Rerouting of proposed march sparks swipe at Catholic church
THE Catholic Church has been accused of ramping up tensions in Glasgow’s East End following an alleged attack on a priest.
The swipe came as the Rising Star of Bridgeton Royal Black Preceptory became the second Protestant organisation to be refused permission to march past St Alphonsus’ Church in Calton.
Marchers had intended on parading past the church this Saturday, two months after priest Canon Tom White was spat on during the annual Boyne parade.
At a specially-convened Glasgow City Council Public Processions Committee meeting yesterday, organisers of the proposed parade were ordered to re-route after concerns from Police Scotland of the possibility for protests.
Ronnie Convery, director of communications at the archdiocese, claimed parishioners had been anxious ahead of the decision and said that common sense had prevailed in the end.
But James G MacLean, representing the Rising Star of Bridgeton, said: “Tensions have been ramped up deliberately by the Roman Catholic Church who will not allow this incident to rest.
“Mr Convery, who is representing the hierarchy, has vilified members of the loyal orders by at the very least implying that they were responsible for or supported the disgraceful attack on Canon White.
“We would repudiate this notion and we would highlight the fact that no sympathy has been extended to our community and there have been attacks on Orange halls in the locality and elsewhere in Glasgow.
“We are tired of being demonised because of the attack on Canon White. No individuals who carried out such anti-social behaviour were acting on our behalf.”
The Royal Black Preceptory – separate to the Orange Order – wanted to begin in Tullis Street before going through Main Street, Bridgeton Cross, London Road, High Street, Ingram Street, Cochrane Street, Montrose Street and George Square.
But they must now go through Tullis Street, Main Street, Olympia Street, London Road, Fielden Street, Millerston Street, Duke Street, George Street, Montrose Street, Cochrane Street and George Square.
Mr MacLean insisted the council was acting at the behest of the Catholic Church by refusing to allow marching past St Alphonsus.
The decision came as two republican walks prepare to parade close to the scene.
Cairde nah Eireann is expected to lead 200 marchers through the Gallowgate and London Road on Saturday, while the Republican Network for Unity will go through the Gallowgate and Barrowlands Park – also on Saturday.
Mr MacLean said the archdiocese had not opposed those marches, also close to the church.
In a statement, Mr Convery said: The re-routing of the march will bring relief to the people of St Alphonsus’ parish and the surrounding area, who viewed with anxiety and fear the prospect of another march past the church so soon after the disgraceful scenes earlier this summer.”
The group is expected to appeal the decision at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
It comes weeks after an Orange march was prevented from walking past the church amid concerns over potential disorder.
At that time Police Superintendent John McBride said five times as many specialist officers as normal would have to be drafted in if the march went past the church.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland insisted that represented “discrimination in its purest form”.