Statement in relation to Fr Daniel Doherty

Today (Tuesday 22 October) at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Father Daniel Doherty pleaded guilty to three counts of adult sexual assault which took place earlier this year.

We wish to offer a profound apology to the person affected and we commend their courage in reporting it.

When the allegations against Fr Doherty were brought to the attention of the Archdiocese, he voluntarily withdrew from active ministry, and remains so, in line with the Church’s published procedures.

Those same procedures demonstrate the Church’s commitment to safeguarding and the protection of all within the Church.

The Archdiocese has co-operated fully in the investigation by Police Scotland.

We commend those who have assisted in bringing this conduct to the notice of the Church and civil authorities.

Mission Sunday: supporting the Church across the world

This weekend we mark World Mission Sunday.

Donations are collected at Masses across Scotland and go, in their entirety, to support churches, hospitals, schools and vocations in countries where the Church is new, young or poor.

Fr Vincent Lockhart, National Director of Missio Scotland, has written the below pastoral letter to be shared at Mass this Sunday. You can also watch his video message here.

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Dear brothers and sisters,

There are many people we may never hear of but we should hear of: the ones who look after others, who give their lives in service.

We all know people who are like that.

People who do not, like James and John in the gospel, seek personal glory or advantage.

They just get on quietly with what needs to be done.

The suffering servant in today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah is an example of someone who offers his life and by his sufferings justifies many, taking their faults on himself.

That prophecy of Isaiah reaches its fulfilment in Jesus on the Cross and Jesus himself tells us in today’s gospel that he did not come to be served but to serve.

A powerful example

Sr Hedwig Vinyo (below), a Franciscan Sister, is a powerful example of someone who has dedicated her life to serving others – especially those who are in need.

She is from Cameroon in West Africa and grew up in the area she now works in, the North-West Province of the country.

In the midst of a civil war which has been raging for the past seven years in the English-speaking part of Cameroon, Sr Hedwig and the Tertiary Sisters of St Francis are helping those tragically affected by the war to pick up the pieces of their lives.

They have been taking care of some of the 628,000 refugees and the young people and children with disabilities whose families have been killed.

For the sisters, serving God means gathering those broken by the war, providing them with care, support and a safe place.

As the responsorial psalm put it: “to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine”.

Your donation

Your donation today will enable Sr Hedwig and her sisters to serve those suffering because of the war, a war we never hear much about here.

Also with your help, Missio  Scotland will give funding to the Catholic Women’s Association – a Cameroonian  organisation similar to the Union of Catholic Mothers here in Scotland – who are supporting displaced people who have taken refuge in their parishes.

Gathering those who have been broken, inviting everyone to join together in a place of peace is the focus of Pope Francis’ theme for this World Mission Sunday.

He recalls the scene in the Gospel of Matthew where the king tells is servants to “go and invite everyone to the banquet”. Our mission, the mission of every follower of Christ, is to bring people together in unity to experience the love of God.

As the Holy Father says in his message, The Church – One Family “Today, in a world torn apart by divisions and conflicts, Christ’s Gospel calls individuals to encounter one another, to recognise that they are brothers and sisters, and to rejoice in harmony amid diversity.

Let us never forget, that we are asked to preach the Gospel to all.”

'Reach all people'

In receiving the Eucharist in our parish today, we do so with all our brothers and sisters across the globe who are taking part in the Mass on this World Mission Sunday.

The Eucharist is a sign and source of our unity but, as Pope Francis says, “we cannot approach the Eucharistic table without being drawn into the mission which is meant to reach all people”.

That ‘mission’ to every person on our planet is an essential part of our Catholic identity and has been since the very early days of the Church. The Scottish Catholic community reaches out to the world beyond our shores through Missio Scotland and SCIAF.

They are an expression of our community, our faith and our sharing concretely in the mission Christ has given us. Missio – the Pontifical Mission Societies – is where the Church in one place supports the Church in another place.

Each Catholic community prays for all the other Catholic communities both here in Scotland and abroad and shares finances if they are needed.
That mutual exchange of prayers and money creates solidarity, a sense of the Church
as one universal family, and gives joy to God who is the Father of us all.

