That Sunday Herald Apology

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• "If only the Sunday Herald could inspire as much interest among its dwindling readership. Latest ABCs for full price copies sold in Scotland - 39,996."
  ends 10/06/2008
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• "A brilliant, well argued piece, thanks for thr good sense."
  morleyexecutive 10/06/2008
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• "Er, I'm not being funny what does this mean exactly?"
  enquiring camera girl 05/06/2008
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• "Telly Tubby I don't decide what the splash will be. Other people make the decisions about what rubbish the Record prints or, sometimes more importantly, doesn't print. Ask yourself why the Record reported Manchester the way it did. Certain football club owner, former employee of said football club owner.Hmmmmmmm, let me see now......"
  broken record 05/06/2008
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• "Some 2 weeks ago, in the same publication, Ian Bell referred to Ibrox as "Castle Grayskull"! Now I've not seen same/similar vitriol directed at him or the Editorial team. Or have I missed this? If not does this equate to the same as "bead rattling"? To my mind there's not a lot in it but then again I'm not an Old Firm fan!"
  David Brodie 03/06/2008
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• "In reference to the "Broken Record" comment below about one rule for some and another for every one else - Is there no end to your shame BR? The Daily Record put an argument between a lawyer and an air hostess on a diverted flight of Celtic fans on the front page and managed to spin it as a mid-air riot (nothing has come of that to this day incidentally) yet when hundreds, if not thousands of Rangers fans rioted in Manchester the other week, trashing the city centre and jumping on a police officer's head the same paper buried the story several pages in in favour of a positive PR puff to sell more copies. The Record simply has zero journalistic credibility. They even gave a platform to the "it wisnae us - it wis the English" nonsense from Ibrox while the rest of the world's media was showing pictures of hundreds of rioters. On the wider issue - this type of reaction always follows when a sports journalist (who is essentially an entertainment journalist) feels they have a right to start offering us their opinions on all kinds of social and political matters. It's a lesson to all sports journalists in Scotland to stop being quite so self regarding and to get on with their job of reporting SPORT in an interesting, informative, entertaining and even provocative way. They should not use their position to express their own petty bigotries and unsubstantiated, home spun social commentry."
  Telly Tubby 30/05/2008
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• "A working journalist. No connection, as far as I am aware, with the NUJ. Why don't you reveal yourself? Mike"
  SilverLining 12/05/2008
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• "SilverLining: Are you Mike Wilson? If so or if not, why aren't you identified? And why haven't you answered Cath's point? Is the writer a working journalist or an NUJ apologist?"
  RumblesGrumble 12/05/2008
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• "Youre learning Kenny Hodgart, i see you withheld your name this time."
  Stevie1 07/05/2008
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• "Hear, hear.I'm neither Catholic nor Protestant but how exactly is the word bead-rattling in the context it was written amount to sectarian abuse? Just because someone says it's offensive doesn't make it necessarily so. Shame on Celtic for bending to the self-same reactionary forces which Mr Hodgart was lampooning in his column, and forcing the resignation of a promising young sportswriter. The precedent this sets is deeply worrying."
  Sean Green 30/04/2008
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• "For those so 'offended' and obviously lacking in humour, perspective and the 'real world' out there, i feel sorry for you. For Kenny Hodgart, i feel sorry for him for so being dumped so shamelessly by his spineless, incompetent bosses. it is a bad day for everyone in society that this has happened. I am not regligious in any way. I set my own moral compass. But, i defend everyones right to follow any religion they like and express any opinion they like. Anyone who's offended by such a comment, simply doesn't get it!"
  Man from Uncle1 30/04/2008
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• "Oh, and to those who have insisted on the writer's identity being revealed....why are you not identifying yourselves when you too state an opinion?"
  SilverLining 28/04/2008
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• "CommittedCath: But the writer has stated their stance: 'I'm a committed Catholic who works in the media.' Is that not enough to allow the person to then pen an opinion?"
  SilverLining 28/04/2008
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• "How could you even consider publishing this opinion piece without revealing who wrote it? This is a major dent to your credibility which calls your integrity into question. I think a serious change of policy is needed here. What an absolute piece of nonsense."
  enquiring camera girl 28/04/2008
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• "Not: Should have been clear - by "these comments", I am referring to the writer's assertion that bead-rattler ONLY applies in a humorous, football-related context, which I would contend is utterly erroneous."
