Cardinal pressured by Brown to change mind on indepenedence

Avatar · Cardinal pressured by Brown to change mind on indepenedence

"LABOUR'S hierarchy has begun a behind-the-scenes offensive to persuade the leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics that his controversial backing for independence was wrong.

Chancellor Gordon Brown is among senior Labour figures who have met Cardinal Keith O'Brien in recent weeks, as part of a coordinated effort to heal relations, after the churchman caused a political storm by praising the benefits of Scottish autonomy.
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The comments, revealed in this newspaper, caused panic in Labour ranks, prompting fears that his words could persuade thousands of Scottish Catholics to back the SNP at next year's Holyrood elections. Now senior party figures are beating a path to the door of Scotland's Catholic leaders, seeking to persuade them that Labour still offers a voice to churchgoers.

Brown met O'Brien for talks two weeks ago and raised the Cardinal's backing for independence. One of the Chancellor's closest allies, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, has also had private talks with one of O'Brien's bishops, Philip Tartaglia of Paisley, in another attempt to heal divisions.

And last week a delegation of Catholic Labour MSPs had further private talks with O'Brien, where they set out their claims that Labour represents the Catholic community best.

However, one source described the charm offensive as "more offensive than charm".

A source close to Brown said that the Chancellor had used his meeting to pressurise O'Brien over his comments on independence. "There was a question of whether he [O'Brien] had really thought it through," the insider said.

Defence Secretary Des Browne is also expected to meet Cardinal O'Brien, having agreed to collect a petition, signed by O'Brien, calling for the scrapping of Britain's nuclear deterrent.

These meetings are in addition to talks which the Cardinal held with First Minister Jack McConnell last week, when he visited the Scottish Parliament to meet all party leaders.

The frenzied activity - by some of Labour's most senior national figures - offers a clear sign of the party's growing fear that the Cardinal's comments on independence could spark a flood of support for the SNP.

The row began last month when the Cardinal declared that, if it was the wish of the people, he would be "happy" to see Scotland become independent. Referring to countries such as Norway and Denmark, he also acknowledged the "prosperity which self-determination can bring". He expressed his frustration with the powers of the Scottish Parliament, arguing that many Scots "have no wish to pay for or host these evil weapons, yet we have no power to remove them".

The comments were greeted with euphoria within the SNP, which has long sought to coax the largely Labour-voting Catholic community in Scotland away from its traditional political home. Labour politicians reacted with fury, however, believing that their support for Catholic Church demands, especially on the future of Catholic schools, had been thrown back in their faces.

One Labour insider added: "We're pointing out to him that many of the things that Labour has sought to do, the SNP wouldn't. We have backed Catholic schools. We have also listened to their concerns on gay adoption. Does he really think all the other parties do that?"

A spokesman for the SNP described Labour's sudden move last night as "a few weeks too late".

He added: "Labour is obviously feeling the pressure. This is a panic move by a desperate government on the way out."

Catholic Church insiders confirmed that Brown and other Labour leaders had stepped up their discussions in recent weeks. They described the various talks as "cordial". They said that discussions, particularly those with First Minister Jack McConnell, "had gone a long way to settling nerves".

I honesly couldn't believe this when I read it - what kind of a democracy is this? the government trying to coerce an outspoken member of a seperate establishment who doesn't agree with them - unbelievable!!

Corby Boy

The usual bully boy tactics of the unionist establishment, they have had three hundred years to practice. Freedom o' speech, I have they ever heard of that concept?

Lothian Sky

Forget democracy, we're living in a authoritarian dictatorship.
How dare Labour behave like this?

George

The cardinal has just appeared on the politics show being interviewed by Glen Campbell. The line of questioning was actually less about independence than the cardinals controversial views regarding sex education, boruc blessing himself and muslim face scarfs.

I felt that the cardinal actually fielded these questions very well, but why were they being asked within the context of an independent Scotland? if not as a means of undermining the cardinal in the eyes of non catholics.

One question that did in fact relate to independence was when the cardinal was asked if Scotland could go it alone financially, again this was cleverly fielded by the cardinal who responded that as he was essentially ill-informed in fiscal matters that he felt that the politicians should make the facts known to the electorate for them to decide.

Makes you wonder why they don't ever ask unionist politicians this same question.............and press them to qualify their answer.

wisnaeme · Religion

I am something of a doubting Thomas as far as official religious pratice and faith are concerned.But I do not have any antagonism towards genuine folk who deeply believe in some sort of divinity in the hereafter,who's faith as individuals and who collectively, follow laiddown guidelines which benefit the community as a whole.If the scottish leader of a religious grouping is speaking on behalf of the majority of the adherents of that group or if he is speaking from a personal viewpoint then he is perfectly entitled to do so.Accountability is somewhat lacking in the New Labour fraternity these days and I would welcome any intervention by concerned individuals or groups drawing attention to that disgraceful situation.I would welcome from whatever source, pressure to rectify the perceived wrong doing,both fiscal and moral of many of those in governance who, incidentally are charged with a duty of care to represent those of whatever faith or none.If folk are concerned at the moral dissolution of political leadership from whatever political party is in power then those good folk have a right to criticise and a right to demand accountabilty from those responsible for the causing of their concerns.
Is it not ironic however that both the religious group concerned and the Labour party have so much in common that they cannot make their peace in this matter. Both promise undertakings of well being in the future to the believers, one spiritual in the hereafter and the other on earth. So far to my knowledge none of their promises have ever been proven to have materialised beyond doubt.