Calling for a ban on Buckfast may be vintage New Labour, but it is Babycham politics - frothy, sickly, outmoded and lacking bottle, writes Gillian Bowditch. But she concedes that it's hard not to have some sympathy with justice minister Cathy Jamieson's position. "The Benedictine monks of Buckfast Abbey in Devon continue to push their noxious concoction, cocooned from the effect it is having in some of Scotland's poorest communities. More than 70 per cent of Buckfast's sales come from the west of Scotland."
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 5:38 PM

A leading member of a newly formed evangelical group of Church of Scotland ministers, Forward Together, has warned that the Kirk could split if its views on sex education, sexuality and marriage are not taken into account. The Rev Bill Wallace, a former convener of the Church of Scotland's Board of Social Responsibility and a member of the new group, said if the "evangelical position continues to be sidelined there is real trouble ahead for the Church".
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 5:24 PM

List of delegates who attended the sectarianism 'summit'.
Source: The Herald.
posted at 5:22 PM

Alison Logan, of Sense Against Sectarianism - a partnership of local authorities, churches, football clubs and other organisations - felt there was a willingness at the sectarianism 'summit' for those with opposing views to listen to each other's point of view. "How do we get to the bigots? There are people working at that level but I suppose the hard-liners will always be hard-liners,'' she said. "We have to ensure their numbers dwindle, by getting to young people before they become bigots."
Source: The Herald.
posted at 5:21 PM

Sectarianism in Scotland is a "social myth", according to Steve Bruce, professor of sociology at Aberdeen University. "How do we explain it? A large part of the answer is that opinion-leaders such as politicians and the mass media believe that sectarianism is a major problem and that belief distorts their perceptions."
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 5:17 PM

Jack McConnell's summit on sectarianism became mired in controversy yesterday following a war of words between Catholic Church leaders and the Orange Lodge of Scotland. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, opened a high-profile debate at Glasgow University by making a call for the First Minister to "directly lobby" Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, to repeal the 300-year-old Act of Settlement, which bans Catholics from the throne. In reply, the Orange Order's representative at the summit accused the Catholic Church of attempting to undermine Britain's religious liberty.
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 5:13 PM

Cardinal Keith O'Brien stressed at today's sectarianism 'summit' the Act of Settlement as a hindrance to religious tolerance and the benefits of a Charter of Religious Freedom.
Source: Scottish Catholic Media Office news release.
posted at 9:11 PM

Scotland's first national summit on sectarianism took place today. Church leaders joined representatives from the Rangers and Celtic football clubs, their fans, loyalist and republican parading groups, police, councils, unions, business and the media at the University of Glasgow. The summit was chaired by First Minister Jack McConnell and focused on interfaith work, education, sport, marches and parades. Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said afterwards: "We did have agreement that we should continue to work on this issue - people have signed up to that - and that we should also take forward the creation of a national plan, and that's something we will be looking to do in the future."
Source: Scottish Executive news release.
posted at 9:10 PM

Obituary of Dr Peter Russell, whose interest in Scottish history brought a close involvement with the reconstruction in 1969 of the ancient Cross of St John on the island of Iona, one of the finest examples of Celtic art in Scotland.
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 9:08 PM

First Minister Jack McConnell today demanded a joint commitment from Catholic and Protestant leaders to rid Scotland of sectarianism. Speaking ahead of a summit in Glasgow today, Mr McConnell said" "I am looking for a joint commitment from all organisations represented today that they will get rid of anything that could cause offence within their organisations."
Source: Edinburgh Evening News.
posted at 5:22 PM

Leading evangelicals in the Church of Scotland are to launch a new group in a bid to reverse the Kirk's liberal stance on issues like sex education. They claim the Kirk is regularly put in the shade by the Roman Catholic Church when it comes to speaking out on social and moral matters and they want to see a tougher line on issues from multi-faith worship to gay ministers. The new organisation, Forward Together, which will be officially launched in Edinburgh next week, claims its conservative views are shared by a majority of churchgoers. Its secretary, the Rev Ian Watson, said: "We are tired of church representatives presenting a view that just goes along with the secular world rather than being distinctively Christian - and we believe the man and woman in the pew are tired of it."
Source: Edinburgh Evening News.
posted at 5:17 PM

