Scottish Catholic Observer

Late last year Paul McBride QC said Scottish independence could lead to ‘very serious consequences’ for Catholics and that the Catholic community could have ‘legitimate concerns’ about the Scottish National Party’s flagship policy. Now, with the very real prospect of a 2014 referendum on whether the country will seek to leave the union or remain as part of the UK, The Scottish Catholic Observer has gathered informed opinion on what this could potentially mean for our Church and Faith community.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond wants the ballot on his planned independence referendum to take place in the autumn of 2014. The Scottish National Party leader’s announcement last week of his plan to fufill his party’s election manifesto pledge by holding a referendum on independence has prompted intense public debate and a great deal of confusion.

The news has sparked controversy regarding the powers of the devolved Scottish Parliament, and over who has the right to make the decision over whether Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom or seeks independence from it.

The leaders of the UK Coalition Government and its opposition have expressed their concerns and voiced opposition to the majority Scottish Government’s proposals, highlighting legal, procedure and fiscal challenges to the plans. While the First Minister believes any decision on independence is for the Scottish people to make, and has accused the UK Government of ‘bullying’ the people of Scotland over the issue, he did agree to meet Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss the way forward.

While the SNP’s support for Catholic education, and of the 2010 Papal visit to Scotland, is well documented, last year’s Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill and government consultation on redefining marriage has put an increasing strain on the relationship between Church and state here.

While there appears to be consensus that the Church in Scotland already had Ecclesiastical independence and that Catholic education is currently protected within the Scottish education system, doubts remain as to whether our country has made sufficient strides from its sectarian past to ensure the Catholic community of its rightful place in Scotland’s future.

Scotland has its own legal system, but do the laws we live by now—and will be ruled by in the future—protect Catholic interests, regardless of whether the country votes for independence or not?

The SCO will continue to monitor and report on the evolving situation in the coming weeks, months and years, always striving to keep readers informed and up to date on developments that have an impact on them.

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Glasgow was a shining example of new evangelisation this week. The annual St Mungo Festival in the city is going from strength to strength, celebrating not only the life of the city’s patron saint but also Glasgow’s strong Christian roots.

During this year’s festival, which included the inaugural Molendinar lecture, the St Mungo feast day Mass on Friday in Townhead stood out. Archbishop Mario Conti took his inspiration from the city’s motto—Let Glasgow Flourish by the Preaching of His Word and the Praising of His Name—to speak about new evangelisation and the coming Year of Faith.

The archbishop referred to the Holy Father’s message that ‘in our days too faith is a gift to rediscover, to cultivate and to bear witness to’ because the Lord ‘grants each one of us to live the beauty and joy of being Christians.’

Inspiration for us all.