Catholic Church in Scotland 'lacks support on sexuality'
The Catholic Church in Scotland has failed to provide “compassionate and pastoral” support on issues of sexuality, its head of media has said. Peter Kearney spoke to Radio Scotland’s Sunday Morning a week after Cardinal Keith O’Brien admitted sexual misconduct following claims by priests. Mr Kearney said the church’s lack of support over sexuality was [...]
‘Section 28’ fears for teaching of gay marriage law
Gay rights activists have warned of the re-introduction of Section 28-style legislation in Scotland amid fears over how a controversial new law on same-sex marriage will be taught in schools. More than 12 years after the bitter Section 28 controversy over how homosexuality should be treated in Scotland’s classrooms, new battle lines are being redrawn [...]
Archbishop of Canterbury opposed gay sex and adoption
The Archbishop of Canterbury voiced opposition to same-sex couples adopting children and insisted that the Bible is “clear” that gay couples should not have sex, previously unpublished writings show. Justin Welby also privately warned of a crisis facing the Church of England as a result of dwindling numbers and financial pressure which could even pose [...]
Scottish Catholic Church issues statement on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
The Scottish Catholic Media Office released the following statement today following a number of enquiries about the policy of the Catholic Church in relation to the protection of children and vulnerable adults: “The Catholic Church has had nationally agreed guidelines on the protection of children and vulnerable adults, since 1999. In this regard the Church [...]
Scottish priests 'out of control sexually', says former abuse adviser
Roman Catholic priests in Scotland were “out of control sexually” under the leadership of the disgraced Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the Church’s former adviser on child abuse claims. Alan Draper has accused the Church leadership, of being “unwilling” to expose supposedly celibate priests who were leading “double lives” in the 1980s and 1990s. Mr Draper, a [...]
Christian teacher says being forced to teach about same-sex marriage contributed to a breakdown
A committee of MPs has heard that a Christian teacher in Scotland claims he was forced to teach about same-sex marriage against his wishes – and the stress contributed to a breakdown. Samuel Webster, an in-house solicitor at the Christian Institute, … has given a submission to the Public Bill Committee of the House of [...]
St Margaret's Children and Family Care Society warning upheld
A warning that a Catholic adoption agency could lose its charitable status over its refusal to place children with same-sex couples has been upheld. The Scottish Charity regulator issued the directive to St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society in January. The Glasgow charity challenged the decision and requested a review. Having done so, the [...]
Priest abuse victim ‘made to sign gagging clause’
The Catholic Church in Scotland arranged for a teenage victim of an abusive priest to be paid £200 and made him sign a legal document promising not to tell anyone. “Sam Y” told The Scotsman he was made to feel that he was to blame for the assault by Father Desmond Lynagh, who had been [...]
Helena Kennedy’s sympathy for Cardinal O’Brien
The peer and QC Baroness Helena Kennedy has spoken of the “huge compassion” she feels towards Cardinal Keith O’Brien following his admission that his sexual conduct had “fallen beneath the standards” expected of him. Lady Kennedy said it was “torture” for the Roman Catholic Church to force priests who wanted to have a sex life [...]
Rome urged to inquire into Cardinal O’Brien ‘cronyism’
Catholic critics of the Church in Scotland have urged that a Vatican inquiry into the scandal surrounding Cardinal Keith O’Brien examine an alleged “culture of cronyism” in his archdiocese that lasted for years. Following the cardinal’s weekend confession of impropriety, he faced further accusations yesterday from lay and clerical figures that his sexual escapades might [...]