The first minister has been criticised for inviting an IRA supporter, who has been jailed for inciting people to attack police officers, to tomorrow's summit on sectarianism in Scotland. Jack McConnell has asked Jim Slaven, the national organiser of Cairde Na hEireann, a republican organisation described by its critics as "dangerous", to sit down with church leaders and football clubs to help to work out ways to curb religious hatred in Scotland.
Source: Sunday Times.
posted at 4:19 PM

The makers of Buckfast tonic wine are to take legal action for compensation against Cathy Jamieson, the justice minister, after she urged shopkeepers not to stock the product because it was fuelling antisocial behaviour. Buckfast is made by Benedictine monks at Devon's Buckfast Abbey.
Source: Sunday Times.
posted at 4:17 PM

A novel about a teenage homosexual romance has been deemed "disgusting" by Christian groups, as thousands of postcards promoting the book are distributed in schools. Boy Meets Boy by American author David Levithan, billed as "a collision between Will and Grace and The OC, is published in the UK this week in time for Valentine's Day. John Deighan, parliamentary officer of the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: "I hope headteachers have the good sense not to allow this propaganda into their schools. It is very detrimental to children of high school age to be exposed to books that depict homosexuality as normality."
Source: Sunday Herald.
posted at 11:34 AM

First Minister Jack McConnell's summit to stamp out religious bigotry is set to be hijacked by a potentially explosive debate on the future of Catholic schools. Jim Templeton, President of the Rangers Supporters' Assembly, will use his invitation to the high-profile gathering to ensure that Scotland's "divisive" education system is central to the day's agenda. He believes the event will have "no point" unless separate schooling is discussed by the participants, adding there should be no further meetings if the subject is ducked.
Source: Sunday Herald.
posted at 11:31 AM

First Minister Jack McConnell's summit to stamp out religious bigotry is set to be hijacked by a potentially explosive debate on the future of Catholic schools. Jim Templeton, President of the Rangers Supporters' Assembly, will use his invitation to the high-profile gathering to ensure that Scotland's "divisive" education system is central to the day's agenda. He believes the event will have "no point" unless separate schooling is discussed by the participants, adding there should be no further meetings if the subject is ducked.
Source: Sunday Herald.
posted at 11:30 AM

Jon Snow, the Channel 4 news presenter, has accused the Archbishop of Canterbury of "running scared" of public debate and claimed that he was afraid of adopting a forthright stance on key moral issues for fear of causing discord within the Church of England. Snow, who is the son of a Church of England bishop, said that Dr Rowan Williams had "failed to engage" with the public since his appointment in 2002, was "theologically opaque" and was "living in fear of schism". The Archbishop's press secretary, the Rev Jonathan Jennings, said: "The simple truth is that, although the project was an excellent one with much to commend it, a number of things occurred during our discussions with the production company which caused us to lose confidence in the process. "The Archbishop of Canterbury has done a great deal of engagement with the media since his appointment; the fact that he chooses his own agenda has sometimes proved a stumbling block for those who want to dictate what he should do and say." The New Ten Commandments, to be aired on February 26, polled 65,000 people across the UK to find out which of the original commandments they felt were still relevant to living a moral life in the modern world. Voters in Scotland turned out to be both the most sinful (with nine per cent declaring themselves sinners) and the most saintly in the UK, with 15 per cent of the vote obeying nine or 10 of the original commandments.
Source: Sunday Telegraph.
posted at 11:29 AM

Substantial piece about sectarianism in Scotland in advance of tomorrow's 'summit' called by Jack McConnell.
Source: Sunday Times.
posted at 11:20 AM

A study which analysed the salaries of Catholics and Protestants over a decade claims that a slight wage gap between the two groups can be explained by Catholics having poorer qualifications. The Scottish Economic Policy Network's research, carried out by Harminder Battu of Aberdeen University, found that Catholic men earned £10.50 an hour compared with £11 among their Protestant counterparts. There was no difference in women's earnings. However, Battu said that a quarter of Catholic men had no qualifications, compared with a fifth of Protestants.
Source: Sunday Times.
posted at 11:18 AM

Cardinal Keith O'Brien will tomorrow "hijack" the First Minister's summit on sectarianism by demanding the repeal of the Act of Settlement, which bans Catholics from the throne. The leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics will warn the meeting there can be no end to religious bigotry without scrapping the 300-year-old law. O'Brien's demand - which capitalises on the constitutional turmoil triggered by Prince Charles' wedding - will put massive pressure on McConnell to push for repeal.
Source: Scotland on Sunday.
posted at 11:14 AM

The artist John Bellany recalls his childhood in Port Seton. "I don't think Calvinism was all bad, although I have a broader vision of religion now. But the Close Brethren couldn't eat with anyone but their own kind. I felt quite free under John Knox compared to what some other folk in Port Seton were suffering."
Source: Scotland on Sunday.
posted at 11:11 AM

Should human embryos be cloned to research a cure for motor neurone disease? "The Roslin Institute's case is valid but it should still be the exception, not the norm," says Dr Donald Bruce, director of the Society, Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland. Archbishop Mario Conti believes, however: "This is an assault on the sanctity of human life and there is an effective, ethical alternative."
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 9:39 PM

A 5ft model of a North Sea oil rig will form the centrepiece to a special service being held tomorrow. Meldrum Kirk will hold the Offshore Service to remember workers on remote oil and gas platforms and rigs, and the families who wait their return onshore. "Naturally, we will be remembering events such the Piper Alpha disaster, and all those who has lost their lives in the industry," said the Rev Hugh O'Brien. "It will also be a celebration of achievements offshore over the years."
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
posted at 9:32 PM

The Glasgow branch of the Educational Institute of Scotland have launched a campaign to scrap compulsory religious observance in all schools. But Susan Leslie, the secretary of the Church of Scotland's education committee, said there was little support for changing the law.
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 9:21 PM

Words for a time of reflection and learning: what our leading churchmen and women have chosen as their Lenten reading.
Source: The Times.
posted at 9:19 PM

Richard Holloway, former Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, was yesterday named as the new chairman of the Scottish Arts Council.
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 9:17 PM

Pamela Gordon from Irvine in Ayrshire is to be pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Grand Rapids, near Toledo, Ohio. For the past four years she has been part-time pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Lompoc, California. Pamela worshipped at St Columba's, Bridge of Don, while a student at Aberdeen University.
Source: Lompoc Record.
posted at 8:09 PM

New Zealander Rev Bob Te Whaiti has taken up the linked Church of Scotland charge of Creich and Rosehall. Church members voted unanimously in his favour after he preached at the two parish churches in Bonar Bridge and Rosehall. The charge has been vacant for 15 months since the retiral of the Rev Heather Olsen. Mr Te Whaiti, who is of Maori extraction, previously served as a minister with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.
Source: Northern Times.
posted at 7:49 PM

Sunday sees the launch of C4ward, the new plans for the renovation of Cupar Old Parish Church and the development of the church hall. Rev Ken Jeffrey said: "It is hoped the proposals will not only benefit the members and friends of Cupar Old, but that it will also serve the needs of our wider and growing community."
Source: Fife Herald.
posted at 7:29 PM

A collection of crosses from southern Sudan is the main attraction at the recently completed extension to The Bield, a Christian retreat at Blackruthven near Perth. Bishop Bruce Cameron, of the Scottish Episcopal Church, performed the official opening and dedication of the centre's new-look building on Tuesday.
Source: Perthshire Advertiser.
posted at 7:25 PM

Rev Stuart Dickson (74) died last Monday after a long period of ill health. Mr Dickson served as a minister for five years at Blackridge Parish Church and was actively involved in the Livingston Ecumenical Parish right up until his death from heart failure. Mr Dickson worked in various churches throughout his career, including Govan and Calton in Glasgow and Midlothian. He was also part of the team that worked on a church garden entry for the Glasgow Garden Festival.
Source: West Lothian Courier.
posted at 7:11 PM

Representatives of gay and lesbian groups from England, Scotland and the United States say that they were given a good hearing at a meeting with the deputy secretary-general of the Anglican Communion Office, Canon Gregory Cameron, last week. Their representations in response to the Windsor report will be channelled to the Primates for inclusion in their discussions later this month. The meeting was been prompted by a request from the Changing Attitude lobby group.
Source: Church Times.
posted at 6:48 PM

