Why making the sign of the cross will never be an offence!

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Why making the sign of the cross will never be an offence!

Alternative View June 22^nd 2011

Matt McGlone

When new bills are in the process of being structured for the purpose of being passed through (in this case) the Scottish Parliament then it’s probably best that no comments are offered by Government Ministers when the bill has still to be finalised!

Much reaction appeared yesterday after Community Safety Minister Roseanna Cunningham made part comment on the new proposed proposed legislation for tackling sectarianism related to football bill. In my opinion she helped create emotive headlines by her comments for a bill which (A) has yet to be decided & (B) has yet to be made law!

Take the matter of the signing the cross.

It will NOT EVER be made an offence to do it in the correct religious manner for which it is intended. Whether you do it in Mass, praying at any time outside your home, on the street if for example you saw a horrible accident, before or after your dinner, for any sportsperson entering the field of play, or after for example, when a player scores a goal and he does it for his own personal reasons and NOT to DELIBERATELY Incite trouble, for example to away supporters etc. It’s common sense and by using the signing of the cross properly there will be no problem and it will never be an offence to do so!

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine said: "Any sign, song, picture or whatever can be easily abused.
"So the Minister is correct in saying that, in certain circumstances, such gestures can be provocative.
 "In themselves, the sign of the cross and the national anthem are noble and honourable expressions, but they can be manipulated for evil intent.
 "Those who intentionally and malevolently exploit and corrupt such eminent symbols should be held to account."
Roseanna Cunningham said”
"In the circumstances of Celtic and Rangers fans meeting each other on a crowded street, it could be construed as offensive.

Ask yourself why, if you are a practicing Roman Catholic, would you want to make the ‘sign of the cross’ under the above circumstances and think that is the proper way it should be used? It is a religious sign and not a sign of incitement!

As for singing the National Anthem, personally it means nothing to me and I have no reason for its words to ever pass through my lips, but for right or wrong it is the National Anthem of the UK and if others wish to sing it why should it bother us? Again if it is used in provocative fashion it can be viewed as incitement, and again that is quite correct!   

TOP QC Paul McBride last night praised the new anti-sectarianism bill and said:

 "Common sense will prevail." McBride, who has represented Celtic and manager Neil Lennon, said: "I think it is a very good bill which, despite what some say, is very well drafted.

"It only creates two offences. The threatening communications part is very simple. And the football part clearly defines what you can and can't do.

"Most sensible folk will support it. People know what is offensive and what isn't."

Mr McBride claimed detractors of the bill would try to point to "extreme examples".

Adding "When we had bills to combat racism, some people said it would mean we could never use the word 'black' in public. That was nonsense.

"So making religious signs or singing the national anthem won't come into it. Common sense will prevail."

Commonsense, proper & correct use of religious signs or any country’s national anthem will not get anybody arrested. It would be a bit rich to say you cannot fly the Union flag in this country but we can fly the Irish Tricolour, would it not?

Finally, does anyone really think that the current SNP Government wishes to alienate 850,000 Roman Catholics in Scotland at the polling stations. Nope!