Scots MP: Debate Needed on Future of “Damaging” Catholic Schools…
From the Scottish Catholic Observer…
MP’s comments on Catholic education ‘very disappointing’
The director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service has described comments made last week by MP Mhairi Black (pictured, left) on Catholic schools are ‘very disappointing.’
Barbara Coupar, SCES director, spoke following a report by the Sunday Herald, which claimed the SNP MP had said there should be a debate on the future of Catholic schools in Scotland.
The Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP, who herself attended a Catholic school, reportedly made the comments in a interview at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and offered a ‘personal’ view on the subject.
When asked if she and the SNP believed it was good for the future of Scotland to have children educated along religious lines, she said debate was needed, the Sunday Herald reported.
“Just when I am thinking of some of the damage that was done to me in an LGBT sense, growing up, [that] is something that I wouldn’t want any other child to ever have to suffer, ever again,” she said. “That’s a debate that has to happen.
“What the answer to that debate is I honestly don’t know.”
Ms Black shared her views during an ‘in conversation’ event at the Fringe on August 4 with journalist Graham Speirs, at which she discussed a number of other subjects including her scepticism on having another EU referendum.
Her comments come two months after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon publicly voiced her support for Scotland’s Catholic schools, in what is the centenary year for the provision Catholic state education in Scotland.
Mrs Coupar has expressed her disappointment with Ms Black’s remarks.
She said: “The comments which MP Mhairi Black reportedly made on Catholic schools are very disappointing and I’m sure that Catholics within her Paisley constituency will also be upset by them.
“Her views seem to be a stark contrast to that of her boss, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who only a few months ago gave a very public backing of Catholic schools when she delivered the Cardinal Winning Lecture at Glasgow University.
“We have always felt very supported by the Scottish Government, especially this year when we marked 100 years of the Catholic Education Act.
“Therefore, it is somewhat perplexing that Ms Black would make such comments which show complete contradiction to the SNP public stance on the place of Catholic schools in Scotland and their ongoing, excellent contribution to Scottish society.”
Delivering the Cardinal Winning Lecture at Glasgow University in June this year, the First Minister spoke of how state-funded Catholic schools helped to ‘shape modern Scotland for the better,’ praising the 1918 Education (Scotland) Act as a ‘national success story’ and a ‘very courageous and far-sighted compromise’ between the Church and state ‘with very few parallels elsewhere.’
“When you consider the immense contribution the Catholic community as a whole has made to Scotland in the last century, it seems to me to be inarguable that the settlement arrived at in 1918 is one which brought benefits, not just to the Catholic Faith, but to all of us,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“The Scottish Government is an unequivocal supporter of Catholic schools. We value the contribution that Catholic schools make to modern Scotland. We want that contribution to continue in the years ahead.”
She said that celebrating the centenary of the Act was important because ‘100 years on, you are an important and valued part of Scottish life.’ “As we do so, we should celebrate the progress the legislation enabled. We should appreciate the contribution Catholic education makes to modern Scotland. And we should endeavour to work even harder to raise standards in Catholic schools and all schools.” Source
Comment:
Miss Black is somewhat behind the times or she would know that the Scottish Catholic Education Service has long caved in to the demands of the LGBT lobby; as a result, “safe spaces” for allegedly homosexual pupils are to be found in Catholic schools. And the staff in Catholic schools are highly unlikely to be causing “damage” to pupils who allegedly “identify” in this way, by passing on Catholic teaching (which is nothing more than repeating the natural moral law) out of fear of being accused of “hate speech”, so it seems that, while Miss Black is right to call for a debate on the future of Catholic schools, she’s got the wrong reason for so doing. A debate is necessary because Catholic schools are failing to do what they were established to do – pass on the Catholic religion, including true morals, which, in turn, would mean an end to “safe spaces” for those intent on rewriting the moral law. Here we go round the Mulberry bush… Share your thoughts…
Comments (22)
Mhairi Black MP is a contrived identity politics candidate, her advancement in politics is down entirely to her sexuality and the SNP desire to virtue signal. Accordingly, her comments should not be taken too seriously.
She claims her experience at a Catholic school was “damaging” yet goes on to say (see link below) “To be really honest with you I actually don’t really remember much of the details” which obviously means she has nothing to substantiate her attack on the school.
She can remember the “damage done to her” but – oddly -not why which mechanism it occured. A less generous poster than I (haha!) might call her a liar. One might think she fails to give evidence, for fear that someone would likely contradict her.
