Scottish Catholic Observer

Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow and First Minister Alex Salmond have used a conference to mark the 450th anniversary of the reformation to say that Scotland can and must move beyond sectarian divisions.

Archbishop Conti (above left) welcomed, First Minister Alex Salmond, Rev Dr Alan Falconer and others to the Scottish Reformation—Marking the Legacy, Imagining the Future conference at the story telling centre in Edinburgh yesterday, an event organised by the Church of Scotland and Catholic Church of Scotland.

Later the archbishop took part in a service to mark the Reformation held at St Giles Cathedral. Cardinal Keith O’Brien of St Andrews and Edinburgh attended a reception to round off the events at Edinburgh Castle with the First Minister that evening.

“I am honoured to open the conference marking the 450th anniversary of the Reformation Parliament of 1560, a convenient date by which to mark in Scotland the Reformation itself,” Archbishop Conti said. “The impact of the reformation on Scottish history and culture was enormous. And while, as a Catholic Archbishop, I can hardly ‘celebrate’ the event, it is right that we should all mark it as a decisive moment in our nation’s story. It is a very positive sign of the times that these events have been envisaged and arranged by the Joint Commission on Doctrine of the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church.”

“Enormous strides have been made in relations between the churches, and that ecumenical impulse was strengthened by the recent visit of the Pope. I hope that these commemorations can remind all Christians of the great legacy we share and the need to continually strive for the unity which Christ himself willed for his Church.”

Later the First Minister said that Scots must better understand the past to move beyond its division.

“Most bigots I’ve ever met never darken the door of a church—they’re bigots often in the name of religion but they’re not themselves religious,” he said. “You know that’s just one of the aspects—people with incredibly small minds often don’t open it up to light.”

Mr Salmond also said he had been ‘privileged’ to attend the service at Bellahouston Park earlier this year for Pope Benedict’s visit.

“As first minister, I am privileged to connect with many faith groups and celebrate the role that the Kirk and all of Scotland’s churches and faith communities play in shaping the life of our nation in the past, present and future,” he said.

The Rev Sheilagh Kesting said the conference showed just how much inter-denominational relations have improved.

“We couldn’t have conceived of this 20 years ago—perhaps not even 10 years ago,” she said. “It’s a reflection of the amount of work that we’ve been doing together—the amount of trust and respect that has built up that we can face quite a difficult and sensitive period in our history and face it together.”

Pic: PA