A monk has denied sexually assaulting a woman in the Aberdeen University Chaplaincy for almost two years. Mark Paterson, who now lives in Heslington, York, was understood to be a member of the Roman Catholic order of Carmelite Friars, which ran the chaplaincy at the time of the alleged attacks. The Carmelite order no longer runs the chaplaincy.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
posted at 3:01 PM

Of the dozen or so stone masons who gave much of their lives to George MacLeod's project to restore Iona Cathedral, Attie Mackechnie, who has died aged 80, was probably the most significant. His unique skills as a diplomat and experience of the rebuilding made him invaluable, particularly as the Iona Community and the cathedral trustees were often in almost comical dispute - Mackechnie was the ever gentle yet indestructible bridge between the two.
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 7:16 PM

Leading politicians and church figures in Scotland have congratulated Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles on news of their wedding plans. While some Anglicans remain opposed to the remarriage of divorcees, the Archbishop of Canterbury has given the couple his backing. The marriage would have no constitutional implications for the Church of Scotland, as the monarch is not head of the Kirk. A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said: "The church promotes marriage and rejoices with people who enter into marriage." The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland congratulated the pair but said it was also time to look at constitutional change. Cardinal Keith O'Brien said: "I am saddened to think that were Mrs Parker Bowles a Catholic, the Prince of Wales would, by marrying her, automatically lose his right to accede to the throne,­ as would his heirs. As the Scottish Executive currently, is quite rightly focusing attention on eradicating the blight of sectarianism in, the time may be opportune to assess the impact of existing blatant anti-Catholic legislation and the extent to which its existence hinders progress in this effort."
Source: BBC Scotland News.
posted at 7:10 PM

Profile of the missionary and explorer David Livingstone - and how his memory is held in Africa - in anticipation of the 150th anniversary of his first sight of the Victoria Falls.
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 7:07 PM

Free Presbyterian minister the Rev John MacLeod provoked criticism yesterday after saying the Asia tsunami disaster was a "divine visitation". Mr MacLeod said: "Some of the places most affected by the tsunami attracted pleasure-seekers from all over the world. It has to be noted that the wave arrived on the Lord's day, the day God set apart to be observed the world over as a holy resting from all employments and recreations that are lawful on other days." A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said: "The view that the tsunami was some kind of divine retribution is utterly alien to the Catholic world view." The Church of Scotland also distanced itself from the remarks and a spokesman said: "Recreation is something which can happen on any day, including the Sabbath, much as religion can become part of any day of the week. The tsunami was a natural disaster, after which so many look for comfort or reflection in the church."
Source: The Herald.
posted at 7:02 PM

The Scots Kirk in Paris is holding a classical music concert to raise funds for tsunami victims.
Source: Church of Scotland tsunami updates.
posted at 9:53 PM

Mrs Norah Summers has been nominated as the new national convener of the Church of Scotland Guild. Currently the organisation's vice-convener, she is an elder and session clerk at Falkirk Old and St Modan's. Lesley McCorkindale from Dalgety Bay is to be the incoming vice convener.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
posted at 9:48 PM

The Asian tsunami was the work of God and a punishment for hedonism, according to a senior minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The Rev John Macleod, minister to the FP congregation in London, described the disaster that has claimed more than 200,000 lives as "a divine visitation" comparable to biblical catastrophes like the flood of Noah's day and the destruction of Sodom.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
posted at 9:05 PM

Two academics locked horns in front of a sell-out audience at Aberdeen University last night as they debated sectarianism. Prof Tom Devine explained why he felt that, while institutional sectarianism no longer exists, it is still very much in the hearts and minds of many Scots. Steve Bruce, head of the university's school of social science concluded that Catholic integration in Scotland has been more successful than most commentators would have us believe.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
posted at 9:02 PM

The man who caused a row last year after refusing to allow a same-sex couple to rent a room in his Scottish B&B could be on the verge of standing as MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, pledging to bring "morality" back to the country. Tom Forrest has been short listed as a candidate for the Operation Christian Vote party, a recently launched political party that runs with the tag line "waking the sleeping giant".
Source: UK Gay.com.
posted at 8:59 PM

Scottish Parliament bosses have launched a search for an alternative meeting place in case their Holyrood chamber is knocked out by a terrorist attack or a major systems failure. The plan could see MSPs back in the Church of Scotland General Assembly Hall on The Mound. Liberal Democrat Donald Gorrie said: "Any self-respecting terrorist would find something better to blow up than the Scottish Parliament."
Source: Edinburgh Evening News.
posted at 8:53 PM