All should could ultimately offer was that people (pupils) were “talking about her”. I am sure that is an experience which the vast majority of school children experience and fret about, at some time. (For example, my own good looks were always the talk of the steamie at high school 😛 haha!)
I think we can safely put this episode down to the kinds of spite and attention seeking which are often associated with homosexuals and motivated by their resentment of Catholic teaching.
Ms Black betrays her intellect when she told the interviewer that she was not aware that other religious schools did not exist until her third year of university .
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/mhairi-black-calls-debate-catholic-13032854
It be remarkable that someone could get almost to the stage of graduation, without recognition of some of the basic facts about the society s/he lives in. But unfortunately, for Mhairi, she makes a fool of herself her because in Scotland there are Jewish (1) and Episcopal (3) state Schools, and every non-denominational school is. technically at least, nominally protestant (as the name indicates).
It is very unsettling to see this level of ignorance in an elected representative and we can see the problems caused when people are selected as candidates based on identity politics, as opposed to their personal talents / experience.
And isn’t it strange how no-one ever calls for debate on existence of the Jewish and Episcopal Schools? It’s almost as if the schools are just used a vehicle for attacking the Catholic Church / “stirring the pot”.
As usual, when someone attempts to menace the existence of Catholic schools in Scotland, they ignore the fact that access to faith (or other value based) schooling is a recognised human right.
That said, I voted above for a debate because the schools are dismal at teaching the fail. RE owes more to pleasing secular politicians, than it does to transmitting Catholic doctrine.
What use are Catholic schools even if they are good – students who go on to Glasgow university are faced with a chaplaincy that on the website, under links, has only one link to a “Catholic newspaper online” and that is The Tablet! It’s unbelievable. Never heard of the priest chaplain but he’s obviously on the opposite side of the fight for the faith in this Church crisis, so, all I can say is, poor students.
I’m glad Gabriel Syme clarified this woman’s politico-sexual-wacko disorder, which puts her comments in the proper perspective: lies, innuendo, delusion and rubbish. But, as usual, the ideal fresh meat for the anti-Catholic media sharks, always circling looking for more blood.
I don’t know anything about the SNP, or who that young woman is in the leadoff picture (Barbara Coupar? Mhairi Black?), but the slogan on the SNP banner behind her stopped me in my tracks: “Stronger for Scotland.”
Why? Hillary Clinton’s campaign slogan in 2016 was “Stronger Together.”
RCA Victor,
The photo in the introduction is of Mhairi Black – I’ve now added that into the intro, so thank you for the alert. I forget that not everyone across the world knows the names of all the SNP MPs, and would recognise them on sight. What ARE they teaching in schools these days?!
Incredible!
German Catholic bishops’ website applauds young Catholics at GayPride (source MPI)
They are Germans, live in Stuttgart and are called Katholische junge Gemeinde (KjG), that is Young Catholic Parishioners. Their particularity: they decided to participate in the GayPride of their city as a Catholic group.
The slogans that they screamed belong to the stereotypical repertoire of the rainbow world and the ‘homohérésie’ on the march in the conciliar Church:
“God made you like that and He loves you as you are”, “The pope loves you as you are”, “You must be happy as you are”,
and other rallying cries of similar content. In order to have good conscience and theological support, these sexually correct young people have not even hesitated in the face of blasphemy:
“Jesus had … two fathers.”
Katholisch.de ( ), the site of the German Bishops, applauded this KjG initiative and gave a space to lgbt propaganda by giving the floor to Miriam Lay, a member of the diocesan leadership of this youth movement:
“God loves everyone regardless of their own sex or sexual orientation. Many know only the conservative position of the Church. We want to change it”,
said this ayatollah of the rainbow cause.
The organizers of the GayPride have for their part benefited from this great opportunity offered to them to advance their demands in the Catholic world by giving a prize to this group KjG which has about 3000 members. They motivated their choice by emphasizing that these young people contributed significantly to the themes of “reception”, “acceptance” and “equality”.
And the bishop of Stuttgart, facing this visibly provocative and rowdy campaign of the diocesan group, remained … a deafening silence.
To remind these young people, who call themselves Catholics but practice a new religion ‘homohérétique’, the only Catholic doctrine on sin, the sinner, on these moral and sexual issues does not seem to be a priority mission for the Church in Germany more sensitive to the drama of ‘migrants’ than to the drama of souls seduced by the diabolical fashion against nature.
In the name of the new ‘spirit of the gospel’ liberal-libertarian proclaimed by the Argentine Pope, the pressure of gaystapo crushes any hint of resistance!
