The head of a public body responsible for the arts in Scotland has been condemned as “poisonously anti-religious” after calling for the Church to be compelled to ordain women as priests.
Ben Thomson, who chairs Creative Scotland, said greater “gender diversity” in the Church would have helped to prevent the abuse crisis.
In a private submission to a government consultation, Thomson said: “The lack of women as part of the leadership in religion leads to wider problems in society … Most of the religions practised in the UK to some extent discriminate on the basis of gender and it is time we stopped supporting this exemption in our legislation.”
The Equality Act 2010 includes an exemption on gender discrimination for religious groups.
Thomson, who worked in financial services for 33 years before becoming chairman of the National Galleries of Scotland in 2009, said: “If there had been greater gender diversity in the Catholic Church, the extent of paedophilia by those in positions of authority within the Church would most likely not have been as widespread.”
A Church spokesman said: “Religious life is not a ‘workplace’. To suggest otherwise is to demonstrate a lamentable ignorance of religion and belief.
“To suggest gender diversity is an antidote to child abuse is both offensive and absurd … These opinions seriously call into question Mr Thomson’s judgment and cast doubt on his suitability as chair of our national arts body.”
The Scottish government is consulting on a bill that would require men and women to be represented equally in public sector boardrooms, and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said gender equality in boardrooms is a priority.
Bishop: saint’s death was ‘a flash of light amid darkness’
A bishop has described St Magnus’s martyrdom as a “Christ-like flash of light in a dark world”, on the 900th anniversary of the saint’s death.
Bishop Hugh Gilbert and 11 other bishops and archbishops made the pilgrimage to Kirkwall, Orkney, this month to celebrate St Magnus, who was Earl of Orkney before his violent death, probably in 1117.
In a homily at St Magnus Cathedral, Bishop Gilbert said: “Magnus’s magnanimous act was a Christ-like flash of spirit in a dark world, and the light still burns.”
St Magnus had refused to take part in Viking raids and had sought peace with his cousin Haakon. However, Haakon betrayed him and had him executed.
Bishop Gilbert said St Magnus was a man “struck by the lightning of the Gospel”.
“He had interiorised what Christ did on the Cross and seen the Resurrection and grace that flowed from it. Fuelled by that, inspired by that, he hadn’t buckled when the violence washed over him … His death became the climax of his life. He committed his soul to God, asked forgiveness, and offered himself as a sacrifice, a source of reconciliation.”
Ireland gains first Jesuit bishop
For the first time, a Jesuit priest has been ordained a bishop in Ireland.
Bishop Alan McGuckian was ordained Bishop of Raphoe on Sunday at the cathedral in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
Bishop McGuckian, who has two brothers who are also Jesuit priests, has served as a secondary school teacher, run communications for the Irish Jesuits and translated St Ignatius’s autobiography into Gaelic.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.