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_WORLD WATCH______________________________
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Cardinal Thomas Winning, RIP
Homage paid to pro-life prelate
Cardinal Thomas Winning, the senior prelate in Scotland, died on June 17 at the age of 76, after suffering a second heart attack in a week.
The cardinal had been released from Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow on June 15 after being treated for a first heart attack, and doctors had expected him to make a full recovery. “He appeared to be in good spirits this morning, when his housekeeper heard a thud upstairs. Paramedics were called and they worked on him for 15 minutes, but there was nothing they could do. He was dead,” a Church spokesman said.
Cardinal Winning was appointed as archbishop of Glasgow in 1974 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 1994. A fearless and ardent supporter of the Church’s teachings, Cardinal Winning confronted the political powers of his country on such issues as abortion, homosexuality, and the rights of the Church.
Queen Elizabeth II led the tributes to the deceased prelate, saying that the cardinal had made “a very distinguished contribution to the Catholic Church in Scotland and to Scottish public life over many years, and he will be much missed.” Prime Minister Tony Blair, who had been roundly criticized by Cardinal Winning for his stance on abortion, said he was “shocked and saddened” by his death. He said, “His strong moral leadership and commitment to social justice were renowned.”
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