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General Election Statement by the Bishops of Scotland

 

The political choices we face today are not the choices your parents and grandparents faced.

 

They would never have voted for any candidate who refused to protect unborn human life, who supported experimentation on human embryos, or planned to assist unfortunate people to commit suicide.

 

They would never have voted for a candidate who would undermine marriage and family in the way that has happened in recent years with cross-party support. They would never have voted for candidates who rejoiced in same sex unions. They would never have voted for candidates who would stop the Church offering adoption services. They would never have voted for candidates who were clearly hostile to the values they held dear.

 

Your parents and grandparents voted for those they believed shared the same fundamental Christian values as they did. It is for us to do likewise to shape a society where the dignity of each individual and life itself is respected.

 

As Catholics we know the importance of protecting every human life and of the value that married family life gives to society. These values were once widely shared but times have changed. Many of those standing for election, of whatever party, do not share our basic principles and values.

 

That is why we say to you: when you vote, make your faith count. Vote with your faith to protect human life; to support marriage and the family; to protect religious freedom; to protect Catholic education. Vote with your faith, and uphold the right of conscience and religious freedom.

 

In urging you to let your faith count at the ballot box, we ask you to think carefully before you cast your vote. Which candidate displays values closest to yours? Which candidate will best respect and protect your religious freedom and your freedom of conscience? Which candidate do you trust most to do a good job for you and your community?

 

As your bishops, it is not our intention to tell you which party to vote for. It is our duty to encourage you to engage with the political process and to vote for the candidate who best represents the values we, like our parents and grandparents before us, hold dear.

 

Archbishop Mario Conti has issued a Pastoral Letter reiterating the 'Make your Faith count' message.

 
 
 
 

Archbishop to receive Honorary Doctorate from Glasgow University

 

Archbishop Conti is to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Glasgow this summer.

The award is in recognition of his significant contribution to the life of the University through his preaching, support of the Catholic Chaplaincy and the Faculty of Education and the development of Inter Faith Relations. The award also recognises Archbishop Conti’s work with the ecumenical movement as President of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and as an active member of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. 

Born in Elgin in 1934, Archbishop Conti studied at the Gregorian University in Rome before being ordained in 1958. After working as an Assistant Priest at St Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen, he was appointed Parish Priest of St Joachim’s, Wick and St Anne’s in Thurso in 1962. Nominated Bishop of Aberdeen in 1977, he was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 2002. He is also an Honorary Professor of Theology at the University of Aberdeen and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 

Also honoured is Glasgow graduate, Rev Kathy Galloway who will receive an Honorary Degree in recognition of 40 years of academic and professional work in the fields of social justice, inter-religious learning, media and the creative arts and to the ecumenical movement. 

Clerk of Senate & Vice Principal of the University of Glasgow, Graham Caie said: “The University is delighted to award Doctor of Divinity Honorary Degrees to Archbishop Conti and Rev Kathy Galloway in recognition of their contribution to the ecumenical life of Scotland and their close ties to the University of Glasgow.” 

Archbishop Conti said: “I am very honoured to receive this degree and I am grateful to the University authorities."

 

The Honorary Degrees will be awarded at a ceremony in the Bute Hall at the University of Glasgow in June 2010.