Punjab shows the urgent need to make that want to ‘mandate obligatory participation in progress in this direction: the worship of God fur- courses of sexual or civic education’ with content thers fraternity and love, not hatred and division.” opposed to Catholic teaching. The Pope said another sign of the marginalisa- Widespread persecution tion of Christianity is the banning of religious The Pope also spoke of his concern about vicious feasts and symbols from public life. attacks on Christians across the Muslim world, “Last year, a number of European countries sup- denouncing recent incidents in Iraq and Egypt. ported the appeal lodged by the Italian government “The attacks which brought death, grief and dis- in the well-known case involving the display of the may among the Christians of Iraq, even to the crucifix in public places,” he said. “I am grateful to point of inducing them to leave the land where the authorities of those nations who wished to their families have lived for centuries, has trou- show their sympathy for this symbol, which bled us deeply,” he said. “In Egypt too, in bespeaks universal values.” Alexandria, terrorism brutally struck Christians as they prayed in church. This succession of attacks Intolerance is yet another sign of the urgent need for the gov- The Pope told the diplomats that there is no such ernments of the region to adopt, in spite of diffi- thing as a ‘scale of degrees of religious intoler- culties and dangers, effective measures for the ance’ whereby a certain amount is acceptable. protection of religious minorities.” “It is not permissible to infringe on the freedom He asked the representatives of all 178 coun- of conscience out of concern to uphold other tries present to examine their own record with alleged new rights which, while actively promoted regards to religious freedoms, including western by certain sectors of society and inserted in nation- democracies. al legislation or in international directives, are nonetheless merely an expression of selfish desires Hostile reaction lacking a foundation in authentic human nature,” The Pope’s speech received a hostile reaction from he said. Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Britain’s most senior Catholic clergyman, visits the home of Roseline Calixte, 67, in several Muslim nations. Egypt responded by Port-au-Prince during his visit to Haiti this week to pray on the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake, which struck exactly a year ago, and to witness the progress of the Scottish Catholic recalling its ambassador to the Vatican. A I Analysis of Pope Benedict XVI’s ‘state of world’ International Aid Agency’s work on the island. Full report, see pages 12-13 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY spokesman for the Egyptian government claimed address, see page 16 PATRON SAINT PASTORAL LETTER LATEST FROM honoured in from Archbishop Pakistan and week-long Conti recalls Egypt, plus Hugh festival in Pope’s wish for McLoughlin looks Glasgow greater unity at bigger picture PERSECUTION Page 9 CHRISTIAN UNITY Page 6 ST MUNGO FESTIVAL Page 16, 23 visit www.sconews.co.uk SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 e-mail [email protected] 2 NEWS SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday January 14 2011 Reception for great and good Cardinal O’Brien hosts celebration for those honoured last year Cardinal O’Brien outside the monastery with ladies from Camelon parish, Church of Scotland who visit every year, above, and with the sisters after the last Mass of 2010 at the monastery, below By Dan McGinty End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill Cardinal O’Brien’s New Year reception was a earlier this year, but all political differ- great success. He is pictured with Mgr CARDINAL O’Brien celebrated the ences were set aside as the cardinal wel- Michael Regan and recipients of the Papal Medal from the Pope’s visit. From left to right: arrival of 2011 with a host of public comed the couple to his home. Victor Spence, Gerard Eadie, Gary Body, figures and Catholics from across The SNP’s John Swinney also attended Bishop Brian Smith, Mgr Regan, Pat O’Meara, Scotland at the traditional New Year the event with his wife, broadcaster Cardinal O’Brien, the Lord and Lady Provost reception at his Morningside residence. Elizabeth Quigley, and their 10-week-old of Edinburgh—George and Elizabeth Grubb, The cardinal welcomed guests from all baby Matthew. The couple had attended Frank Gill, Iain Livingstone and Ellie Bird walks of life, including Anthea Donaghue, the cardinal’s jubilee celebrations in 2010 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY manager of the Gillis Centre, who was despite Elizabeth being heavily pregnant Cardinal O’Brien sees out the year awarded the Pro Ecclesia by the cardinal. and he was delighted to host the couple as 16 last year for his efforts during the trip. with the Carmelite nuns in Falkirk Among the many figures from the they began 2011 with their new arrival. The others who received the honour world of Scottish politics were Margo Gerard Eadie of CR Smith, recently from Rome included Victor Spence, Gary CARDINAL Keith O’Brien made day of 2010, made up of locals MacDonald MSP and her husband Jim honoured with a Knighthood in the Boyd, Bishop Brian Smith, Mgr Regan, a visit to the Carmelite monastery from the parish of St Francis Sillars. The cardinal was a direct oppo- Queen’s New Year’s honours list, was Pat O’Meara, the Lord and Lady Provost of of the Immaculate Conception Xavier and Camelon Parish, nent of Ms MacDonald during the debate among those presented with the Papal Edinburgh George and Elizabeth Grubb, in Falkirk at the year’s end. Church of Scotland and visitors surrounding her ultimately unsuccessful Medal from the Pope’s visit on September Frank Gill, Iain Livingston and Ellie Bird. Cardinal O’Brien celebrated from Dunkeld. Mass in the Carmel on the last PICS: PAUL McSHERRY SPOTLIGHT ON... Cardinal Keith O’Brien recently paid a visit to the Carmelite Monastery of St Teresa of the Child Jesus, Dysart Kirkcaldy. Cardinal O’Brien is pictured with the sisters and chaplain Fr Philip Jones CSsR after the final Mass of 2010 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY For further details or to request an information pack, Entry for 2011 please call 0141 332 3190 St Aloysius’ College is a highly successful, Catholic independent school for pupils aged 3-18 that balances an academic education with an emphasis on service to others. For over 150 years, the College has been dedicated to educating young people, seeking to develop the whole person and the gifts and talents of every child. 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