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Cardinal Winning Lecture
02/02/2008
The contribution Scotland's faith-based schools make to our education system and our society should be celebrated not grudgingly accepted, First Minister Alex Salmond said today at the University of Glasgow where he delivered the Cardinal Winning Education Lecture.
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The address, delivered during Catholic Education Week, was entitled, 'Celebrating Catholic Education in Scotland:Reflections on Partnership from 1918 to Date, and Beyond'.
Mr Salmond said:
"Scotland's diversity is a source of strength-not weakness. For too long the attitude of some has been at best, grudging acceptance of Catholic education, and at worst, outright hostility.
"All faith-based schools play a significant role in helping to shape, inspire and strengthen our young people to learn. It's time to celebrate their contribution to Scottish education. Their diversity and distinctiveness allow our students and educators to share, to build, and to hope.
"Today's address has given me the opportunity to honour the work of Cardinal Winning, which continues to be pursued by Cardinal Keith O'Brien, to secure and enhance the recognition of the Catholic Church and Catholic education in Scottish society.
"Education has been the mission of Scotland's Catholic Church. And education is the foundation on which the Scottish Government is building a better, more successful and more just society in Scotland.
"We must celebrate - not tolerate - diversity and distinctiveness within our education system. The way to solidarity is not to diminish the role of faith but to promote regard, respect and understanding of all faiths in Scotland. Nowhere matters more as a place to promote this thinking than Scotland's schools."
Read the full text of the lecture