Scottish Catholic Observer

What a privilege to hear Cardinal Charles Maung Bo speak at several events in Scotland this week. Not only has he provided us with a personal insight into the infancy of democracy in Burma (Myanmar) and the vital role the Church has to play there between ethnic groups, he has also heard of the origins and progress of interfaith relations in Glasgow, a model he will surely take back home.

“Please us your liberty to promote ours,” he urged participants at an interfaith reception at Glasgow City Chambers on Monday when he explained after 100 years of British rule there were five decades of ‘calvary’ before democracy was achieved. The cardinal’s audience heard that while the military in his home country recognised the democratic election result last year, a percentage of seats and ministries are still reserved for them.

During the many events on the cardinal’s Scottish itinerary, including stops in Motherwell and Edinburgh, he spoke of human rights, freedom of religion, service of the poor and the integrity of creation.

Archbishop Mario Conti, Archbishop Emeritus of Glasgow, who welcomed Burma’s first cardinal to Glasgow at Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Sunday night, remains at the heart of interfaith dialogue in spite of his official retirement. The archbishop said he was ‘glad that there are people addressing spiritual poverty’ at home and abroad as poverty comes in many forms, not only physical, social and cultural.

In light of the World Day for Communications, it was enlightening to hear Cardinal Bo’s account of Burma’s vibrant free media, new freedom of expression, freedom of belief and the right to worship.

As Ronnie Convery, director of communications for Glasgow Archdiocese, said for everyone who heard Cardinal Bo speak this week, Burma will retain a special place in their hearts even after it slips from the headlines.

Backers of his visit, Aid to the Church in Need, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Missio Scotland and SCIAF certainly hope so.

As Archbishop Conti said: “From the beginning the better-off churches have helped the weaker.”

Burma is a missionary Church, Cardinal Bo remains positive about democracy and the future of the Church in his country but he asks for our prayers and support. In return he offers his own.

“The greater the darkness, the stronger the need to light a candle of hope all over the world,” he said.

Pic: Paul McSherry