  CommittedCath1 28/04/2008
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• "Silverlining: "But I would gladly go to a burning stake to defend the right of each of them to write whatever they like about the Catholic Church." Is it standard practice to make such a claim but not even have the courage to put one's name to it? Is it not also standard practice to test the accuracy of comments such as these? Why would the writer fear "their name perhaps deflecting the focus of attention"? Is the writer even a working journalist or perhaps a union representative? Surely, your readers have a right to some information indicating the platform they are speaking from? Why make Hodgart such a cause celebre? Would you take the same stand if such disparaging comments had been made against gays? Allmediascotland has obviously taken a stance."
  CommittedCath1 28/04/2008
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• "I totally agree that the SH have passed the buck on this one instead of blaming the editors who let the copy go in unchecked. You have to assume that they either a) didn't think it was offensive in the first place and have pandered to a vocal minority or b) didn't bother checking it in the first place. I don't think you can lay the blame on a freelancer who was probably told to deliberately write an edgy, provocative column. I'd argue that Artur Boruc's "God bless the Pope" T-shirt at the recent Old Firm match was more concerning than a light-hearted sports column. Some may argue that religious ridicule is not acceptable at all but it should be the other way round. Yes, people have different beliefs but it doesn't mean that anyone is "right" about them. A dose of cynicism and light humour is necessary lest we start living in a climate of fear and repression..... Oh."
  Badger 28/04/2008
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• "The SH were gutless to apologise. Journalism is supposed to be provocative. If readers were offended then that's their problem. It's po-faced humorlessness we should be stamping out - not journalism."
  zsazsa gabored 28/04/2008
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• "Craven "A". Fully filtered! I'm a 'bead-rattler' and I see no reason why Kenny Hodgart should be relieved of his duties. I am inclined to agree with Dr. Richard Dawkins' contention that religion shouldn't be beyond analysis, criticism or parody. Faith, if your profess to having any, is nobody's business but your own. The essential point here is not the pathetic perceived insult to Celtic football supporters - who like many are not known for their rationality - it's whether the remark was true or not. If newspaper journalists are to be pilloried for being wrong then we can expect The Sunday Herald to be one long apology when it comes out next week. Those who take exception to this sort of nonsense would do well to consider their part in pepetuating the idiotic sectarian bullshit that pervades Scotland in general and Glasgow in particular. The sheep are dead. Long live the sheep! Why don't you think for yourselves and stop hiding behind this clanish, sectarian safety blanket? As far as I'm concerned it's all fair game with the proviso that what is being postulated is true or at least an attempt at the truth. In this case only a demented bead-rattler or Kenny Hodgart would suggest that Celtic should appoint their managers for their 'bead-rattling' abilities rather than footballing pedigree and nous."
  Midge 27/04/2008
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• "More hand wringing by the Sunday Herald. A mistake undoubtedly but when will the Sunday Herald stop believing it is some integral pillar of Scottish society. As for the suggestion that the comment was comparable to some deep rooted racist slur, come on. The hopeless insistence by some that we must constantly apologise or feel guilty for the society we live in, the way it talks, its petty prejudices, poor humour and ridiculous religious obsessions is, quite frankly, laughable."
  ends 27/04/2008
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• "A classic example of cowardice from people who claim to be courageous, modern and inspirational. Sadly, they have joined the growing trait that, if enough people complain, it must be wrong. Why not allow the journalist to 'defend' the phrase and put the whole thing into context? Any reasonable person wouldn't be offended at this. Opinion and debate is being rapidly eroded in this country and when a so-called liberal newspaper reacts in such a gutless and po-faced manner, what chance do we have? The Sunday Herald has lost this particular reader over this fiasco. Freedom of speech, it appears, is not celebrated at the publication, despite its proclamations to the contrary. I wonder what the paper's view was when the images of Allah were published in the Danish newspapers? It strikes me there are similarities. If enough people shout loud enough, basic principles are lost. Gutless is probably the worst desription a newsaper could wish for. Sadly, the cap fits the SH all too well."
  Dave2 25/04/2008
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• "Whether what was written in the article was right or wrong, the whole point of having an editor, editorial team and process is to ensure that the onus of what is actually published - particularly on issues which may be controversial - lays with a senior person i.e. the appropriate editor. If the editor felt that this was such a controversial term to use, why did he, or his editorial team not remove it at editorial stage? The sports editor at the very least should hang his head in shame at the following week's response and actions against the reporter - it appears little more than an attempt to pass the buck onto the reporter/sub-editor in order to cover his own sad ass when faced with complaints and condemnation! What is the editor paid for anyway if he cannot take responsibility! I hope that Kenny seriously considers taking legal advice on his public wrapping!"
