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| Scottish independence: Kirk offers post-vote 'healing' service | Scottish independence: Kirk offers post-vote 'healing' service |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Leaders from all sides of the referendum campaign have been invited to a Church of Scotland reconciliation service three days after the vote. | Leaders from all sides of the referendum campaign have been invited to a Church of Scotland reconciliation service three days after the vote. |
| The service, at Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral on 21 September, will focus on healing divisions and building the future together, the church said. | The service, at Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral on 21 September, will focus on healing divisions and building the future together, the church said. |
| Moderator Designate Rev John Chalmers said there was a danger the referendum would set people against each other. | Moderator Designate Rev John Chalmers said there was a danger the referendum would set people against each other. |
| The Church said it hoped similar services would be held across Scotland. | The Church said it hoped similar services would be held across Scotland. |
| It said its service would highlight the need to put differences aside and begin working with each other, whatever the outcome of the vote on 18 September. | It said its service would highlight the need to put differences aside and begin working with each other, whatever the outcome of the vote on 18 September. |
| Social cohesion | Social cohesion |
| Rev Chalmers said: "Once the referendum vote has taken place, we shall have neither utopia nor unity. | Rev Chalmers said: "Once the referendum vote has taken place, we shall have neither utopia nor unity. |
| "In the coming months there is a danger the referendum will set people against each other, in their own community, their own street - even their own family. | "In the coming months there is a danger the referendum will set people against each other, in their own community, their own street - even their own family. |
| "It will be important for each side of this campaign to be magnanimous whatever the outcome and the Church of Scotland, as a national church, is well placed to bring people back together in a spirit of reconciliation. | "It will be important for each side of this campaign to be magnanimous whatever the outcome and the Church of Scotland, as a national church, is well placed to bring people back together in a spirit of reconciliation. |
| "Politicians represent the people, and it is my hope that by joining together in worship after the referendum they will send the clearest possible message that everyone has a role to play in building Scotland's future." | "Politicians represent the people, and it is my hope that by joining together in worship after the referendum they will send the clearest possible message that everyone has a role to play in building Scotland's future." |
| A spokesman for Yes Scotland said whatever the outcome of the vote, it would be incumbent on people on both sides of the debate to co-operate for the benefit of the country. | |
| "When we receive the invitation from the Church of Scotland we will be pleased to accept," he added. | |
| A Better Together spokesman said: "Regardless of which way we vote as individuals, nobody should doubt the good faith of anybody in this debate. | |
| "We all love Scotland and want to see the best future for our country, but we can respectfully disagree about how we achieve that." | |
| Rev Chalmers takes up office as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on 17 May. |