James MacMillan attacked what he views as widespread prejudice against Catholics which can be found in the workplace, academia, the media, politics and sport.
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The address from Mr MacMillan, who is a Roman Catholic and composed fanfares for the opening of the Scottish Parliament, also homed in on racism as well as religious bigotry.
He said: "If this ingrained, unconscious hostility to that which is regarded as different from the supposed norm remains, the implications for multicultural progress are huge.
"The sense of threat and hostility is there and has huge implications for Scotland's potential."
But Steve Bruce, Professor of Sociology at Aberdeen University, said Mr MacMillan is wrong.
"There is no evidence to assert that anti-Catholic bigotry is endemic in Scottish society.
"Catholics and Protestants live exactly the same lives. It might have been the case in the past but Mr MacMillan is 50 years out of date," he said.
![[ image: width=150]](/olmedia/415000/images/_415380_jamesmacmillantalks150.jpg)
The attack also focused on the resignation of vice-chairman of Rangers Football Club, Donald Findlay, who was caught on video singing sectarian songs.
"Donald Findlay is not a one-off," he said.
"Our professions, our workplaces, our academic circles, our media and our sporting bodies are jam-packed with people like Donald Findlay," said Mr MacMillan.
Fr Danny McLaughlin, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said he would not comment on the rights and wrongs of what was obviously a personal speech.
But he added: "What Mr MacMillan hints at is the suspicion with which people feel they are perceived and what judgements are being passed on them. If we want to move forward all suspicions of that nature have to be put to rest."
Fr McLaughlin went on to say that many Catholics had made a great contribution to Scottish society and they would continue to do so.
A leading figure in Scotland's ecumenical movement, Dr Alison Elliot, said she was not surprised by the speech.
The Convenor of the Church and National Committee of the Church of Scotland said: "Catholic and Protestant jokes are not fun these days. They still hurt people.
She added: "We do have to hear this but I hope there is not counter attacking - it will only make things worse.
"I welcome Mr MacMillan raising this matter. But the way in which it is handled should not end up picking at a scab on a wound which I hope is healing in Scotland."
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08/99 Contents |
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Hitchcock100 |
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India Features |
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Edinburgh Festival 99 |
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World War II |
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India News |
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Summer News |
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Fox hunting |
Composer 'banging the wrong drum'
(09 Aug 99 | UK)
Scotland coach starts legal action
(14 Jul 99 | UK)
Findlay songs inquiry launched
(09 Jun 99 | Scottish Premier)
The bitter divide
(02 Jun 99 | UK)
Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The Vatican information service
The Catholic Church in Scotland
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Performance at its best
Festivals galore
Fringe benefits
Edinburgh in the frame
(From Entertainment)
Dad-to-be comic stays mum
Stars in their eyes
The winner takes it all
Painful performances
Barred comic makes Perrier fizz
Festival faces
Comic seeks Better World
Vote for Election
A world of music and dance
Never mind the hecklers
Del Boy rivals moon landing for top TV
Jim Rose: The shocking truth
Oh my God, they killed Norman
Stuck on Shakespeare
Edinburgh from A to Z
At war over truth and peace
Dannii mania hits Edinburgh
Ratcatcher starts film festival
A cut above the rest
Dominic Holland's insecure charm
Danny Bhoy's pipe dream comes true
Larger than life Turandot
Stephen Billington: A prize villain
Brosnan crowns film festival
Festival date for Liam and Patsy
The reality behind those Festival rumours
Arj Barker: No show at festival
Mel and Sue: Out to lunch
Live after Red Dwarf
They're making it up....
Jesus! It's a good play
The stamp of success
Blair Witch: The disappointing truth
Blair Witch hits the UK
Connery steals the show
Is this a Dannii I see before me?
Public service broadcasting 'dying' - ITV boss
Pub landlord draws Perrier prize