Scottish Catholic Observer

A young, inquisitive Catholic primary school pupil once asked her parents if she could attend Sunday School with her Church of Scotland friend instead of Mass with her family. When asked why she replied openly that ‘well, they get to ask questions at Sunday School.’

There is a widely and commonly held misconception that we as Catholics don’t ask questions of our Faith or our Church, a belief that is, in part, fuelling media speculation this week over controversy at the Synod on the Family. As pointed out by Ronnie Convery of Glasgow Archdiocese in the SCO last week, however, even senior Catholic clergy do not always entirely agree with each other. Not only is that OK, it is to be respectfully encouraged.

What would be the point of a having a frank and open discussion on marriage and family—and on the diverse views on the way to conduct frank and open discussion within the Church—if everyone simply agreed out of fear or disinterest? To the conspiracy theorists within and out with the Church, do not will the synod to cause fracture and division. Have faith, be patient and listen to what emerges.

It takes a mature Church to face the difficult issues in society and reassess its approach to delivering pastoral care as a result. We can only hope that those watching and commenting on its work show a similair level of maturity in their questions and reporting, and that they avoid being disingenuous. The synod has a long road ahead still.

We are living in a period where religious persecution is not just something that happens out of our sight in marginalised regions of the world. It is, infact, dominating our news reports, causing mass migration from trouble zones and its victims are literally washing up on our shores, sadly not always alive.

This week Pope Francis and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon praised the work of Aid to the Church in Need, a Catholic charity that strives to help persecuted Christians, as it launched its Persecuted and Forgotten? 2015 report at St Mary’s Cathedral in Aberdeen with Bishop Hugh Gilbert and visiting speakers from parts of the world most severly impacted by religious violence. The vital work of this charity is at the forefront of our minds and at the heart of our prayers.

Like hunger and poverty, religious persecution remains a shocking problem in the 21st century, and a problem that charities and governments must make a concerted effort to tackle and eliminate in our lifetimes.