The Catholic Church’s media director has had a sharply divided reaction to his claims that sectarianism remains a hugely prevalent factor in Scotland. Peter Kearney stood solidly behind his offensive against anti-Catholic abuse yesterday after a no-holds-barred critique in which he said hostility to Catholics in Scotland was “deep, wide and vicious”.
In response to his comments, reported in The Herald yesterday, Mr Kearney received e-mails both in support and against his outspoken attack in which he declared: “The bigotry, the bile, the sectarian undercurrents and innuendos must end.”
Mr Kearney said: “Reminding Scotland that religious intolerance exists here is a risky business, which is probably why so few people do it.”
In a series of e-mails, seen by The Herald, one critic said: “I and a lot of other Scots of every and no denomination feel that these matters are doing nothing to help and everything to incite the bigotry between Catholic and Protestant in Scotland.”
Another said Catholics should “get their own house in order” before making such accusations.
The writer added: “In my own experience, Catholics in the west of Scotland are more than capable of giving as good as they get.”
One complained about the Catholic Church in the west of Scotland talking about a desire “to assimilate and integrate” while continuing to insist that Catholic children have their own schools.
The e-mail added: “If there is one policy within this country that does more damage to community relations and reeks of insularity and intolerance I have yet to come across it.”
However, supporters congratulated Mr Kearney, saying he should be thanked for taking a stand against anti-Catholic bigotry.
One e-mail read: “You said what had to be said and you said it very well.”
Another said: “As a Catholic father of two kids, I would like to say thanks for speaking out on behalf of us in the pews.”Mr Kearney spoke out after the sacking of SFA referees’ chief Hugh Dallas over allegations that he sent an offensive e-mail about the Pope during his recent visit to Scotland.
He said: “Let no-one be in any doubt, with this shameful episode, Catholics have drawn a line in the sand.”
Yesterday, Mr Kearney was unrepentant about fanning the flames of controversy.
He said: “Today many organisations have an ‘acceptable use’ policy which applies to staff communication by e-mail, it often allows them to brandish their zero tolerance credentials.
“In most cases, dismissal is the penalty for breaching these strictures. If anyone considers such policies harsh they would do well to take up the matter with employers who use them.”
Mr Kearney said statistics showed Catholics were six times more likely to suffer a sectarian attack than any other group.
He added: “If referring to this reality is inflammatory, then how exactly should we describe the underlying problem which gives rise to it? We should not make the mistake of assuming that highlighting anti-Catholic prejudice is a criticism of other Christians, it is not.
“Inter-denominational relations in Scotland are, thankfully, excellent. In reality, those who perpetrate acts of bigotry, by their actions, undermine and contradict Christian teaching.”
SIC: HS/UK
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