Scottish Catholic Observer

The Catholic Church has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement this week that its aims to bring greater clarity to its proposed laws on sectarianism surrounding football as the legislation continues its passage through Holyrood.

John Deighan (above), the Scottish Bishops’ parliamentary officer, said the Church was pleased with the efforts Alex Salmond’s administration had made to address concerns that religious freedoms could be effected by the legislation.

“We were grateful Alex Salmond agreed to met us and hear our concerns first hand,” he said. “He said he would take them on board and we are are glad to see the bill will now aim to protect freedom of speech.”

The Scottish Government issued its response to the Justice Committee report on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill yesterday. Amendments to the Bill, now at Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament, will be made to clarify the new offences.

If passed, the legislation will create two offences relating to behaviour deemed to ‘incite religious, racial or other forms of hatred’ in and around football grounds and on the internet. Those convicted could spend as long as five years in prison and be banned from football grounds.

Community Safety Minister Roseanna Cunningham said she believed the new law would help end sectarianism in Scotland.

“The police and the Lord Advocate, the most senior law officer in Scotland, have asked for better tools to do their difficult job,” she said.

“The issues we seek to address did not just emerge in the last football season. The status quo which allows poisonous songs of hatred to be sung at Scottish football matches or threats of serious harm to be posted on the internet has gone unchallenged for too long and cannot be allowed to continue. It is time to extract the poisonous hatred from Scottish football.”