Sectarianism in Glasgow, Scotland

Fr. Paul J. Coyle Capita Selecta. Current Issues (II) of Society, Law and Religion - B0B50A

Professor Marco Ventura

Sectarianism in Scotland

“Sectarianism”

• This word is used to describe a “sect”, or section within an established group, but most commonly it’s used with regard to groups with a particular religious or political basis.

• The word sectarianism is very often used in Scotland today in association with divisions within a religion, particularly in reference to Christianity and the division which can exist between Catholic and Protestant people. Sectarianism can also be found within other religions.

• www.nilbymouth.org

Christianisation of Scotland – 6th Century

• ‘…From Rome came Saint Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory the Great, your predecessor, whose arrival in Kent coincided with the death on the Holy Island of Iona of Saint Columba [521-597], who, with his fellow Irish missionaries, evangelised our Scottish Highlands and Islands’

• Address of Archbishop Mario Conti, Archbishop of Glasgow, to H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, 16 September 2010, Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. Retrieved from: http://scmo.org/articles/archbishop-contis-welcome-address-to-pope-benedict.html

Scottish Reformation 1560

• ‘In the early 16th century, Scotland was a piously Catholic nation. Devotion flourished, and an increasingly educated populace sought more personal forms of spiritual experience. Rome and its doctrines, it seemed, were not always up-to-date with the needs of a nation heading at high speed for the modern world. Reform was in the air, but only a tiny minority at this stage favoured Protestantism and a complete break with Rome.’

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/articles/scottish_reformation/

John Knox – Leader of Protestant Reformation

• “O God Eternal! hast thou laid none other burden upon our backs than Jesus Christ laid by His Word? Then who hath burdened us with all these ceremonies, prescribed fasting, compelled chastity, unlawful vows, invocations of saints, with the idolatry of the Mass? The Devil, the Devil, brethren, invented all these burdens to depress imprudent men to perdition. . .”

• http://www.reformation-scotland.org.uk/articles/john-knox-and-scottish-reformation.php

Reforms of 1560

• Papal Jurisdiction Act 1560

• The Roman Pontiff (Paip) and the Catholic Church have no jurisdiction in the realm of Scotland

• This legislation is still in force today.

• Confession of Faith Act 1560

• Established the Protestant Religion (Presbyterianism) in Scotland – banned the Catholic Mass

• http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1560/2

Act of Settlement (1701)

• …And it was thereby further enacted That all and every Person and Persons that then were or afterwards should be reconciled to or shall hold Communion with the See or Church of Rome or should profess the Popish Religion or marry a Papist should be excluded and are by that Act made for ever [incapable] to inherit possess or enjoy the Crown and Government of this Realm and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging or any part of the same or to have use or exercise any regal Power Authority or Jurisdiction within the same….’

• http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/12-13/2/section/III

Orange Lodge (1798) and the ‘Orange Walk’

• Parading is an integral part of the Institution. The Independent Loyal Orange Institution is a “religious and loyal brotherhood” dedicated to the promotion and defence of the Protestant religion. We are not, and never have been allied to any political party. Constitutionally we express a unionist view, but that unionism is dependent upon the British Throne and Constitution “being Protestant”.

• The parades in connection with our Institution are themselves an expression, a public witness, of our religion. Without exception they are to a religious service, either in church or in the open air.

• Independent Loyal Orange Institution : http://www.iloi.org/ceremonies-procedures/parades/

Catholic Emancipation - 19th Century

• Culminated in the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829

• For the first time a Catholic could hold a seat in Westminster

• Repealed:

• Act[s] of Uniformity through the centuries

• Test Acts of 1673

• Penal Laws (Ireland)

Irish Immigration to Scotland – 19th Century

• Their lowly occupational status and their willingness to work for less than the going rate did not endear Irish Catholics to the Scottish working class. Indeed, their religion was a factor which gave rise to discrimination from all sections of Scottish society. Attacks on the Irish became commonplace in newspapers, pulpits and on the streets. The Irish were seen as drunken, idle, uncivilised and undermining the moral fibre of Scottish society.

• The Church of Scotland recognised that in their 1923 attack on the Catholic Irish ‘[no complaint can be made about] the presence of an [Irish] Orange population in Scotland. They are of the same race as ourselves and of the same Faith, and are readily assimilated to the Scottish race’. Thus, the Protestant Irish faced nothing like the level of discrimination endured by the Catholic Irish.

• http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/higherscottishhistory/migrationandempire/experienceofimmigrants/irish.asp

Rangers Football Club – Founded 1872

Celtic Football Club – Founded 1888

Republicans and Unionists

• Scotland's strong links with Ireland

• Catholics sympathetic to the call of Irish Freedom

• Support for the I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army)

• Protestants sympathetic to the call of the British Union

• Support to U.V.F. (Ulster Volunteer Force), U.D.A. (Ulster Defence Army), Red Hand Defenders, and Real Ulster Freedom Fighters.