It gives meaning to our saying together the response to the responsorial psalm: May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

So today, as we accept the invitation to come to the Eucharistic banquet and celebrate the reality of the Church as one family, Pope Francis asks each of us to be generous with our prayers and donations for other Catholic communities throughout the world, especially those in mission countries who need to feel that we are there for them.

Thank you for your prayers and for all you have given over the years. Wishing you and your parish the unity, peace and joy of God.

Yours sincerely in Christ,
Fr Vincent Lockhart
National Director – Missio Scotland – The Pontifical Mission Societies

Donate to Missio Scotland here

Bishops urge ScotGov to respect right to life of the unborn

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to respect the right to life of the unborn child in a submission to the Scottish Government’s Abortion Law Review Expert Working Group, writes the Catholic Parliamentary Office.

The working group has been set up by the Scottish Government to review the current law on abortion and to provide Scottish ministers with recommendations on whether or not aspects of the existing law should be changed.

The bishops’ submission, which you can read in full here continues to affirm the right to life of every human person from conception.

It argues that we have a “collective duty” to “uphold the right to life and to ensure that both mother and child are accepted and loved by a caring, compassionate society.”

The bishops also lament the prevailing anti-life culture which “declares it acceptable to destroy innocent human life in the womb” and says say that it “does not belong to public authorities to recognise the right to life for some, but not for others.”

The bishops, who have also brought into question the legitimacy of the working group which is composed substantially of pro-abortion supporters and has no prolife members, and which has already enshrined a ‘non-regression principle’ to ensure no progress will be countenanced on prolife matters, no matter what evidence comes forward.

GALLERY: Parish's stunning pics from Season of Creation

To mark the Season of Creation, St Margaret's Parish (Dunfermline & Oakley) ran a nature photography competition.

There were some stunning entries which were posted on the parish Facebook page. We've shared a selection of entries, including the winners.

The winning entry: ‘Thirsty Squirrel, Aviemore' by Iain Forrest.
Runner Up: 'Beach, Isle of Lewis' by John McGuinness
Children's Winner – ‘Lightning Leaves’ by Ruby Grattan & Niamh Abbot.
Children's Runner Up - 'Sun and Tree' by Sophia Kochheiser & Luna Davidson.
'Shetland pony was at home in Shetland', by John McGuinness
'Puffin at the Farne Islands in Northumberland' by John McGuinness.
Untitled by Barbara Whitlock.
'Smoo Cave in Durness, Sutherland' by Sandra Graham.
'Woodpeckers, Blairgowrie' by Iain Forrest

 

St Patrick's set for 250th anniversary celebrations

St Patrick’s in Edinburgh celebrates its 250th anniversary as a Christian Church on Wednesday (9 October 2024).

Vespers will be held at the church, in the city's Cowgate, at 6:00pm and Archbishop Cushley will give a homily, before a reception at St Cecilia's Hall in Niddrie Street

Fr Gerard Hatton, Administrator of the Church, said: “We are really looking forward to the event on 9 October and so pleased to be able to welcome back the other denominations who have also played a part in the life of the Church.

It is so important to give thanks to God and celebrate such an occasion.

The Church holds a very special place in the affections of Catholics both in the City and beyond. Many Clergy have served the parish over the years and many people still regard St Patrick’s as their spiritual home.”

“Fr Gerard, along with Fr Ninian Doohan, arrived at St Patrick's last year, at the invitation of Archbishop Cushley, to work on the Edinburgh Oratory Project.

History

When the 'square style' church opened in 1774 it was Episcopalian and known as St Paul’s Chapel.

The great and the good of the day worshipped here with a Congregation of more than 1,000.

The writer and diarist James Boswell said:“It was striking to see so grand a place of worship in Edinburgh”.

The Congregation commissioned several religious art works by the Scottish artist, Alexander Runciman, one of the most distinguished painters of the day, to decorate the Apse.

