Fury as minister links gays and paedophiles Same-sex marriage law ‘an attack on Bible’
Rev James Gracie: I am not going to back off from holding my views
CAMPAIGNERS in favour of same-sex marriage complained to the police about an “offensive” leaflet being handed out during a church-led demonstration held after a minister drew parallels between homosexuality and paedophilia during a live radio debate.
The Rev James Gracie, of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), said homosexuality was a sin and warned a same-sex marriage law would be “a direct attack on the Christian faith and the Bible”, on Call Kaye, on BBC Radio Scotland.
Asked if it should be allowed on grounds of equality, he replied: “The difficulty with that argument is that people are not treated equally.
“If the homosexuals, and these people, want to be treated equally, then what about paedophiles? What about polygamy?”
Later, on the show, he said being gay was “a lifestyle choice”.
When fellow guest, Tom French, of the Equality Network, disagreed, Mr Gracie replied: “Even if you were to take that view, there are people who steal, people have tendencies for all sorts of things.”
His comments provoked fury from groups supporting proposals to legalise same-sex marriage.
Mr Gracie, a minister in Arthur Street, Edinburgh, later stood by his on-air comments, although he did say he believed he was not allowed to finish his points, which may have left them open to misinterpretation. “I don’t think I need to apologise or clarify,” he said.
“But I have my view the same as a homosexual would have his view. I’m not homophobic. If I was to go down the street and saw a man say to a homosexual ‘you are a queer’, I would go into court and be a witness for him.
“If I’ve unnecessarily offended someone then I do apologise, but I’m not going to back off from holding my views.”
After the show, he took part in a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament, where anti-same-sex marriage campaigners were advised by police to withdraw a leaflet said to be offensive.
“We were trying to be law abiding,” he said. “There was one leaflet that police got hold of. We withdrew it immediately.
“I never saw it. It was not one of the ones we brought, it was another Christian.”
Mr French later led criticisms of the minister’s comments. “It is disappointing that the opponents of equal marriage are comparing loving same-sex couples to paedophiles, polygamists and thieves in an increasingly desperate effort to persuade the Scottish Government to ditch their proposals to legalise same-sex marriage,” he said.
Grant Costello, chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament, added: “We are extremely concerned that in our modern Scotland, homophobic abuse and smears on national radio can be allowed to take place.”
Nathan Sparling, NUS Scotland ’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender officer, said: “These kinds of comments, and similar ones aimed at the young people who were peacefully and positively demonstrating their support for marriage equality at the parliament, are truly despicable. A formal complaint was raised with Lothian & Borders police about the incident at Holyrood.”
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Monday 28 May 2012
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