Kirk backs parliament

Cardinal Winning says the parliament is "too liberal"

The Church of Scotland has stepped into the row caused by the scathing criticism of the Scottish Parliament from the leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics.

Cardinal Thomas Winning said he felt let down by the "liberal agenda" pursued by MSPs and branded the parliament an "utter failure".

The Scottish Executive hit back at the churchman - whose comments were made in an interview marking his 75th birthday - by highlighting the devolved body's achievements only a year into its existence.

In a statement, the Kirk's powerful Church and Nation committee said last week's General Assembly regretted the development of a "culture of contempt which was undermining politics in our land".

Kirk: "Culture of contempt"

It went on: "It would be a pity if the comments in the Scottish Catholic Observer by Cardinal Thomas Winning were to play directly into the hands of those who delight in the culture of contempt which the assembly sought to oppose.

"He seems to have judged the parliament on the basis of a very narrow agenda which does not reflect the breadth and depth of what the parliament has been doing."

The committee said the parliament had made achievement in the area of debt, land reforms and social justice.

'More creative way'

"To sweep aside these and other achievements - in only the first year of a new political settlement - is to misrepresent real progress and to risk damage to relationships between those who serve the nation politically and those who serve the nation in the churches.

"There must surely be a more creative way forward for public life in Scotland today."

... in the big issues they have achieved nothing

Cardinal Winning

Acting First Minister, Jim Wallace, urged Cardinal Winning to reflect on the parliament's achievements, including tackling issues like health, education and land reform.

He said: "If you take, for example, adults with incapacity, which has actually brought practical benefit to about 100,000 families across Scotland caring for a relative or a friend who is incapable of making decisions for themselves.

"If you think about our social justice action plan to try and lift 100,000 Scottish children out of poverty.

Politicians' behaviour

"If you think about an additional £12m to try to end rough sleeping in the cities and towns of Scotland by the end of this parliament.

"These are all things Scotland has been waiting for to get done for a very long time indeed."

Conservative MSP, Lord James Douglas Hamilton has written to Cardinal Winning urging him not to condemn the Scottish Parliament for the actions of the executive.

The cardinal feels "let down"

He blames the Labour - Liberal Democrat coalition for seeking to foist an unwanted "liberal agenda" on the people of Scotland and says the Tories are doing everything in thier power to prevent this.

Cardinal Winning said he had been enthusiastic about the parliament but now he felt "ashamed" of the politicians, of the way they had behaved and the things they had done.

He said: "I have defended them for months and months in different parts of the media and have said they needed five or 10 years to give them credibility.

"I still think that, but I don't think the achievements of the last year are anything to be proud of.

"They can talk as much as they like about what they have achieved, but in the big issues they have achieved nothing."

The cardinal has been an outspoken critic of the executive's plans to repeal Section 28, the law which prevents local authorities from promoting homosexuality.

• Watch BBC Scotland's Frontline programme about Cardinal Winning. Click here.