Francesca de Villasmundo
http://www.medias-presse.info/le-site-des-eveques-catholiques-allemands-applaudit-les-jeunes-catholiques-presents-a-la-gaypride/96338/
(À : United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Mercredi 8 août 2018 à 23h51)
Paris, le 23 février 2010
Regarding the scandal of “pedophilia”, it is the just consequence of the permissive current having occurred in the 1970s and that many faithful Catholics have denounced in vain…
From when I was a schoolboy, I do not remember having seen such behaviour, we did not even speak of this… This is still another fruit of the Vatican II Council!
The good Lord always has His time to get Justice! Remember the disastrous Father Oraison who had rebelled against the Pope because of “the obstinacy of the Holy Father in wishing to maintain the morality within the Church”! I remember that at the parish of the Assumption in Paris in the 16th district, at the exit of the Mass, the clergy swung to our face the encyclical “Humanae Vitae” that we were distributing. And the abandonment of the cassock as regards the bishops and priests and of the sackcloth as for the monks!…
The enemies of the Church and particularly of the Priesthood mock at us on all these serious breaches of morals… They are less exuberant when they themselves are concerned, as it is noticing when it comes to either Roman Polanski or Frederic Mitterrand or Daniel Cohn-Bendit etc…!
It is true that as regards the Church, it is reasonable to expect different behaviour!…
Obviously, this is a great scandal in which the good priests, who are in majority, are unjustly charged and the consequences on many faithful who question correctly, not to mention the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, who has much in suffering of this…
Please let us pray for all their intentions!
Lionel,
Have you read The Pink Swastika? That explains a lot about the Germans….
I have got no idea on the issue… However, I shall investigate.
Thank you, RCA Victor! LD
Mhari Black is living in fantasy land if she thinks that Catholic schools promote anything other than the mainstream, politically correct, stance of the modern world with regards to homosexuality. Very recently, Catholic school children were asked what kind of school they wanted their school to be and the “values” that came too were, “openness, welcoming, and equality”.
Catholic teachers are completely “on message” too. Teachers openly discuss living with their unmarried partners and openly show their support for the LGBT cause. For example, a Catholic school recently held a “bridal shower” for a homosexual member of staff.
So, I really don’t know what Mhari Black is worried about because Catholic schools are certainly not promoting anything other than total acceptance of homosexuality.
I would certainly agree with you on that . There is a Girl in my so called Outer Family who is a Lesbian. I personally have only seen her at my Nephews Sons Baptism. She was chewing Gum throughout the service although this is certainly not an isolated thing with Lapsed or even practicing Catholics. That on the day She was to be the Godmother and that she was showing no respect for the Sacrament was enough for me . By the way at this particular time she had a Boyfriend. My Brother has asked me not to say anything if or when she is ever in my company which will be rare and asked me how I would feel if any of my Granddaughters turned out to be Lesbians. I said that I would have no problem as in probably 10 years time it will be Compulsory Anyhow.
FOOF
“…I would have no problem …as in probably 10 years time it will be compulsory anyhow.”
Priceless! That’s the FOOF we know and love – makes us laugh (not have to look up quotes on charity! )
Here’s a joke to make YOU laugh (I hope!)
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/84/3d/78/843d78d74a9cc231e994c85983b7310e–memes-funny-lol-ha-ha-funny.jpg
Ed I know we as Catholics have to try to lead by example but am really sorry as far as am concerned now ( and I know deep down Your the same) the gloves are off . As for me av lived like yourself a fairly good life . Av seen the Hard Times. The Very Very Hard Times and seen the Very Good Times also . When I made the comment of Homosexuality being Compulsory I was half joking and Full serious. As for going on about looks yes I was wrong about that and apologise but sometimes looks on a Person do not have to be beautiful to be Pretty or even Handsome ( myself excluded From that at least the Handsome part ) . As an example if you look at Women of Girls at a First Communion who only go to Church at that time you can tell the dress code from the ones who are Catholics to the ones whom think it’s a day out . Unfortunately my own Daughter comes under that and attended a couple of First Communions this year . I warned her that in Know way as she is not a Practicing Catholic unfortunately should she receive the Eucharist. I also have Granddaughters and it’s them I fear for from the Homosexual Transgender Mob and you know it’s the Kids that their after . As for my comments on Black being against Catholic Schools our Bishops Should be putting her down right away but as for the other comments I agree about lots of Our Catholic Teachers they have gone down the Marxist Everybody goes to Heaven route also . I fact I was talking to a Male Teacher whe attended a school Prizegiving who you probably know but he said all that was played over and over was John Lennons Imagine. He spoke to the Head Teacher of the School and asked if something more Appropriately Catholic could be played She said No and in his Words said that that was the way the World should be . It’s scary that People like her are having a vast say in our Children’s Future both Spiritually Physically and of course Morally. God Bless .
