Scottish Catholic Observer

The Catholic Church in Scotland has welcomed a speech by Scotland’s justice minister that said anti-Catholicism is an extremely serious issue.

Speaking at the Scottish National Party’s annual conference, Humza Yousaf, a Muslim, addressed anti-Catholicism during his speech on Sunday October 7 in Glasgow.

The Glasgow Pollok MSP said: “Immigrants have contributed so much to our country; economically, academically, through their culture and art and even through their cuisine—and thank God for it!

“But let’s not kid ourselves either: unfortunately, there come moments when we witness just how ingrained and systemic some of that hatred is.”

He referenced an anti-Catholic remark made by a senior Labour official at the recent Labour conference, and said ‘anti-Catholicism is an extremely serious issue and it is important that Labour treats it as such.’

“The Catholic community is an integral and valued part of Scottish life,” he added.

“Everyone who stands for a Scotland where bigotry and sectarianism have no place, and where we positively embrace diversity, must unite to condemn actions like that—regardless of party. Labour will be judged by their actions—which so far have been found to be wanting.

“Whether it is anti-Catholicism, anti-Protestantism, anti-Semitism, Islamaphobia or any other hatred—it has no place in Scotland.”

Writing in last week’s SCO, Labour leader Richard Leonard said Mr Kerr’s comments were ‘completely unacceptable and I condemn them unequivocally.’

A spokesman for the Catholic Church said: “The acknowledgement from the justice secretary Humza Yousaf that anti-Catholicism is a serious issue in Scotland is to be welcomed.

“Until now the Scottish Government have refused to use the term anti-Catholic to describe certain behaviours, preferring to use diffuse and generic terms like ‘sectarianism.’

“The Church hopes this targeted approach will be reflected in future campaigns to tackle anti-Catholic hate crime.”