Scottish Catholic Observer

Church and state, where do we go from here? As the ink dries on the Scottish Government’s Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, which was on the brink of being passed this week as the SCO went to press, the fear is that the issue is now thought of as done and dusted.

However, as spokesmen for the Catholic Church have repeatedly emphasised—since this time last year in fact—bigotry and sectarianism in Scotland are not restricted to football terraces and surrounding areas. Even groups that where born in that environment—such as Nil by Mouth—have since broadened their reach to schools, universities and the workplace. Yet, senior voices within Catholic education have recently expressed ongoing concerns with proposals to tackle sectarianism from Nil by Mouth, a key part of the Scottish Government anti-sectarianism strategy.

“We need to have much more sophisticated understanding of the issues at work here,” Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, told the SCO last week. “We don’t need a project called ‘the anti-sectarianism project’ to counter sectarian attitudes. There is a danger that this kind of narrow view entirely misses the heart of the matter.”

So the question remains: where do we go from here? While the Scottish Government may be battle sore and weary from its journey so far on just one dimension of sectarianism in Scotland—and is also now embroiled in a highly contentious process looking at redefining marriage—to retain credibility an immediate follow up on the wider problem of anti-Catholic bigotry in Scottish society is long, long, overdue.

The question remains: will the Scottish Government  finish what it started?

Christmas in rapidly approaching and, at this time of peace the SCO’s thoughts go out to one family in particular, the family of stabbing victim Raemonn Gormley.

The two men convicted of killing the former John Ogilvie High School, Hamilton, student were sentenced last week to 19 years and eight years and three months respectively.

After sentencing took place at the High Court in Perth, Reamonn’s parents spoke of the ‘trauma and grief’ caused by his killers.

They said in a statement that they would like to ‘thank everyone involved in bringing these evil people to some sort of justice.’

“However, [the sentencing] brings neither satisfaction nor comfort to our family.’

Here is a family, and a community, in need of our prayers this Christmas as are all families who have an empty chair at their Christmas dinner table. Many families are struggling this Christmas—some financially, others emotionally—to find peace.