For reasons of "sensitivity", BBC Scotland would not have immediately informed the nation of the Pope's death if John Paul ll had died during live coverage of a Rangers match, The Scotsman has learned. Incredulous staff believe it was for fear of upsetting the traditionally Protestant Rangers' support.
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 8:51 PM

Scotland will become the first part of the UK to allow men to marry their mothers-in-law, the Scottish Executive announced yesterday as part of a comprehensive overhaul of legislation governing family life. The proposals received a mixed response from church leaders. The Church of Scotland concentrated on the Executive's insistence that it would support family life, but the Catholic Church was more reserved, particularly over "quickie divorces".
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 8:44 PM

Britain's churches are poised to launch a major report asking tough questions about how a rich society can responsibly develop and use its wealth-creating abilities for the common good in a divided world. 'Prosperity With A Purpose: Christians and the Ethics of Affluence', a study commissioned through the official ecumenical body, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, is due to be launched on 28 February. It will argue for a positive Christian engagement that links wealth creation to social justice.
Source: Ekklesia.
posted at 8:41 PM

A graveyard manager set up a bogus digging company to con the Archdiocese of Glasgow out of £116,000. Liam McGrath, 41, claimed the firm regularly carried out work at St Peter's Cemetery in Glasgow's east end and got church bosses to foot the bill. However, the work had been done by other digging firms, the council or even volunteers. McGrath will be sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court later this month.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
posted at 7:33 PM

The link between religion and politics is to be examined by a new research centre at St Andrews University. One of the key projects at the Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics will examine Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist communities in Scotland. The initiative is a collaboration between the schools of divinity, international relations, modern languages and philosophical and anthropological studies at the university. The centre's patrons are Cardinal Keith O'Brien and writer and theologian Gustavo Gutierrez.
Source: BBC Scotland News.
posted at 7:24 PM

A Scots priest has admitted a charge relating to 4070 images of child pornography downloaded from the internet. Father George Campbell was discovered after a tip-off from the FBI. During the inquiry he stepped down from his duties as parish priest at St Columba's in Annan and as chaplain to the town's St Columba's RC primary school. He will be sentenced next month.
Source: Daily Record.
posted at 7:07 PM

"The decision to grant the Roslin Institute a license to create cloned human embryos poses ethical problems beyond the strict legality of the proposed research," according to Dr Donald Bruce, director of the Society Religion and Technology Project (SRTP) of the Church of Scotland. Dr Bruce commended the aim of the Roslin proposal - studying the causes of motor neurone disease. But he warned: "It is unwise to allow cloned embryo research until there is a United Nations ban on reproductive human cloning."
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
posted at 7:03 PM

The Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church have issued a joint statement on the Family Law Bill published today. The churches are encouraged by the Executive's statement that marriage has a special place in society and that its distinctive legal status should be preserved. But they agree that information and education about family issues, marriage preparation and maintenance all require greater resources. Additionally, greater support should be directed towards marriage reconciliation services.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
posted at 6:59 PM

A former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland returned to Dundee yesterday to preach from his late father's pulpit. The Very Rev Dr Finlay Macdonald who served as moderator during 2002/03, represented the current incumbent, Dr Alison Elliot, at a special service to mark the 175th anniversary of the opening of Lochee Old and St Luke's church. Dr Macdonald's father, the late Rev John Macdonald, was minister at the church between 1949 and 1985.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
posted at 9:09 PM

The congregation of Logierait church in Perthshire took a step back in time yesterday as they celebrated its 200th anniversary by singing psalms and paraphrases from the early 19th century. There has been a church in the village, since around 605 AD. It was founded by St Cedd, one of two missionary brothers who, after a stay in Iona, stopped off for a short while in the Tay Valley on their way to Lindisfarne.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
posted at 9:08 PM

The death of Attie Mackechnie has robbed Mull of one of its last great tradition bearers and perhaps the most significant of the Gaelic craftsmen who formed the backbone of the project to rebuild and maintain Iona Abbey. The restoration project was led by George MacLeod, and while popular mythology may suggest that all the re-building work was undertaken by unemployed shipyard workers from Govan, an infinitely greater role was played by a group of around a dozen Gaelic stone masons from the Ross of Mull.
Source: The Herald.
posted at 8:26 PM

