Scottish Catholic Observer

By Cardinal O’Brien

This edition of The Scottish Catholic Observer at Christmas time will perhaps now be looking back over the last year and contemplating some of the challenges in the year ahead. There have been many things in the life of our country which have perhaps caused us some dismay over this past year—or even horror at the thought of them. However, there have been other events which have given us great joy. At this time, at the end of the year, we might ask whether or not Scotland is now a better place in which to live and bring up one’s family;  or rather is it not the place we had hoped it would be!

Our Scottish Government has, in many instances, strived to improve the standard of living in Scotland and indeed tried to help us face a brighter future in our country. There has been progress with regards to alcohol pricing, the offensive behaviour bill, along with attempts to curb senseless sectarianism. And, in Westminster, statements have been made on the proposed reform regarding the Act of Settlement;  while worries at all levels have occurred with regard to the Euro and the increasing financial crisis. A mass strike of public service workers on St Andrew’s Day reminded us all of people’s awareness of their own needs and those of their families, as they try to live at their present level or increase their standard of living. But there has been in our country at times an awareness that the ‘ordinary working person’ has been treated unfairly, compared with those involved in big business, banking etc.  We could say that the view of many people is quite simply that the rich are getting richer, while the poor are becoming poorer.

On a spiritual level, I like to think the concerns of many have focused in a particular way on our young people over this past year.  At the World Youth Day, led by Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid, young people from each of our eight Scottish dioceses were present.  Further, just a few months ago, the new national syllabus in Religious Education, recently approved by Rome, was launched—and this national launch is being followed by diocesan launches throughout Scotland.

The spiritual life of each one of us has been affected by the preparations for the use of the New Translation of the Missal and then the full introduction of its use on the First Sunday of Advent.  Many initial fears have been calmed and more and more priests and people are discovering a new depth of spirituality in the new translations, helping us to deepen in our faith.

However, there are still major concerns about ‘life’ itself—both with regard to the beginning and end of life, as well as our journey through life.  The numbers of abortions in our country have not decreased in the ways in which we would have liked;  and there is still a concern about attempts to increase availability of assisted suicide. I received a letter from an elderly lady in England, asking me if she could come into a Catholic care home in our country, as she was frightened that she would be put to death as her age increased.

Of course, the greatest problem facing us over the last few months was with regard to the Sacrament of Matrimony—that consideration be given as to whether or not same-sex unions could be dignified by the title of ‘marriage.’ The voices of our Catholic community were heard loudly and clearly, especially at the campaign outside the Scottish Parliament on St Andrew’s Day, entitled:  ‘Scotland for Marriage.’  The Bishops of Scotland strongly emphasised that no government can redefine the nature of the human family—to do so would bestow on the Government power which threatens the freedom of all.

My particular thoughts, as we prepare to move into our New Year of 2012, are positive ones.  I think back to those words of Pope Benedict XVI in his Christmas message last year when he stated:  “What the celebration of Christmas proposes to us, besides examples to imitate, such as the Lord’s humility and poverty or His benevolence or love of human beings, is to let ourselves be totally transformed by the One who took on our flesh.” And to those thoughts we could also add those of St John in the first chapter of his Gospel when he states:  “But to all who did accept Him, He gave power to become children or God… the Word was made flesh, He lived among us.’

Strengthened by the power of Jesus Christ in our midst, we must indeed be ‘totally transformed by Him, who took on our flesh.’  We do have a wonderful vocation—strengthened by our lives of prayer and our union with Christ in the Mass.  We must continue both to live our faith and to hand on our faith wherever we are, whether that message is ‘welcome or unwelcome’ and whether it is ‘in season or out of season’.

When questioned recently by an interviewer at a Scotland for Marriage rally I was asked how it compared with other campaigns which I have led to the Scottish Parliament.

I spoke about that campaign in which hundreds of thousands took part when we encircled Edinburgh with marchers, as we attempted to ‘Make Poverty History.’ And I indicated that now, as Christians, we have become aware of another campaign in our midst, which we completely oppose, namely that to: ‘Make Morality History.’

As Christians we must begin this New Year with a greater strength than ever, aware of our own Christian lives and our Christian heritage. We must be determined that Scotland can indeed be and will be the place of which we are intensely proud and in which we will continue to bring up our children and our children’s children, according to the laws of God and of His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, born in a stable at Bethlehem and still ‘God with us.’