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GLASGOW, Scotland, July 20, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) — The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland surrendered to public backlash and cancelled its scheduled July 21 march in Glasgow after a member of the group attacked a priest in an apparent expression of anti-Catholic sentiment during a procession past a church.

The parade route had included the street outside St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church where, two weeks earlier, another Orange Walk passed. As parishioners left Saturday Vigil Mass on July 7, they and their pastor, Canon Tom White, were treated to a barrage of anti-Catholic taunts as the marchers passed by. In addition, the priest was spat on twice and menaced by a young man carrying a pole.

Orange Marches, or Walks, are annual expressions of British Protestant pride in their culture, commemorating the 1790 defeat of the Catholic king of England, James VII, by the Protestant William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. They remain a feature of British life in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and far-flung outposts of the former British Empire, like Orangeville, Ontario, and Toronto.

Some Scots, however, object that Orange Marches are inextricably linked with an anti-Catholic triumphalism that has no place in 21st century Scotland. After the attack on Canon White, for which the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland refused responsibility, more than 75,000 people signed a petition asking that the Glasgow municipal government ban Orange Walks completely.

The government refused. Instead, Council leader Susan Aiken told Orange Lodge leaders to take responsibility for anti-Catholic behavior at their parades. She told them that if they didn’t voluntarily change the route of Orange Walks that the government would “insist.”

The Orange Lodge has stated that it cancelled its July 21 march through Glasgow — and past St. Alphonsus’ Roman Catholic Church — to allow a “fresh, forward-thinking perspective” before future marches take place.

In a statement to the press, parade organizers said:   

“We welcome the opportunity to continue positive dialogue with Glasgow City Council, the police, and other stakeholders regarding future parades.”`

“We should be looking forward, not back,” it continued, “and our lodges took the decision to postpone the above parade due to take place this Saturday, therefore allowing some additional time over those discussions which would give everyone the opportunity to look at matters from a fresh, forward thinking perspective.”

Police are still investigating the attack on Canon White.