Scottish Catholic Observer

Bishop Hugh Gilbert of Aberdeen Diocese was appointed as president by his fellow bishops last Wednesday after Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow stepped down following a full six year term.

Bishop Gilbert this week told the SCO that the conference needs to be the ‘Lumen Christi’ which we see at the Easter Vigil Mass.

Bishop Gilbert said: “Our duty is to find the best ways of professing our Faith in Christ who died and was raised from the dead to new life, to give us new life, and it’s about transcending that into our parishes, and across the whole country, seeking good paths.

“The liturgical image that presents itself in my mind is of the Easter Vigil when our darkened parishes are slowly reignited.

“First the deacon, if there is one, will carry in the Pascal candle aloft, representing the Risen light of Christ, and then he spreads it throughout the congregation to priest and parishioners.

“I think that is a powerful image of what we hope to achieve as bishops: we carry the risen light of Christ and try and spread that into our parishes and people’s lives so that they might light their own candle in their hearts to illuminate God’s love.”

At their recent Conference meeting, the Scottish Catholic Bishops elected the former Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey, Dom Hugh Gilbert OSB, as their president.

Bishop John Keenan of Paisley Diocese was elected vice-president and Bishop Brian McGee of Argyll and Isles diocese episcopal secretary.

Commenting on his election, Bishop Gilbert said: “Firstly I don’t want to over play the appointment as I am not the leader of the Church in Scotland as some ill-informed others may have people believe.

“Each bishop is the leader of his own diocese and overall the Pope is still the leader of the Church in Scotland.

“Secondly, the bishops in Scotland have a great working relationship with each other and our commissioned agencies and therefore it is very much an experience of collaboration, which I hope will continue.”

Bishop Gilbert also reiterated the point previously made by Archbishop Tartaglia that a lot of the president’s remit is about reacting to certain issues that arise.

“I don’t have an agenda or mission statement because a lot of the role I will be taking is a reactive one,” he said.

“A chunk of the job is about responding to things affecting the Church, which are presented to me, and then I’ll make statements from there.”

The next meeting of the Bishops’ Conference is in December and Bishop Gilbert revealed that the collaboration between bishops would continue to discuss ‘pastoral priorities.’

Bishop Gilbert said: “There are a number of issues which the bishops’ have been working on over the years including safeguarding, which will remain a priority, and any fresh emphasis we take as a conference will be consulted between the bishops.

“Our work in New Evangelisation is constant, because that literally means proclamation of the Gospel, which all deacons, priests and bishops do each week.

“But yes, the work within the wider movement of New Evangelisation is crucial to spreading God’s word to each individual we encounter.”

In September Pope Francis asked for all presidents of bishops’ conferences around the world to travel to Rome to take part in a special meeting to address the crisis of ‘abuse.’

The gathering, which Bishop Gilbert will attend, is focusing on ‘the protection of minors,’ and is scheduled from February 21 to 24 next year, after the Pope’s trip to Panama for the global World Youth Day event in January.

Bishop Gilbert said he hopes to be able to put forward a message from Scotland at the meeting on ‘a very sorrowful matter.’

“I’m sure we’ll cover the whole abuse question including the one that some people put forward that the abuse crisis is portrayed as an Anglo-Saxon issue and only takes place in developed, western civilisation,” he said.

“I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that as the case because human tendencies are universal but I’m sure we’ll be putting forward our analysis of a very sorrowful matter.”

Bishop Gilbert also thanked his predecessor Archbishop Tartaglia for the six years of service, including the work achieved on the safeguarding document In God’s Image.

“On the issue of safeguarding I’m very grateful to the work of my predecessor Archbishop Philip Tartaglia who along with several others put tremendous effort into the new safeguarding document In God’s Image,” Bishop Gilbert said.

“It’s an important tool that is vital to our work and we will keep penetrating parishes so people are made aware of the work done on safeguarding.”

He added: “I accept the mandate given to me, aware of the challenges the Church faces, while conscious of the great treasures she holds and continues to offer as a point of reference in an often disorientated world.”