General
By Martin Kelly
Scottish Secretary of State Michael Moore is this evening facing calls to explain why Scotland’s most senior Catholic was not invited to join an official UK delegation on a visit to meet with Pope Benedict XVI.
The official Vatican trip, arranged by the UK Foreign Office, included the head of the Catholic Church in England & Wales, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, but no invite was extended to Scotland’s Cardinal O’Brien.
Cardinal O’Brien, as well as being the most senior clergyman in Scotland, is also the head of the Church in the UK – outranking the Archbishop of Westminster who was personally invited by UK Cabinet Minister Baroness Warsi.
The trip, which took place today, saw the Tory Peer Warsi and other UK Ministers including Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Alan Duncan the Minister for International Development, meet with Vatican officials in face to face talks.
British Ambassador Nigel Baker was also present at the meeting which saw the Pope receive a message from the Queen and a letter from UK PM David Cameron.
Peter Kearney, of the Scottish Catholic Media Office said: “This is a very unfortunate oversight on the part of the UK Government to have pulled together a high level delegation to visit the Holy See to have an audience with the Pope and not, ironically, to have included Britain’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal Keith O’Brien.”
It is understood Cardinal O’Brien only learned of the planned visit last Thursday. Asked why Cardinal O’Brien had not been invited, Michael Moore claimed that it was up to the Vatican to invite him.
However Mr Moore will surely face questions after it emerged that Archbishop Nichols was officially invited by a UK Government Minister. There will also be questions for the UK Government to answer given that the visit was clearly seen as a very high level delegation representing the Queen and the UK PM.
An outspoken figure, Cardinal O’Brien has made his views known on many issues from same sex marriage to nuclear weapons on the Clyde.
The snub will fuel speculation that the Cardinal’s views on Scottish independence may have been behind the invitation oversight.
The senior Clergyman is on record as saying he would be “happy” if Scots voted for independence and that it would be coming “before too long”.
Moore caught out lying again
What a surprise
Looks more, to me, as if Moore is already accepting that Scotland IS an independent country and should thus be the one to invite the RC Hecht Heid Ane. Not for the first time has Moore’s actions shown that he Thinks England is independent of not only Scotland but of the United Kingdom. After all did invite what HE THOUGH OF as the Hight Head One of the English Roman Catholic Church – not that of the UK.
Hi RaboRuglen,
Have been here a few weeks though haven’t posted much. But thanks for the welcome.
Their tactics are completely bizarre. However I wonder if it simply didn’t occur to them that a Scottish Cardinal could be head of the UK Catholic Church.
They think we are all wee frees up here
Hi RaboRuglen,
Have been here a few weeks though haven’t posted much. But thanks for the welcome.
Their tactics are completely bizarre. However I wonder if it simply didn’t occur to them that a Scottish Cardinal could be head of the UK Catholic Church.
Surely the Archbishop of Yes Minister could have put them right?
However I wonder if it simply didn’t occur to them that a Scottish Cardinal could be head of the UK Catholic Church.
As a protestant catholic (practising but largely failing and usually non attending) I didn’t know that. However the UK gov employ people to ensure diplomatic etiquette is assured. How come they didn’t know? Answers on the back of a fag packet….
Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if the first words the Pope uttered were ” Oi Moore mush, where’s our much loved O’Brian?” In Latin of course, to keep with the spirit of the occasion you understand.
There is no UK Catholic church. The Catholic church in England and Wales is entirely separate administrativel y from the Catholic church in Scotland. The Scottish Catholic hierarchy answers directly to the Vatican as a “special daughter of the Church”.
If that’s the case what’s Michael Moore got to do with it?
There is no UK Catholic church. The Catholic church in England and Wales is entirely separate administrativel y from the Catholic church in Scotland. The Scottish Catholic hierarchy answers directly to the Vatican as a “special daughter of the Church”.
As I posted on another thread, I as a non practising member of the Church of Scotland, am still fully aware that a Cardinal is the highest rank in the Church of Rome, under the Pope. So, how did this Warsi woman not know that? My only conclusion is that she did know and the inclusion of the English Archbishop was a deliberate snub to Cardinal O’Brien and the uppity Scots.
Maybe she’s been reading her history, and learned that one of the main supporters of Scottish independence during the 13th century wars, was the Church (aw Kaffliks, nae Proddies at that time). So she thinks Cardinal O’Brien will team up with Canon Kenyon Wright on the side of the “separationists”.
The unionists are operating on the whipped dog principal. The more you whip it, or in this case ignore it’s existence, the more it crawls after you to seek your recognition and affection.
Yes, I think you’re right. The Cardinal was probably excluded purposely on the arrogant assumption that the Scots need to be constantly reminded that they are too small to participate in matters international or of any import.
And weary Wullie is again given a platform to let us ken how we are better off being subservient
Aye!
——————
“Scotland’s global economic impact came as being a strong part of the UK”.
“Far from giving Scotland more influence over the global economy, splitting Scotland from the UK would give us less.”
—————————————–
Do you think that this fits in with his ‘Home Rule’ stuff.
OH! Whatever happened to the Lib/Dum think tank about home rule?
It’s time they were all rooted out and some decent folk with real principles started standing for the Lib/Dums.
Alexander’s bus for Rennie!
O/T
I wonder why the Wall St. Journal is taking such a huge interest in the affairs of Scotland.
I counted 3 seperate articles on Scotland and it’s economy today.
This one :-http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204880 404577224831981313426.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
was posted by Ruth Porter (London school of economics) has a couple of well worn myths embeded. Someone should take the time to set the journal straight. Any bidders?
Hen Broon has opened up on her ;O)))))
O/T
Just heard John McFall saying the SG should take Rangers hand what he means I can’t make out don’t know if he was saying it is AS fault.
Am I the only one who thinks that Mr. Salmond,so far, is the only commentator to have said anything remotely sensible about this whole Rangers thing…..
…It’s a plain and simple snub by ‘call me Dave’s political cleek’….
You mean “clique” – a “cleek” is a tool I used to rake middens with when I was an inquisitive wean.
Oh wait a minute – you might be right enough!!
Quoting call me dave:
…It’s a plain and simple snub by ‘call me Dave’s political cleek’….
You mean “clique” – a “cleek” is a tool I used to rake middens with when I was an inquisitive wean.
Oh wait a minute – you might be right enough!!
Thanks for that Harry.
It sounded right when I wrote it although it looked strange I must admit.
Golf club flitted through my mind at the time too!
#:)
Clique
CMD
Did you no run the streets with your girr and cleek as well
Aye (it’s all coming out now)
I called it a gird with a permanent wee circular link onto a handle.
Said uncle in the Burntisland shipyard (see above) made one for me and one for my brother with our names stamped on too!
My mother used to ‘speak proper’ and was always directing me away from the Scots words! Miners rows to pre-fabs and then a nice 3 bedroomed hoose!
Then off to fly on my own!
great times