Using Christianity as a means to discriminate

Published on 21/10/2012 00:00

GORDON Wilson argues on the assumption that the granting of human rights in this country lies solely within the gift of Christians: theirs to confer, restrict or take away as they see fit, and over which ­no-one else has a say.

He misrepresents the ­Scottish Government consultation as a referendum, and ignores his fellow Christians whose interpretation of their faith is inconveniently at odds with his and who do want to hold same-sex marriage ­ceremonies in their religious settings.

He is in complete denial that a single institution of marriage available to any who choose it is a simple matter of social justice.

Those who use Christian tradition as he does, which at root is a means of discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, are being profoundly contrary to the values of compassion and inclusivity that on other occasions they loudly proclaim as the exclusive hallmarks of their faith.

Neither the Scottish Government nor the Scottish people will be so myopic or prejudiced.

Alistair McBay, 
National Secular Society