No 5517 YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLICwww.sconews.co.uk NEWSPAPER SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH Friday May 10 2013 | £1 IONA CALLS AS ANNIVERSARIES APPROACH The cradle of Christianity in Scotland at risk after cuts By Ian Dunn THE museum devoted to the first Christian settlement in Scotland may be forced to close within months after Dumfries and Galloway Coun- cil cut its funding. Bishop John Cunningham of Gal- loway said it was extremely ‘sad’ that the Whithorn Trust, which runs the Whithorn museum and visitor centre and promotes the archaeology and heritage of the site where St Ninian established a church in 397 AD, is facing an £18,500 shortfall that means it may have to close its doors in August. Bishop Cunningham, whose diocese holds an annual pilgrimage to Whithorn, said the trust did a ‘wonderful’ job. “As bishop of the Diocese of Gal- loway I am very aware of the important contribution that the Whithorn Trust has made in maintaining and promoting the traditions of Whithorn,” he said. “The area is such an important part of our Fr David Borland, parish priest at St Andrew’s, Dumfries, led 48 parishioners on pilgrimage to Iona to mark the 200th anniversary of their parish opening (see page 5), sup- Christian heritage, and the trust has done ported by Fr Joe Holmes of Annan. Their pilgrimage to Iona was extra special as it coincided with the Year of Faith and the upcoming 1450th anniversary of St Columba’s arrival a wonderful job of informing people and on the island. Bishop Joseph Toal was in Iona at the weekend with the Knights of St Columba ahead of the main 1450th anniversary celebrations in June (see page 3) helping them experience this tradition. Whithorn and its link with St Ninian is central to who we are as a diocese, and it would be sad to see this opportunity to learn about our faith history lost.” Fr Ben Lodge, parish priest of St Martin and St Ninian’s Church in Moves to get cardinal to leave Whithorn, said it was a scandal that ‘cul- tural significance’ was being ‘deter- mined by accountants.’ “If I had a rocket that went to the moon in my backyard they’d set up a UK for the good of the Church museum for that,” he said “But this is every bit as important. It was the first Christian settlement in Scotland, a cen- I Vatican suggests it may be best if Cardinal O’Brien retires outside the country tury before St Columba went to Iona. It had a huge influence on the history of CARDINAL Keith O’Brien has have the cardinal leave Scotland.’ his hour of need. the country not just in religious terms been advised to leave the UK after “It is also mistaken to say that the “If Christianity is about anything at all, but also in how the monastic movement stepping down from public life and Church in Scotland communicated that it is about forgiveness,” he said. spread education from here all up the in light of his recent admissions over plan to the cardinal,” he said. “Deci- In addition to calls for a full investiga- West Coast of Scotland and beyond.” his conduct that have caused great sions about the cardinal’s future are tion into allegations against Cardinal Fr Lodge said that local people were difficulty for the Church. not ours to take and the Scottish bish- O’Brien, recent news reports have fully behind the Save the Whithorn Trust Last week the retired Archbishop of ops have not taken any such decisions prompted a swell of support for the car- campaign set up by trust project man- St Andrews and Edinburgh began mov- nor communicated them.” dinal to be allowed to stay in Scotland ager Janet Butterworth but the future did ing into the Church-owned home in After the cardinal stepped down both from within and outwith the Church. not look good. “People are desperately East Lothian that he had been planning from public life prior to the recent Canon John Creanor, parish priest of hoping a rabbit can be pulled out of the to retire to for a number of years prior Papal Conclave, Archbishop Philip Our Lady of the Waves parish, said the hat,” he said. “But no one is sure what to his recent statement that his behav- Tartaglia of Glasgow, president of cardinal would always find a warm hat to look into.” iour had fallen short of what was Scotland’s bishops and the Apostolic welcome at his door. Ms Butterworth said that the Campaign required of his office. administrator for St Andrews and Edin- land, that he had been humbled by recent “It’s my job at the moment to have a to Save the Trust had already attracted Sources close to the developments burgh, said the Scottish Church’s ‘cred- events that prompted him to retire shortly safe haven for him and when every- more than 1000 signatures and that the told the SCO that—in spite of recently ibility and moral authority have been before his 75th birthday in March after thing blows over, he’s welcome here,” support the trust is receiving is ‘truly getting approval from the Apostolic undermined’ in the wake of the cardi- admitting to ‘inappropriate behaviour’ he said. “I’m his friend and he needs amazing.’ She said the trust’s annual run- Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, nal’s admission and resignation. with three priests and a former priest. someone to stand up for him.” ning costs of £107,000 were partly met to retire as planned to Our Lady of the It is not known where the cardinal “It has been quite a difficult, quite a Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald, by an income of around £56,000 from Waves parish in Dunbar—there had would go if he leaves Scotland, although humbling experience for me,” he is another friend of the cardinal agreed, ticket sales and other fundraising but been a late push for the cardinal to leave there is a tradition for Catholic cardinals reported to have said. “Many people have saying: “If he is as welcome by the con- Wigtownshire Area Committee had allo- the UK ‘for the good of the Church.’ to retire to their titular church in Rome. been helping me to go back on the right gregation in Dunbar as he seems to be, cated just over £32,000 to the Trust, However, a spokesman for the Scot- The cardinal said last week, before the path and that is what I have to do.” he should be allowed to retire there.” despite a funding request of £51,000. tish bishops said it was not ‘the plan of secular media leaked confidential Vati- The cardinal added that he had been the Catholic Church in Scotland to can advice directing him to leave Scot- moved by the support shown to him in I [email protected] I Continued on page 7 Help spread God’s message Pages Pope, Archbishop Tartaglia on Communication Sunday 12 & 13 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 May 10 2013 Light memorial to a late councillor A NEW stained-glass win- Mr Kennedy’s sister, Agnes, dow was blessed and dedi- her husband, John, and extended Young pupils from Holy Fam- cated at St Paul’s Church, family attended Sunday’s trib- ily Primary School in Winch- Milton of Campsie, on Sun- ute, which marked the installa- burgh were welcomed as full tion of the first stained-glass members of the Church at day, in memory of a late their Mass of Confirmation parishioner of the church. window to feature at the church on Thursday, April 18. Bishop The stained-glass window of (above). Stephen Robson of St St Michael the Archangel was Representatives of East Dun- Andrews and Edinburgh vis- installed as a tribute to hugely bartonshire Council, including ited the parish of St Philom- popular Councilor Charles Provost Una Walker, were also ena’s, Winchburgh, to confer Kennedy of East Dunbarton- in attendance as was Tom the sacrament on the young shire, who represented his local Clarke MP and stained-glass people. Fr Scott Deeley and community for almost 40 years artist Colin Stevenson, who Fr Michael John Galbraith before passing away last designed the image of St celebrated the Mass—which summer. Michael the Archangel (above was attended by parents, Throughout his life, Mr right). sponsors and representa- Kennedy was a faithful member The stained glass window SPOTLIGHT ON... tives of Holy Family Primary of St Paul’s parish and a number was blessed and dedicated by Fr School—alongside Bishop of his family and friends were Kevin Murray, parish priest at St Robson present for Sunday’s blessing Paul’s Church. PIC: PAUL McSHERRY and dedication alongside many St Paul’s parishioners. PICS: PAUL McSHERRY SCO Year of Faith Prayer for Priests Lord Jesus, we your people pray to You for our priests. You have given them to us for our needs. We pray for them in their needs. We know that You have made them priests in the likeness of your own priesthood. You have consecrated them, set them aside, anointed them, filled them with the Holy Spirit, appointed them to teach, to preach, to minister, to console, to forgive, and to feed us with Your Body and Blood. Yet we know, too, that they are one with us and share our human weaknesses.