Scottish Catholic Observer

The Glasgow Archbishop, president of the Bishops Conference of Scotland, said that with the French people we hope for ‘the victory of humanity over inhumanity, of peaceful coexistence over civil strife, of democracy over tyranny, of civilisation over chaos, and of hope over despair.’

The Mass was attended by Dr John Campbell, (above) honorary French consul in Glasgow, who gave a reading in French during the Mass and offered a vote of thanks at the end. Justice Secretary Michael Matheson MSP represented the Scottish Government, with Glasgow Lord Provost Sadie Docherty (above) also in the congregation.

“Sometimes when bad things happen, we need to ask why, and sometimes we ask why in pain and anguish,” Archbishop Tartaglia said. “Sometimes we say angrily to God, ‘Where were you? Why did you allow it?’ But what happened in Paris was not a random tragic accident of the kind we have seen in Glasgow in the last two years, which have left us all bewildered. The difference is that we know the why of the Paris atrocity.

“There is no mystery about it. Men did it. They wanted it. They planned it. They carried it out. We can seek the why in that place in the darkness of men’s souls where they are deceived into believing that evil is good. And the greatest deception of all is to believe that God approves. From that dark place come murder and terror and all kind of destructive sinfulness. God does not want that for his children. And so he

gave us his Son who, through his death and resurrection, offers us the grace to love one another in peace and to enjoy the fullness of life. Once again this evening Jesus invites us to come to him and to put our trust in him.”

More than 400 people were injured in the November 13 Paris attacks which have been claimed by ISIS.

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Pic: Paul McSherry