Scottish Catholic Observer

Let us be clear. In the face of fear, hatred, and despondency two million young Catholics gave a great roar of joy in Krakow last week.

They joined Pope Francis in an event that was a rebuke to their elders, a rebuke to everyone prone to fretting over the future.

We have given over much of the paper to that celebration this week, because it is crucially important to remember that joy, that celebration. The pictures from World Youth Day are extraordinary because they speak to that joy in a way words can’t. Yet, this was no mere celebratory jamboree. There is also the sense of real inspiration. As Pope Francis said in one of his more inspirational homilies, we must remain open.

“Jesus wants hearts that are open and tender towards the weak, never hearts that are hardened,” he said. “He wants docile and transparent hearts that do not dissimulate before those whom the Church appoints as our guides. Disciples do not hesitate to ask questions, they have the courage to face their misgivings and bring them to the Lord, to their formators and superiors, without calculations or reticence.” We must be open but also courageous. These virtues are what we see in those pictures of Krakow, the legacy of which will stay with those young people for the rest of their lives.

The Scottish Government’s Named Person scheme is contentious. It provokes fierce debate between its critics—the more extreme of which claim it is Stasi-esque—and its most passionate defenders, who proclaim it the greatest legislation ever enacted. The trust is of course in between the extremes and the Church’s position on this has been wise. While acknowledging the good intentions underpinning the law, they have continually, and measuredly warned that it overreaches, and undermines families.

That view was vindicated by the Supreme Court this week. This newspaper’s view is that the Scottish Government should use this as an opportunity to revisit the whole law and look again at its premises.

It’s worth recalling that it initially passed the Scottish Parliament without a single vote against. Yet such was the public outcry since, it’s become Scotland’s most contentious policy. That is because many parents, of all faiths and none, rather than seeing the state as an assistant and supporter, are frightened and wary of it.

This is the larger issue that underpins this whole affair. The bigger question, that politicians are loath to tackle, is why do Scottish parents fear services meant to help them?