A "vocal" minority

With the interview to Msgr. Peter A. Moran, Bishop of Aberdeen (Scotland), ends the special features dedicated to the reflections of European Bishops on the European integration process and Church thought regarding the European common home. (cf. SIR Europe 62-63-64-65-66-67-69-71-75-76-77-78-79-82-83-84-85/2011 – 01-04-08/2012).What are Scottish Catholics’ opinions and expectations vis a vis the European Union? "I think that are divided in their opinion, just as all Scots are divided, but probably Catholics are a little more favourable to the EU than the average Scottish citizen. You must remember that Scottish people are probably less ‘insular’ than English people. This is because Scottish people have an instinctive desire to be recognised as distinct from English people, even though only a minority want absolute independence. Scottish Catholics have an additional reason for sympathy with the EU – as Catholics, they know that they already belong to a wider community – the community of the Church. However, Scottish people and Scottish Catholics share the (slightly irrational) suspicion that decisions are taken in Europe without adequate consultation or representation. You will be aware that in recent days the question of a referendum concerning possible Scottish independence has become prominent in the media. Some Scottish people would like to be an independent country within the EU. Others respond by saying ‘If you are unhappy because you think you are regarded as an inferior part of the UK, will you be happier as a small part of the EU?’. It is worth noting that (in terms of population) Scotland is much larger than several independent members of the EU).Public opinion is based on correct information: do you think that in your reality there is appropriate information on EU institutions and European Churches?"I would say without hesitation that most people in Scotland have only a very vague idea of how the EU institutions function. For example, I think that most of my fellow-citizens do not understand how the Council of Ministers operates: they do not understand that at each meeting of the Council of Ministers, dealing with a specific aspect (for example, Agriculture, Transport, and so on) the relevant UK minister will be present. I am not sure what you are asking when you ask ‘Is information on the European Churches appropriate?’. I think that very little is known among our Catholics in Scotland about the Catholic Church in the EU. For example, even priests are astonished when I tell them that France has 105 bishops (Scotland has eight diocesans and four ‘emeriti’). Exceptions to this ignorance would include: (a) contact with the French Church in the form of contact with Lourdes – large numbers of Scottish Catholics have been to Lourdes on pilgrimage; (b) similar contact, on a smaller scale, with Portugal, through pilgrimage to Fatima; (c) considerable knowledge of the Polish Church because since 1st May 2004 very large numbers of Polish Catholics have come to Scotland, especially to the north east of Scotland where I was bishop until recently.How can the Scottish Catholic Church contribute to the EU?"On the clerical level – bishops and priests – the Scottish Catholic Church is represented by Cardinal O’Brien (of St Andrews and Edinburgh) at CCEE meetings, by cardinal O’Brien and Archbishop Conti (of Glasgow) on various Congregations and Pontifical Councils, by myself at COMECE, and at other European meetings on occasion by other colleagues. Our lay representatives attend European meetings such as Justice & Peace congresses. There has been recent collaboration between Cardinal O’Brien and European Pax Christi regarding the question of nuclear weapons – something which affects Scotland particularly, because the UK nuclear deterrent is located in Scottish waters – a matter on which the Scottish bishops have spoken strongly and openly for more than twenty-five years. Perhaps also, because the Scottish Catholic Church is a minority in our country, but a ‘vocal’ minority, who have much to say and whose opinion is noticed (and sometimes approved) by the non-religious media, we can contribute to understanding of the Church and of community in those EU countries where the Church is in a minority".What is your balance of the work conducted by European Churches in the EU to date? "From the point of view of COMECE, which is my best contact with the Church in the EU, I think the European Church works very hard and efficiently to stimulate discussion, to express what is often a contrasting opinion, to brief elected members of the European institutions and above all to inform Europe about what the Church really teaches and what she really stands for".