Time for charity

Dear Archbishop

I invite you to meet with me and other members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community in Scotland.

I want to give you an opportunity to have a positive and straightforward dialogue with LGBT people in Scotland.

I also want you to understand that the recent and  historic words and actions by the Church have been tremendously hurtful towards LGBT people, no more so than the deployment of words and phrases that lack the basic compassion that should be at the root of Catholic charity.

It is not easy growing up Catholic with such negative re-enforcement, where the love we express for our partners of the same sex, or of the opposite sex as the case may be, is belittled and not recognised.

It is also hard to rationalise the view taken that being gay is a “choice”, in the same way we choose the clothes we wear in the morning or what we buy for lunch.

The Church can no longer promote a non sequitur.

This is an opportunity for you to hear from us and for us to hear from you to enter into dialogue with members of our community. I am disappointed that my previous correspondence to the Church has gone unanswered.

I now, following recent events, make the offer to you again, in an open letter, affording  you another opportunity to  respond. In the words of St Paul, it is now time to show charity.

Daniel Donaldson

Wester Drylaw Drive

Edinburgh