Cardinal Keith O’Brien was indeed “not an out-and-out reactionary”. In 1995, he shocked a remembrance service by castigating the second world war allies for using nuclear weapons against Japan, and in 2002 praised the courage of the Faslane nuclear base protesters. His support for Scottish independence was, in part, prompted by opposition to Trident. He also opposed continuing aid to Pakistan without a commitment by the Pakistani government to freedom of religion for Christians and other minorities. He was vociferous in attacking poverty, both domestic and overseas, and a supporter of the Jubilee 2000 campaign against international debt.