The British public no longer believes that the Seven Deadly Sins have any relevance to their lives and thinks they should be brought up to date to reflect modern society. According to a BBC poll, the original list of cardinal sins - anger, gluttony, sloth, envy, pride, lust and greed - do not have the power they once had. Almost four in ten selected cruelty as the worst modern-day sin, followed by adultery, bigotry, dishonesty, hypocrisy, greed and selfishness. Dr Peter Donald, convener of the panel of doctrine for the Church of Scotland, said: "I find it interesting that the top three of the new sins are ones that affect others when we commit them. The original list dealt mainly with those which offend God, though that isn't to say this one wouldn't, but it is a symptom of humanistic morality." A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said: "Scotland is driven by moral relativism and it has reached a point where right and wrong do not figure in most people's lives."
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 8:15 PM

Concerns about the relationship between Kirsty Wark and Jack McConnell grew last night after claims that she regularly complains to him about his policy on the controversial system of Catholic schools. In an article for Scotland on Sunday Scotland's leading composer, James MacMillan, claims that the Newsnight presenter - a known sceptic of denominational education - frequently "moans" to the First Minister about Catholic schools. MacMillan said: "The mounting attacks on Catholic schools are motivated by the ... urge to ram home a cultural uniformity. The 'one-size-fits-all' prejudice in Scottish educational circles is no use for a modern pluralist Scotland." The row was added to last night by comments from the Catholic Church in Scotland, which also issued a stinging attack on Wark, referring to her own schooling background. Wark attended the prestigious fee-paying Wellington School For Young Ladies in Ayr. On Wark's views on separate schooling, the spokesman said: "If you separate children by going to private schools, or if you separate them on the basis of gender, that seems to be fine. But if you do it according to parents' religious beliefs it is not OK. You can only describe that as hypocritical."
Source: Scotland on Sunday.
posted at 1:31 PM

A Kirk minister is at the centre of a probe over a £4800-a-year expenses claim for travelling between two parishes seven miles apart - Colmonell and Barrhill in Ayrshire. Three elders have resigned after Rev Dr John Lochrie refused to justify the expenses. The elders were referred to Ayr Presbytery, of which Dr Lochrie is moderator, by Church of Scotland officials.
Source: Sunday Mail.
posted at 1:03 PM

Jack McConnell's judgment has been called into question again over his decision to launch "quickie divorces" during national marriage week. The first minister is expected to announce his family law bill tomorrow, allowing couples to divorce after a year of separation instead of the current two-year requirement. Richard Kane, director of National Marriage Week, said: "This is a very strange decision." The Catholic church in Scotland claims McConnell is undermining the sanctity of marriage and that quickie divorces will encourage the breakdown of marriages. It wants the first minister to scrap the plan and to tackle rising divorce rates in Scotland by funding marriage guidance services instead.
Source: Sunday Times.
posted at 12:35 PM

The owner of Rangers football club has accused Jack McConnell of being "ill- informed", "disrespectful" and showing a "knee-jerk" reaction to the problem of sectarianism. David Murray is angry at what he sees as an ill-prepared and insensitive intervention by the first minister. His criticism comes as football clubs, church leaders and local authorities prepare for a summit called by McConnell to debate the problem. One of Scotland's most successful businessmen, who backed Labour in the 1999 Scottish election campaign, Murray also criticised McConnell for pursuing "socialist" policies that stifled entrepreneurship.
Source: Sunday Times.
posted at 12:23 PM

Justice minister Cathy Jamieson made a U-turn yesterday after demanding off-licences stop selling Buckfast tonic wine. The MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley claimed her comments were intended in her role for her local constituency than as a Scottish minister. And she said she had no plans to make restrictions of Buckfast sales a nationwide policy. Jamieson originally called on shops to restrict sales of 'Buckie' as it led to antisocial behaviour among youngsters. Buckfast was once sold for its medicinal purposes, but the strongly alcoholic drink has become popular with teenage drinkers who see it as a cheap, sweet way to get drunk. It is made by Benedictine monks at Devon's Buckfast Abbey.
Source: Scotland on Sunday.
posted at 12:18 PM