  CJ 25/04/2008
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• "The world, and by that I mean the West of Scotland, seems to have lost all sense of perspective. Any individual who actually takes offense at such a phrase shoud take a look at themselves. Some people seem to take offense because they think they should be offended."
  YoYo! 25/04/2008
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• "So, your writer is a committed Catholic who has no objection to the term 'bead rattler' and appears to find more offence with the Sunday Herald actually apologising rather than for the use of terminology that could only encourage bigotry. I wonder what would have happened had the reference in Hodgart's article been a derogatory comment about the Koran or the Islamic religion? You can be quite sure that such a comment would have caused ructions internationally never mind the reaction in little old Scotland. But its only Catholicism, for God's sake! Sweep it under the carpet and ignore it would appear to be your writer's reaction. The comment towards the end of Hodgart's article was offensive. People reacted in numbers by complaining. In years gone by this would not have happened. Scotland should be thankful that in this day and age people care about such matters. Because people care and react Scotland will eventually see the end of bigotry. No club would be permitted to survive these days while refusing to sign people of a particular creed or colour. The SundayHerald did the right thing and should be congratulated. It was a proper and decent apology. In years gone by no such apology would have seen the light of day. It is another sign of the changing times in Scotland and the sooner the bigots realise that it is a case of 'never again' the better. Stand up, speak up and react to all forms of bigotry. One Scotland, many cultures."
  BrightFuture 25/04/2008
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• "To those who say that religion has nothing to do with the story being written about - think again. Since day one of Gordon Strachan's tenure at Celtic Park there has been criticism by some that he is not "Celtic-minded". This term is a pretty obvious allusion to being a Scottish/Irish Roman Catholic. Many of those who wish to see Strachan removed do so not because of results or style of play (although many do) but because he does not fit the rather narrow and prejudiced view of what a Celtic manager should represent. Furthermore, at no point in the 'offending' article does the author damn all Celtic fans or all Roman Catholics but only those for whom the appointment of the managerial role at Parkhead is a matter of politics and religion rather football and ability (or at least we're left to infer as much since few journalists risk actually identifying what motivates a section of the Celtic support to call for Strachan's removal)."
  K Conspiracy 25/04/2008
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• ""Celtic immediately protested to the Sunday Herald....." Absolute rubbish and shows you up as a slacker who does not do their howework. Celtic contacted the Herals on the Thursday after a tidal wave of complaints from their fans. This guy must be a naye of yours."
  Zetabhoy 25/04/2008
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• "I am a protestant, Church of Scotland, but I would chastise any of my kids if they were to refer to a Catholic as a "bead rattler". It was poor journalism from ALL involved."
  David2 25/04/2008
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• "What happened to Freedom of Speech in this Big Brotherlike world? My mother is a catholic, bead rattles all the time. Doesn't offend her."
  Naka's Dog 25/04/2008
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• "CommittedCath: To perhaps reassure you, it is standard practice for some articles to be identified, 'name withheld', so long as the publisher knows the identity and is satisfied by their credentials. I am. The author wished to make a point about the treatment of a fellow media worker, in preference to their name perhaps deflecting the focus of attention. Hence the request to keep their identity out of it. Webmaster."
  SilverLining 25/04/2008
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• "I feel sorry for anyone who was offended. Not sorry because you were offended, sorry that you're so blinkered and brainwashed that you can't have a sense of humour. If that's what religion does to you, I'm glad I'm a Jedi. And by the way, paranoid Cellic fans, what are you saying after the ref kept you in the title race last week? Now, that's offensive..."
  Bill Hicks 25/04/2008
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• "It is utterly shameful that a piece such as this should appear without a byline, not least because it rests on an assertion that the writer is a "committed Catholic", a term I have never heard a Catholic use. I also find it hard to believe that none of the writer's many Catholic friends were offended and that any of them would relate the rosary to "superstition". If someone wants to defend the right of Kenny Hodgart to defend the "other" Catholics, let him put his name to the piece so that those religious credentials can at least be verified. It is, however, a very familiar line of defence going back as far as the many followers of Pastor Jack Glass who tended to prefix their attacks on papery by claiming "I used to be a Catholic until I saw the error of my ways. I also generally take issue with people who say: "Well I'm a Catholic and it doesn't bother me" and thereby conclude that others who take a different view have some sort of problem. Some men get into fistfights every few weeks and barely bat an eye after them - others find the idea distressing and demeaning. The fact that one person isn't offended by something doesn't change the right of another to object to it. But how uniquely Scottish to rise up in defence of the right to abuse Catholics. I will look out for a similar anonymous piece with the theme "I'm a Sikh but I find being called a towel-head quite funny"."