Many of the well to do congregation started to move into the plusher New Town of the city, and in 1818 the Chapel was sold to a Presbyterian Congregation, the Scottish Relief Church.

They made changes to the interior overpainting the mural of the Ascension on the ceiling of the Apse (the Runciman Trust has been established to oversee the restoration of the mural as funds become available) and replaced the Altar with a pulpit.

The next few years were an unsettled period, factions emerged, and they ran into financial difficulties.

When the congregation decided to move out of the Church they agreed to sell their redundant building to the Catholic Church.

At that time, Bishop James Gillis knew he had to do something to meet the spiritual needs for the growing number of Irish immigrants who had arrived in Edinburgh to escape the famine.

Becoming a Catholic Church

The Catholic population had risen from 1,000 to 14,000 and the old St Patrick’s in Lothian Street had become inadequate for the many who had settled in the insanitary and disease-ridden slum area of the Cowgate.

The new church cost £4,300. Half was paid for by the Church, the rest by the people.

They may have lived in poverty but were determined to raise money for a church of their own.

The new Church, dedicated to St Patrick, was officially opened on Sunday 3 August 1856.

The congregation present for the opening Mass was estimated at 2,600.

It became a vibrant parish. At its busiest there were more than 600 baptisms a year.

The parish has the honour of being the first St Vincent de Paul Society in Scotland.

The Church became a hub for those living in Edinburgh who were enduring much bigotry and alienation from the local community.

Many met their future husbands and wives there as it was a great place for socialising!

The Cowgate became known as “Little Ireland” and still is to this day.

Founding Hibernian

One of the Priests, Limerick-born Canon Edward Hannan, worked tirelessly for the souls under his care and was committed to the youth of the parish.

In 1869, he introduced the Catholic Young Men’s Society (CYMS).

It was from their meeting place in the nearby St Mary’s Halls that he, and a young Irish Parishioner, Michael Whelahan, suggested forming a football team to promote the physical wellbeing of these young men.

Players had to be practising Catholics and members of the CYMS.

And so Hibernian Football Club, with the Harp as its crest, was founded on 6 August 1875, joining the Edinburgh Football Association in 1876 and the Scottish Football Association not long afterwards.

They found a permanent home at Hibernian Park on Easter Road in 1880 and went on to win the Scottish Cup in 1888.

A bust of Canon Hannan can be found at Hibernian’s Easter Road Stadium and a Memorial to him is kept in the entrance of St Patrick’s.

Many fine people have passed through the great doors of the Church, good living people who strive to support the church in many ways as well as those who have made their mark not just in Edinburgh but across the world.

It was in St Patrick’s that James Connolly, born of Irish parents, was baptised, Leaving St Patrick’s School at aged 10 he eventually joined the British Army which he came to despise.

He left for Ireland, became involved in politics, formed the Irish Labour Party becoming a commander in the Irish Republican movement.

For his part in the Easter Uprising, he was court marshalled and was executed in front of a firing squad on 12 May 1916.

A saint in the making

St Patrick’s is also fortunate to have one of its former parishioners on the road to being declared a Saint.

The Venerable Margaret Sinclair was taught and received her Sacraments in the Church.

Her remains lie in the Sacred Heart Altar and many thousands of pilgrims bring their petitions and prayers to her.

The annual Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage is a national event at the Church each September.

Article (abridged) by Uriel Jamieson, published in the Irish Voice, September 2024.

WATCH: A look at the new Lectionary

Fr Paul Denney spoke at The Gillis Centre on Saturday about the new translation of the Lectionary.

He was just one of several speakers at 'Celebrating the Gift', an event hosted by the Archdiocese on Saturday to help people prepare for the introduction of the Lectionary from Advent (Sunday 1 December). Watch below or on YouTube.

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Fr Paul Denney, of St James' in Coatbridge (Motherwell Diocese) has spent four years being part of a team working on the editorial side of the Lectionary, which contains the Scripture readings for Mass and the Sacraments.

Thanks also Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB (Aberdeen Diocese), Fr Jamie McMorrin and Fr Adrian Porter SJ, who all spoke at the event, which was organised by Sr Miriam Ruth Ryan RSM and the Catechetics team of the Archdiocese.

