Scottish Catholic Observer

Mr Pitcathley, who has played the organ at Motherwell Cathedral for more than 40 years, performed at Pope John Paul II’s Mass at Bellahouston Park in 1982 and has been asked to play again for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI next month. “Playing the organ at Bellahouston Park was one... read more

THE charity, the last Catholic adoption agency in England, had hoped that an appeal limiting services for homosexuals on religious grounds would allow it to continue to operate, but the Charity Commission ruled homosexuals are suitable parents and that Catholic teaching could not justify discrimination against gay couples hoping to... read more

THE Scottish Catholic Archives is bringing out a book on the historic links between Scotland and the Vatican to mark Pope Benedict XVI’s forthcoming visit. The book, Scotland and the Holy See; The Story of Scotland’s Links with the Papacy Down the Centuries, was originally published to coincide with Pope John... read more

BISHOP Peter Moran of Aberdeen Diocese has asked for people of all religions to pray for the tragic Riggi family following the deaths of the family’s three children in Edinburgh last week. The bodies of twins Augustino and Gianluca, aged 8, and their five-year-old sister Cecilia were discovered last Wednesday afternoon... read more

CARDINAL Keith O’Brien has said Americans have no right to question Scotland’s justice system over the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi. Writing in an article for a Sunday newspaper the cardinal said there was a ‘clash of cultures’ between Scotland’s compassion and the American thirst for... read more

A much acclaimed and highly significant painting, owned by Our Lady and St Bride’s Church, Cowdenbeath, now has pride of place amongst some of the finest national and international artworks in the world. Antiveduto Grammatica’s Christ Disputing with the Doctors in the Temple is on loan from St Andrews and Edinburgh... read more

Mary’s Meals received a double boost this week when it was named one of the official charities of the Papal visit to Scotland and Dragon’s Den Star Duncan Bannatyne broadcast a radio appeal on the charity’s behalf. Mary’s Meals and Marie Curie Cancer Care have been chosen as the official charities... read more

Blessed Mary MacKillop, the daughter of Scottish emigrants from Roy Bridge to Australia, will become the southern hemisphere country’s first saint later this year and the hair will be presented to the Holy Father as part of the ceremony at St Peter’s Square. Sr Campion Roche, RSJ—the congregation of the Sisters... read more

NEWS that mothers in Scotland are to be given the chance to ‘engineer’ their pregnancy, to ensure their babies are born free of disease or disability, has been described as ‘ethically repugnant’ by a spokesman for the Catholic Church. The service, the first of its kind in Scotland, would see scientists... read more

BISHOP Philip Tartaglia has warned David Cameron that the Catholic Church will never celebrate same sex ‘marriage’. The Bishop of Paisley was responding to recent comments by the Prime Minister on plans to change the law so religious ministers can conduct civil partnership ceremonies. A step too far Speaking at a gay... read more