  CommittedCath 25/04/2008
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• "why aren't any senior heads rolling at the sunday herald for letting this copy pass through?? ... instead, they make a token gesture of binning a cheap freelancer. Wow. SHAME on those in charge at that newspaper for doing nothing other than protect their own backs."
  Angela2 25/04/2008
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• "strange that someone who feels so strongly about this to write an article (ahem) doesnt have the guts to put their name to it!"
  djr 25/04/2008
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• ""Celtic immediately protested to the Sunday Herald" ... this remark is designed to give connotation that Celtic were giving kneejerk reaction. "It was a bigger apology than that which Express Newspapers gave to the parents of Madeleine McCann for suggesting that they were involved in their daughter’s disappearance." Oh really?"
  amca 25/04/2008
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• "I agree with those who have attacked Kenny Hodgart's use of the phrase. No newspaper should condone such terminology. But a young journalist, who has probably been asked to make his column controversial, edgy etc. should never have been so publicly shamed by his employers. The Sunday Herald's apology compounded the original error and the fact that the only named offender is a lowly freelance is disgusting. Why didn't a sub editor, copy taster, proof reader or page editor pick this up? Why didn't the editor or sports editor? Why aren't any of them named? The back story here, of curse, is that most of these jobs have been done away with by Newsquest and the Sunday Herald barely has enough people to get the paper out each week, let alone to read it all first."
  ambo 25/04/2008
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• "AllmediaScotland should be ashamed of themselves for allowing a platform to let someone defend the'beadrattler' comment. Hve the people who run this website not learned anything from what happened at the Sunday Herald. They should withdraw this 'opinion' piece and apologise for its inclusion."
  bob1 25/04/2008
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• "the writer of the article has missed the point. What was the relevance of adding that "colourful" term except to cause offense? There was no relevance, he can't claim ignorance about the term, and catholicism had no relevance to the subject in hand. As the topic was about Celtic and its manager, what was the need for any colourful jibes at the Catholic faith? The article was no philiosophical debate over religion, so listing the new enlightenment leaders (double/treble sic!) was just as laughable."
  jbc 25/04/2008
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• "i'd have more time for this defence of kenny hodgart if the writer had had the courage to put his/her own name on it. as it stands, hodgart made a catastrophically bad decision to use that phrase, one compounded by the sunday herald's own failings in actually printing it"
  de_pressed 25/04/2008
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• "I'm a Catholic and a Celtic supporter and a journalist at a newspaper that doesn't enjoy a great reputation with Celtic fans. When copy comes in, you do have to take out parts because they will cause offence. Someone at the Sunday Herald should have taken note of tis phrase and changed it/deleted it..but they didn't. Sadly in Scotland, it seems it's one rule for Catholics and another for any other section of the community when it comes to public mocking."
  broken record 25/04/2008
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• "No Catholic I know would ever use the word "superstitious" in relation to rosary beads."
  ek_celt 25/04/2008
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• "I agree he was let down by his senior colleagues...but only by allowing his stupid and derogatory comment to pass proof reading. Bigotry needs to be stamped out at any level and for a newspaper with the clout of The Sunday Herald to perpetuate it was wholly unacceptable. The lad has been hung out to dry by his bosses....but that is no reason to defend an offensive and extremely misguided comment in the first place. Had his comeents been about sashes or goats Im sure the other side of the city would have been equally offended. Lets not add to Scotlands shame...theres enough of it about."
  Hoopy 25/04/2008
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• "Imagine the fallout if he'd called muslims "towel heads?" Bigotry in any form is offensive - and it's about time people stood up to it."
  SteveB 25/04/2008
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• "You have to assume this column was written a good day or so before the mad rush that is a Saturday afternoon on a Sunday newspaper sportsdesk. So, did no-one in a senior position even bother to read it? Do editors no longer check what's going out on their watch?"
  MyWord 25/04/2008
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• "Whether you think it was mildly offensive or not, it WAS offensive. The sort of throwaway sectarian jibe that Catholics and Irish people are expected to take on the chin, while similar epithets against people of other nationalities and creeds would land the writer in court. However, I accept Kenny's aim was to be provocative in a light-hearted way. A good Editor would have spotted the phrase, and advised him to change it. Or supported him in public, while chastising him in private. Somewhere along the line, someone in a senior position took the easy, cheap way out."
  Soo-Sider 25/04/2008
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• "Couldn't agree more. Imagine if it was you: you'd be sick with worry, about your income and, indeed, your career. And all because....."
  Hibee 25/04/2008
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