Scottish Catholic Observer

Closure-threatened St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society gathered hundreds of supporters today for its annual Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow, including many children who have been adopted through the society ­

The  society, the last of its kind in the country, has been hailed as a ‘treasure of the Church’ by the president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland yet it is currently facing a serious challenge to its very existence following an intervention by OSCR, the Scottish charities’ regulator.

However, in a display of confidence in its future, supporters today heard of the adoption agency’s plans to relocate to better accommodation in Glasgow’s Newton Place to open a new family centre and offer more services  in the future.

“This bold and brave step which has been many years in the planning and execution marks a great leap forward for the society,” Society chairman Fr Tom White said at the annual Mass. “Our hope is that with much improved resources we can offer more frequent and varied services for our families.”

Despite there being another 36 adoption agencies in Scotland, the OSCR has deemed it necessary for St Margaret’s to effectively disassociate itself from the Church or face closure. In September this year the Catholic agency will seek to have this ruling overturned at the Scottish Charities Appeal Tribunal.

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, president of the Bishop’s Conference of Scotland, said: “St Margaret’s is treasure of the Church in Scotland.

“The whole Church is united insupport for its work and we hope that common sense will prevail, and it will be allowed to continue to serve children in Scotland who need loving families.”

St Margaret’s board member Brian McGuigan said the threat hanging over the society had galvanised the wider Catholic community.

– Full report on Mass and family fun day, with photographs, in this week’s print edition of the SCO, in parishes on Friday June 14,