Scottish Catholic Observer

The parish priest of a Rosyth church pelted with eggs has said he is disappointed with a lawless trend in the area after being subjected to anti-catholic abuse by young attackers.

Fr Kevin Dow of Ss John and Columba’s Church spoke after parishioners suffered sectarian abuse and were pelted with eggs as they arrived at Mass on Tuesday 17 January.

The attack comes in the week the SCO reports that one Christian church in Scotland was attacked every two weeks in 2016.

“I was at the confessional box when I heard noises outside and a parishioner ran inside saying youngsters were chucking things at the church,” Fr Dow told the SCO. “Me being me, I went out and realised it was actually eggs that were being chucked at us.”

Fr Dow explained that he followed the youngsters over to the local chip shop to confront them and ask them why they did it. He was asked if he ‘loved the Pope,’ and when the priest replied ‘of course,’ he was attacked with obscenities about the Holy Father.

“It’s dreadfully sad that in today’s Scotland we still have young people who seem to be brought up or encouraged from elsewhere to be anti-Catholic and to do so in an open, intimidating and violent way,” Fr Dow said.

The parish priest stressed that the abuse is part of current trend of lawless behaviour in the Rosyth area, as opposed to being a targeted anti-Catholic incident.

Fr Dow had previously posted on the parish’s Facebook page that churchgoers had been the victims of anti-social behavior, which sparked outrage from local residents.

“About 10 or so kids ages around 12 decided to throw raw eggs this evening at St John & Columba’s Church, just as parishioners were arriving for Mass,” the Facebook post reads.

“End result: parishioners and priest included, sectarian abuse delivered and a church with rotten egg on it, and a bunch of kids that can get away with it because that’s the way they have been raised by their parents.”

News of the incident sparked a flurry of condemnation on social media from both parishioners and other local residents of the Fife town. It was also quickly reported to Police Scotland, and St Andrews & Edinburgh Archdiocese said in a social media post that it could classify as a ‘hate crime.’

Local councilors have also condemned the attack.

“I have made Chief Inspector Ralston aware of the incident at the church and ongoing trouble/vandalism in Rosyth at the moment,” Local councilor Sharon Wilson said. “She is going to look into everything and put an action plan together.”

If you have any information relating to Tuesday’s incident at Ss John and Columba’s Church, phone Police Scotland on their non-emergency number, 101.

See this week’s SCO, available in parishes on Friday, for reaction from the Church and Police Scotland to a high number of attacks on churches in Scotland in 2016.