Leader: A time when a Church’s view must be ignored

The Catholic Church in Scotland has as much right as any other organisation or group to put its views on issues of the day to the Scottish Government,

in the hope that ministers will listen and accept their arguments when they frame policy. That, however, is as far as the influence of the Church or any other body, secular or spiritual, should go.

There have been times in the recent debates over the legislation aimed at combating sectarianism and “gay marriage” when the Catholic Church, perhaps unintentionally as a consequence of the vociferous way it has expressed of its views, has given the impression it had a right to be heard above others. Yet if Church leaders pause to think about this, they must acknowledge such a position of influence would be profoundly undemocratic in a democratic society, even if the organisation in question has a profound, and sincere, belief that it is answering to a higher power.

That is the context in which we must see the meeting yesterday between First Minister Alex Salmond and the Rt Rev Philip Tartaglia, Bishop of Paisley, who has been leading his Church’s criticism of the SNP administration’s policies in these two controversial areas. After the meeting, the bishop was less concerned over the sectarianism legislation, about which he had previously been highly critical, than about the issue of gay marriage, warning of the prospect of an “ongoing” rift with the government if the plans for this are passed by the nationalist administration at Holyrood.

It is difficult not to see these words as an implied threat to the SNP which, after all, wishes to win over Scots, including Catholic Scots, in referendum on independence some time in the next four years. Yet all of those who value our democracy must hope Mr Salmond and his party will not be pressurised by such a warning.

To Mr Salmond’s credit, there were clear signs last night that the First Minister was not about to back down. He is right to stick to his guns for a two reasons. First, the policy of equality under the law for gay couples is correct in principle in a modern country like Scotland. Despite what is being said, clergy who do not wish to “marry” gay couples will not be forced to do so.

Secondly, Mr Salmond will in all probability know there is no uniform view from ordinary Catholics on the issue. As with other moral teachings, there are many Catholics who take a more liberal view then their spiritual leaders. We do not know how many, but they will be a not-insignificant number.

We are sure that Mr Salmond listened carefully to the bishop, but we are also sure he will have heard others who have a different views – including those in other faiths, and those who are not religious – and he will decide his party is right, on this occasion, to politely and respectfully disagree with a powerful but not omnipotent voice in Scottish society.