The Salvation Army's post-tsunami strategy is moving from immediate relief to long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes, beginning with the construction of 1,000 new houses on land allocated by the Sri Lankan Government.
Source: Salvation Army news release.
posted at 4:14 PM

Andrew Wood Buchanan, former minister of Sylacauga First Presbyterian Church, has died following a lengthy illness. Mr Buchanan spent 50 years in the ministry and held a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh.
Source: Daily Home, Alabama.
posted at 3:57 PM

The Church of Scotland has warned the Scottish Executive that new charity laws will bring the work of the Kirk to a halt. Lawyers for the Church have told ministers that the powers in new legislation, aimed at preventing fraud, will "rapidly prevent the Church from continuing to function at all". The Kirk is angry that the Charities and Trustee Investment Bill will give new powers to a regulator and to the courts to intervene in the Church's internal working, which it argues are guaranteed under an Act of Parliament dating back to 1921. Around 1,500 separate congregations, 46 presbyteries and the three Kirk national boards - including the bodies which invest church funds and manage property - are registered charities. Up until now, these bodies were subject to the Church's internal jurisdiction, including their own "courts".
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 3:53 PM

Businessman Iain Brown, a member of Ayr's Christian Outreach Centre, claims God is guiding him in his desire to resurrect the town's Civic Theatre. The 43-year-old chiropodist maintains the Lord handed down his advice in a vision that came to him in his sleep. He said: "I'm angry and devastated to see it empty and not fulfilling its intended use. My vision was to see the Civic as a theatre, craft centre, art gallery and restaurant with extravagant glass wings. I want to encourage and develop people's talent that they might otherwise not have the chance."
Source: Ayrshire Post.
posted at 10:00 PM

Caithness Church of Scotland minister Rev Ken Warner yesterday claimed new safety measures have turned a historic graveyard in his village into an eyesore. The burial ground adjoining Halkirk's Old Parish Church is among the first in the far north to have unstable tombstones and other memorials cordoned off by wooden barriers. Mr Warner is pressing Highland Council to carry out work to stabilise the memorials. He is also unhappy with the general maintenance of the old graveyard, which along with the ruined kirk, dates back to the mid-18th century.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
posted at 9:34 PM

Celtic fans were meeting Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson in Glasgow today to continue the discussions over sectarianism in football. The move comes less than a fortnight before First Minister Jack McConnell's summit on bigotry is staged in Glasgow.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
posted at 9:32 PM

The parish cake sale or sponsored swim has just got serious. According to a report, voluntary and charitable work by faith groups in the north-west of England are worth nearly £95m to the region every year. Some 45,677 Christians, Muslims and Buddhists, among others, work more than 8 million hours a year for free in community work, counselling or education in the region. Their efforts save local authorities, businesses and individuals an estimated £65m a year in wages, according to the report based on a survey of every place of worship in the region by the North West Development Agency.
Source: The Guardian.
posted at 9:24 PM

Details about three key Scottish ecumenical events have been released: 'Looking to New Horizons' in Perth on March 12, the first Local Ecumenical Partnerships Gathering in Livingston on November 25, and the Scottish Ecumenical Gathering in Perth on 17 June 2006.
Source: Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) news.
posted at 10:48 AM

Churches are being encouraged to host 'Question Time' hustings meetings for general election candidates. Resources and guidance to plan the meetings are downloadable from a new web site, www.churcheselection.org.uk.
Source: Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) news.
posted at 10:42 AM

Simmering tensions over the troubled merger of Scotland's only Catholic teacher training college with one of the country's leading universities have resurfaced after the appointment of a new dean. A former director of research at Glasgow University's faculty of education has now accused his former superiors of mismanaging the merger with St Andrew's College. Stephen Baron, who resigned last summer to become the new professor of education at Strathclyde University, said the appointment late last year of Dr James Conroy as dean elect of the faculty was the latest example of the domination of the ethos of the former Catholic college.
Source: The Herald.
posted at 10:38 AM

His Christian faith has restored Peter Howson, and had a secondary benefit: his recent, openly Christian work has proved to be a phenomenal success with deeply religious art buyers in the US. The artist's new images feature startling and complex images of Christ, frenetic apocalyptic scenes of chaos and mayhem.
Source: The Herald.
posted at 10:35 AM