More videos to follow.

Psalms & The New Lectionary: A day for readers, cantors and anyone with an interest in the psalms, takes place at Sacred Heart Church, Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, on Saturday 26 Octover from 2:30pm-5:00pm. Register here.

Dennis Canavan hits out at Assisted Dying Bill

Dennis Canavan has spoken about the death of his children as he highlighted his opposition to assisted suicide.

The former parliamentarian has suffered the loss of four of his children, including three sons who died as the result of terminal illness.

He said: "My sons undoubtedly experienced some pain but it was minimised by dedicated health professionals in the NHS and our local hospice.

"My sons died in dignity and I disagree with supporters of the Bill who claim that the suicide option is necessary to ensure dignity in death.

"We ought instead to be concentrating on ways to try to alleviate pain and suffering for people who are terminally ill.”

Dennis was speaking at an event titled Assisted Suicide in Scotland – the Beginning of a Dangerous Spiral at Our Lady & St Ninian’s parish, Bannockburn, on Wednesday night.

He has a long association with Strathcarron Hospice in Denny and campaigns for more investment in palliative care to minimise the suffering of terminally ill patients.

Dennis said that, if the Bill were to become law, many vulnerable people would come under pressure to choose the suicide option because they would not want to be a burden on their loved ones. The so called "safeguards" in the Bill would not give adequate protection from such pressure or coercion.

The meeting also heard from Dr Richard Lenton (below), a retired geriatrician, who worked for three decades as a consultant for NHS Forth Valley.

He said: "In geriatrics you get to know your patients, they trust you. If assisted suicide was available that trust would be not just diminished but non-existent."

Like Dennis, Richard also had close links to the palliative care service at Strathcarron Hospice.

He told the meeting that he believes that palliative care should be researched and strengthened and that in countries where assisted suicide was legalised, hospice's funding has been withdrawn, forcing them to close.

Using examples from Canada, Richard explained how so-called “strict safeguards” are of no value, and that assisted suicide laws are invariably interpreted in an expansive way.

MSPs are still making their minds up and want to hear what constituents think.  You have one directly elected MSP and several, regional, MSPs and you should write to them all.  Find your MSPs on the Scottish Parliament website:  https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps

Images: @Crusader_Tobias  

 

 

 

Annual Safeguarding Statement

Our annual statement is read out in parishes around the time of the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, which this year falls on 2 October.

In echoing this spirit of guardianship, we would like to remind you of our obligation to ensure that parish communities are safe and welcoming places, where children and vulnerable adults are protected.

Our procedures are designed to create a safe culture.

Safe recruitment practices ensure that volunteers only start their ministry once a series of suitability checks have been completed, including a Protection of Vulnerable Groups, or PVG, check if appropriate. We have reporting measures so that concerns can be passed on.

Our Mandatory Reporting Policy is designed to ensure that any allegations of abuse are reported to the police. Safeguarding training ensures that volunteers, group leaders and Parish Safeguarding Coordinators know what to do if a safeguarding situation arises.

Whilst statutory procedures such as PVG checks are an essential and mandatory part of our protocols, adopting a culture of care is equally important – being vigilant, looking out for each other,and passing on any concerns.

Archbishop Leo Cushley wishes to express his sincere thanks to clergy, parish safeguarding coordinators, group leaders, and volunteers, as we work together to ensure that our people, places and activities are safe.

Full details of safeguarding staff for the Archdiocese can be found on the safeguarding page of this website here.

Bishop Brian in Rome for second session of Synod

Bishop Brian McGee is in Rome to represent the Catholic Church in Scotland at the second session of the Synod.

The task of the Synod, which begins on Wednesday, is to complete the discernment begun at the first session and offer the result of this discernment to Pope Francis in a final document.

Bishop Brian will share regular updates on the Facebook page of the Diocese of Argyll & the Isles.

On Saturday he posted: "I am just heading out the door for the Synod of Bishops in Rome. I was given this icon of St Thérèse when her relics visited Scotland.

