Cardinal urges the Executive to heed US moral victory
Nov 11, 2004
Catholic Church speaks out as a force for political change in Scotland in wake of Bush win.
(Sundayherald online, 07 November 2004) The leader of Scotland’s Catholic Church will today signal the start of a moral battle with politicians by warning MSPs to take heed of the American reassertion of Christian values.
At a mass due to be delivered in Portobello this morning Cardinal Keith O’Brien will claim voters will no longer tolerate ‘‘political elites’’ who ignore religious and moral beliefs.
He will tell Scottish politicians that they “would do well to cast their eyes across the Atlantic. The recent elections in the US show how willing people can be to vote on issues such as ‘moral values’.”
In his Mass the Cardinal will highlight the current furore over the Executive’s troubled sexual health strategy, focusing on teenage conception rates and the controversial initiatives to tackle them.
He says: “I speak to you … realising that all too often the moral values promoted here by our political and media elites are rarely the values handed on in missionary lands. I have no reason to suspect that the moral values of most Scots do not remain close to those self same forbears – sadly, however, they are values rarely reflected in our mass media or by our politicians.
“However well intentioned the actions of our medical professionals may be … the fact remains that our current approaches in this area risk undermining the morality of a generation.
“We are in danger of denying our young people the guidance and the tools they need to be able to make sound moral judgements about how they behave. We are casting them adrift on a sea of moral relativism, where an “anything goes” philosophy prevails.
“This is a dismal prospect – not just for them – but for all of us. Without the morality and stability that belief in marriage, the family and fidelity bring, there can be no society. Without the stable building block of marriage and the family we face a perilous and uncertain future.”
The Cardinal will admit that his predictions may seem “frightening and pessimistic” and will also acknowledge that “here in Scotland I know I will have my critics.” However, echoing his warning to politicians, he will reassure his congregation that “I feel confident that my concerns are widely held.
“When a majority of Scots disapprove or disagree with current approaches in this field … [then] I think it is incumbent on our politicians to listen and respond.”
Cardinal urges the Executive to heed US moral victory