Scottish Cup Final 1980 - Riots

• Celtic (1) v Rangers (0)

• ‘After Celtic won this final, supporters of both teams invaded the pitch. Fighting broke out and mounted police entered the field and tried to restore order.’ https://footballviolence.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/celtic-rangers-1980-cup-final-hampden-riot/

• Criminal Justice Bill banning the sale of alcohol at Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act of 1985

• Drunkenness at such events will be punished • http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/57

Sectarian Violence

• ‘A man was jailed for life yesterday after being found guilty of the murder of a schoolboy Celtic fan.

Jason Campbell, 23, whose father and uncle were Protestant terrorist paramilitaries, stabbed 16-year-old Mark Scott outside a pub at Glasgow's Bridgeton Cross on 7 October [1995] last year.’ The Scotsman Newspaper, 15 March 1996

• ‘The murder of a Celtic fan at the hands of a Rangers supporter brought a violent reminder of sectarianism in Scotland.’ [1999]

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/453946.stm

Celtic’s Initiative against Sectarianism• Bhoys against Bigotry Campaign – 1996

• ‘The Club’s role as a major social institution carries with it a responsibility to work against groups or individuals who use football, and particularly Celtic matches, as a medium for promoting their extreme political and/or religious views.’

• Now is the time for the people of Scotland to work against bigotry of all kinds. Let’s no longer hear the chants for the IRA [Irish Republican Army] or UDA [Ulster Defence Army] at matches.’

• Fergus McCann, Chief Executive, Celtic Football Club (1995-99) quoted in Bhoys against Bigotry, The Celtic View, January 1996.

Rangers’ Initiative against Sectarianism • Pride over Prejudice – 2003 and Follow with Pride – 2007

• Pride Over Prejudice campaign …was developed to help eradicate inappropriate behaviour – POP 2003.

• Follow With Pride highlights everything that is positive about Rangers – FWP 2007

• Supporters are asked to:

• Sing the songs which celebrate the Club

• Wear recognised Rangers strips and traditional team colours

• Display legitimate flags and banners

• Avoid gestures and salutes that could be taken as offensive

• http://www.rangers.co.uk/fans/supporters-charter

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003• Section 74 : Offences Aggravated by Religious Prejudices.

• At the time of committing the offence or immediately before or after doing so, the offender evinces towards the victim (if any) of the offence malice and ill-will based on the victim’s membership (or presumed membership) of a religious group, or of a social or cultural group with a perceived religious affiliation

• ‘The Court must take the aggravation into account in determining the appropriate sentence.’

• http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/7/section/74

Football Banning Orders 2006

• ‘To tackle this inexcusable behaviour [sectarianism] Football Banning Orders were introduced in Scotland on 1 September 2006. They can ban you from attending all matches in Scotland, the rest of the UK and abroad for up to 10 years.

• The introduction of Football Banning Orders is a major milestone in the Government's efforts to rid Scotland of football hooliganism and sectarian bigotry.’

• http://www.gov.scot/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/Sport/SafetyIssues/football-banning-orders

Joint Statement on Scottish Football 2011• To ensure that the existing rules and regulations of Scottish football are rigorously applied and

respected

• To explore jointly and understand the practicalities of new fixture scheduling opportunities to minimise damage to communities

• To support the introduction of tough new measures to reduce alcohol consumption before and after games

• To ensure that all those involved in matches are fully aware of their legal responsibilities

• To support the expansion of the excellent existing community and social partnerships between the "Old Firm" to take every opportunity to demonstrate mutual respect and cooperation

• To offer full support to all the work by clubs, authorities and police to work with communities to address alcohol misuse, sectarianism, racism, domestic abuse and violence

• To consider the expansion of Football Banning Orders and the clubs' own codes of conduct to respond to criminal behaviour of fans away from the grounds specifically on domestic abuse

• To ensure that the Police have the support of all parties to the enforcement of the law in relation to public order including on the internet.

• http://wayback.archive-it.org/3011/20130201212134/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/03/08163336#

Offensive Behaviour at Football Act 2012

• ‘The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act, [2012] which received Royal Assent in January last year, gave police and prosecutors additional powers to crack down on sectarian songs and abuse at football matches.

• The legislation also relates to threatening behaviour posted on the internet or via mail.’

• http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24825094

Going Forward – Organisations tacklingSectarianism

• Nil by Mouth – combat Sectarianism

• ‘Beyond Religion and Belief’ Workplace Project Sectarianism in Scotland

• ‘Champions for Change’ School Accreditation Scheme

• Youth Scotland's: Stand Up To Sectarianism

• Action on Sectarianism Portal

• XChange Scotland

• Sense over Sectarianism (SOS)

• Getting Better Together (GBT) Project

• Challenging Sectarianism Across Generations (CSAG)

Sectarianism in Glasgow, Scotland

Fr. Paul J. Coyle Capita Selecta. Current Issues (II) of Society, Law and Religion - B0B50A

Professor Marco Ventura