Priest: Scottish soccer fans may sin if they don't support England

Published: 2006-06-05

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- A Catholic theologian from Scotland told Scottish soccer fans they might be committing a sin if they do not support their historical and soccer archrival England in the World Cup. Scotland's national team did not qualify for the World Cup, and Father William McFadden told soccer fans north of the English border that they need to examine their consciences before deciding where their allegiance lies for the June 9-July 9 games in Germany. Father McFadden, who also serves as rector of Scotland's national seminary, Scotus College in Glasgow, said the determining factor was motivation. "If a Scot has an automatic negative reaction to supporting England, then they would have to question where that feeling is coming from," he said. "As Christians we are called to have positive relationships with others who may be different from us. If we have an automatic anti-relationship with someone simply because they are English, then that is anti-Christian. On the other hand, if your motivation comes from the enjoyment of football (soccer) and you choose to support a different team for that reason, then there is no sin in not supporting England. The key question is what is our motivation," he said.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .