Sabbath ferry campaigners attacked by own spokesman

Published on Wednesday 15 July 2009 21:56

A FORMER spokesman for campaigners against Sunday ferries to Lewis has accused them of gross mismanagement.

Caledonian MacBrayne announced on Tuesday it is to begin regular Sabbath crossings between Stornoway and Ullapool, despite opposition from the islands' council and churchgoers. It said it had been forced into the move after complaints it had breached equality legislation.

One of the most vociferous groups against the plans has been the Lord's Day Observance Society (LDOS).

Following CalMac's announcement, no formal response was made by LDOS. John Macleod, a journalist who previously spoke for the group, has criticised its lack of action.

In a letter to the Hebrides News website, Mr Macleod said there are serious questions to be asked about the conduct of local Christians and especially the leadership of the LDOS.

"The failure of the mass of local believers to make any sort of public stand for the Lord's Day was terrifying. But words fail me to fathom the antics in the last critical weeks of the LDOS."

John Roberts, a LDOS director, said the announcement came while many local members, including chairman Dr Iain Campbell, were on holiday: "We will take criticism when it's fair. But any criticism is totally unfair in this instance.

"I don't know what else they (the local LDOS] could do."