"I am praying a Novena seeking her intercession during the Synod.

I am praying that I will constantly strive to listen and follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

"Please pray for me and all the Synod participants that as we gather our sole desire will be to seek God’s will through listening to God’s Word, his presence in others and then discerning prayerfully what we hear. Thank you."

Synod Sessions will be broadcast live on the YouTube page of Vatican News. Main image: Bishop Brian (second left) with assembly members at last year's first session of the Synod in Rome

Buffer Zone law comes into force in Scotland

A new law which makes it illegal to pray in parts of Scotland is now in force, writes the Catholic Parliamentary Office.

The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024 establishes zones around hospitals and other facilities where abortions are carried out, currently there are 30.

The zones are comprised of the hospital or clinic, the public area of any grounds of the hospital or clinic, and any public areas within 200m of the boundary of the ground.

The law

The law prohibits conduct which seeks to influence the decision of a person regarding accessing, providing, or facilitating abortion services, or which prevents or impedes a person from accessing, providing or facilitating abortion services.

This will mean that women experiencing a crisis pregnancy may be denied the opportunity to freely speak to people and organisations who may be able to help them.

The new law also criminalises causing harassment, alarm or distress to a person accessing abortion services.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has repeatedly condemned all harassment and intimidation of people, including those attending hospitals and other medical facilities.

The Conference has also pointed out that laws are already in place to protect people from such unacceptable behaviour, and it is significant that, in written evidence to the Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Police Scotland stated that “existing powers and offences are sufficient to address any unlawful behaviour in the vicinity of health care premises.”

Disproportionate

The disproportionate law will have a devastating impact on human rights, including the right to free expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Most alarmingly, official documentation accompanying the legislation admits that the proposed new law anticipates criminalising ‘praying audibly’ and ‘silent vigils’.

It is deeply troubling that so many MSPs are so supportive of a law which will make it illegal to pray in certain parts of the country, in an unprecedented example of state overreach.

Only one MSP, John Mason, the member for Glasgow Shettleston, voted against the proposals.

The law will also prohibit certain conduct within private homes, churches and schools situated within the designated zone.

For example, placing a pro-life poster in the window of a private home which happens which is within the zone could be considered criminal behaviour.

When asked about the possibility of having to police people’s thoughts, including whether they were silently praying, Superintendent Gerry Corrigan told the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee that policing thought is an area “we would stay clear of”, later adding “I do not think we could go down the road of asking people what they are thinking or what their thoughts are. That feels really uncomfortable.”

People have already been arrested for praying silently in England and, with the new law, this may now happen in Scotland.

Some MSPs did raise concerns about the threat to silent prayer and a few suggested helpful amendments to the Bill, including a reasonableness defence and a specific exemption for chaplains who may be caught by the law and criminalised for having conversations about abortion. However, these were either withdrawn or voted down by the Parliament.

Chilling Day

Bishop John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley and spokesperson for the Bishops’ Conference on life issues said:

“This is a chilling day for fundamental freedoms, including our basic right as citizens in Scotland to manifest our beliefs in public, religious or otherwise.

“None of the arguments made were able to get around the basic premise that Police Scotland had never asked for more powers and even told the Parliament they were “really uncomfortable” with the bewildering suggestion of having to police people’s thoughts under the new law.

“The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland condemns all harassment and intimidation of people but continues to note the poor case made that this sort of behaviour was in any way the ethos of Scottish vigils, and endorses the view of Police Scotland, that there are already ample laws in place to deal with such behaviour.

"This law is certainly unnecessary in terms of public order and will disproportionately affect citizens of faith.”

Bishop Keenan added: “While we commend the one MSP who was prepared to recognise and call out the injustice of this draconian law which now criminalises citizen’s thoughts and makes it illegal to pray in certain parts of the country, it is concerning that there was only one.”

Police Scotland will be responsible for enforcing the new law. If an individual or individuals are deemed to be in breach of the law, they could be fined up to £10,000 under summary procedure or to an unlimited amount under solemn procedure.