Whistleblower,
It’s frightening that Catholic teachers are “on message” since the Coalition for Marriage is reporting that the Scottish Government has plans for schools to tell pupils as young as five, from next year, that they may choose their gender.
Chilling.
I personally didn’t know that this Terrible so called Politician was a Homosexual Lesbian although I should have . It seems ( in fact it’s a fact ) that most of the SNP MPs prefer the Homosexual Lifestyle to a Normal Lifestyle that this one used to be a Catholic again is no surprise our own kind turned against us are the worst. One only has to look at the Shinners ( Sinn Fein ) across the water whom are nearly now all Marxist but of whom probably 100% of their MPs went to Catholic Schools. Of course now what comes out of their mouths is well look at the Scandals Etc . So she wants to ban Catholic Schools. Maybe she got to close to Patrick Harvie when she was coming through the Political ranks. Of course he’s vehemently opposed to Catholic Schools.
FOOF
I’ve had to edit your post to remove some crudity and personal remarks. No need to be nasty. I can’t say anything about your “looks”, and I’m no glamour queen (as you will know from the videos) but looks don’t matter, not to a real Catholic who does not judge anything or anyone on such superficial grounds.
I’m actually having to think twice about posting any blog on the topic of homosexuality since I’ve been quite appalled at some remarks in comments recently. It seems there are those who think homosexuals are not to be on the receiving end of even the most elementary good manners, let alone Christian charity. They (yourself, e.g.) seem to think it’s acceptable to speak crudely and unkindly of homosexuals.
Well, not here and not on my watch. Please – as I have asked you time and time again – do not be unkind in your speech/writing about anyone, including SNP politicians! Seriously, it is unthinkable that anyone with a truly Catholic soul would name-call anyone else …. that’s right, anyone else.
We abhor ALL sin, but we treat ALL sinners with charity. It really isn’t “rocket science”, as the saying goes. Or, as a much more important saying goes…
“Charity unites us to God… There is nothing mean in charity, nothing arrogant. Charity knows no schism, does not rebel, does all things in concord. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect.” (Pope St. Clement I)
IMPORTANT NOTICE…
A couple of times in the recent past, bloggers have enquired about The Case of the Missing Athanasius, since it’s quite some time since he put in an appearance here.
In an effort to prevent a conversation developing on the subject, since, generally speaking, I try not to put pressure on bloggers, many of whom have family and work commitments which mean they can only blog “as and when”, I suggested that enquirers should email me privately, adding that Athanasius’s reason for not blogging at the present time “doesn’t put him in a good light, far from it” .
It has been drawn to my attention that this might lead readers to speculate that Athanasius is guilty of some dark crime, or at least held under police caution pending an identity parade 😀
Not at all. It’s much more mundane, I’m afraid – partly a simple misunderstanding between Athanasius and myself, very easily explained…
https://m0.herfamily.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/15182751/minion13.jpg
And partly for personal reasons which have nothing to do with the blog, so he’s currently AWL (Absent With Leave) for the foreseeable future.
I hope that clarifies the position.
Athanasius is, however, a chocoholic so I’m going to remind him of what awaits him if only he decides to cut short that leave!
Drum roll…
https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/disp/97167a23753711.5632845400ffe.gif
And here is Athanasius puting in a rare appearance to prove the veracity of Editor’s post. Okay, so I was lured by the promise of chocolate.
Many thanks to Editor for the clarification. Blogging will resume from time to time as my circumstances (and chocolate bribes) permit.
Welcome back!
Your contributions have been missed…
Thank you both, kind souls.
A very welcome back Athanasius! 🙂
Clearly her ‘Catholic’ school failed on many levels. I am Scottish and I can barely understand her. The video of her picking her nose in public says it all.
Me too, Liberanos. I hardly understand a word she says. How can someone have third level education and be so uncouth and ignorant. Rhetorical question.
As for having experience, Gabriel Syme, I agree that the SNP seem to select some very inept candidates. My aunt told me that one of the northern isles selected a slip of a girl with no experience (and not much else either) because she was a local and the opposing candidate wasn’t, and so she had a good chance of being elected. She wasn’t.
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