The group set up along with the parliament to represent Scotland's civic organisations has warned its director, Debbie Wilkie, that she faces redundancy because the Scottish Executive has not agreed to continued funding. The Scottish Civic Forum was intended to be a vital part of the new devolution institutions, as an umbrella body for unions, churches, the voluntary sector and community organisations.
Source: The Herald.
posted at 10:21 AM

A former Moderator of the General Assembly, the Very Rev Dr Finlay Macdonald, is to return to Dundee this weekend in order to preach from his late father's former pulpit. He will represent the current Moderator, Dr Alison Elliot, at a special service to mark the 175th anniversary of the opening of the Lochee Old and St Luke's church building for worship.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
posted at 1:58 PM

A special Mass was celebrated today by Cardinal Keith O'Brien in St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh for the Feast of the Presentation - Candelmas Day - during which he asked for prayers to be said for the Pope's health. Cardinal O'Brien said: "As Jesus was a light to the world, so we thank God for the light which the Pope has given to so many people throughout his 27 years of service as a Christian leader. And we pray that the light of his teaching may continue to spread throughout the world, especially in places where there is the darkness of war and unrest, of disease and suffering".
Source: Scottish Catholic Media Office news release.
posted at 11:43 PM

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Dr Alison Elliot, addressed the Scottish Parliament today during Parliament's 'Time for Reflection'.
Source: Church of Scotland news release.
posted at 11:41 PM

Roman Catholic priest Father James Duddy walked free from Hamilton Sheriff Court after charges of using lewd and libidinous behaviour towards two 10-year-old girls were dismissed after one of his accusers failed to appear to give evidence.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow.
posted at 11:38 PM

Pulteneytown Parish Church in Wick, well known for its work with children and young people, has celebrated its continuing development by opening a new coffee bar in the courtyard/reception area. Rev Bill Wallace said: "People have been encouraged to come from different parts of the country to see how an 1842 building can be tastefully adapted for the needs of a modern 21st century church."
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal.
posted at 11:32 PM

A 100-year-old church hall in Haddington is to reopen as the Trinity community centre. The Rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, the Rev Andrew Bain, said: "The whole project has been a collaboration between Church and community. The building fulfils its purpose as a vibrant centre for community life."
Source: Scottish Episcopal Church news release.
posted at 11:25 PM

Obituary of Rowland Dalgliesh, former rector of Annan Academy and a reader in the Church of Scotland.
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 11:17 PM

Angus Glennie QC, who since 2000 has been part-time Procurator to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, is one of five new judges appointed to the Court of Session.
Source: Scottish Executive news release.
posted at 11:12 PM

An election is to be held for the position of Bishop of Brechin in the Scottish Episcopal Church following the retirement of the Rt Rev Neville Chamberlain. The deadline for submitting names for the vacancy is 18 February.
Source: Scottish Episcopal Church news release.
posted at 7:09 PM

Cardinal Keith O'Brien has returned home after a pastoral visit to Chiapas in Mexico accompanied by Father Tommy Greenan, Monsignor David Gemmell and Father Henry McLaughlin.
Source: Scottish Catholic Media Office news release.
posted at 7:05 PM

The United Reformed Church is seeking signatures on a petition to save a Zimbabwean rape victim from being deported back to her homeland from Britain.
Source: United Reformed Church Synod of Scotland.
posted at 7:02 PM

A trinity of churches in the Paisley area is still looking to find a new minister months after the posts became vacant. The Laigh Kirk and St Mark's Oldhall, in Paisley, and Elderslie Kirk have still to find preachers. Rev David Kay, clerk to the Presbytery of Greenock and Paisley, said the churches were still waiting to find the right men or women to take on the roles.
Source: Paisley Daily Express.
posted at 6:46 PM

The people that dwelt in darkness - or at least those who attend John Wesley's first chapel in Bristol - have seen a great light. Today, after the chapel's redecoration, they will see for the first time in more than two centuries how the founder of Methodism meant their chapel to look: bathed in white, not the gloomy green they have been accustomed to.
Source: The Guardian.
posted at 6:46 PM

Archaeologists may have found the home of St Baldred of the Bass, one of the best known monks of 8th century Scotland. Relics from one of the first settlements at North Berwick suggest the hermit lived at Anchor Green, next to the site of the Scottish Seabird Centre at the town's harbour.
Source: The Scotsman.
posted at 6:45 PM