Tony Blair disagrees with cardinal over Scottish independence remarks

Published: 2006-10-18

LONDON (CNS) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has publicly disagreed with a cardinal whose remarks were interpreted as supporting Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. Blair, an Anglican, said at an Oct. 17 press conference in London, "Independence would be a disaster for Scotland because it would wreck its economy, stop it functioning as part of the U.K. and take the country backward. "I wouldn't have thought it is a matter of religious faith, at least I hope not," Blair told reporters. In an interview with the London-based Catholic Herald newspaper, Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien of St. Andrews and Edinburgh said he would support a break from the union Scotland forms with England, Wales and Northern Ireland -- if that is what Scottish citizens chose. "I would not get too involved in the politics of independence, but I am happy that, if it is the wish of the people, Scotland becomes an independent country," said Cardinal O'Brien, president of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland. His comments were made in an interview scheduled to be published Oct. 20. However, the contents of the interview were obtained beforehand by newspapers in Scotland and published, with the consent of the Catholic Herald, Oct. 15.

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