The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement deplores the latest
attack of Thomas Cardinal Winning, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Glasgow, on homosexual people. Cardinal Winning's remarks were
reported in The Scotsman newspaper on Tuesday 18th January
2000 in the following terms:
Cardinal Thomas Winning condemned Mr Dewar for "ignoring the
silent majority" who oppose the repeal of the law banning the
promotion of homosexuality in schools, claiming that the move
would "make it much more difficult for people of the Christian faith
to live in society". He said: "It pains me to use the word perverted
when discussing the homosexual act, but that is what it is."
... Cardinal Winning called on Mr Dewar to make a statement
outlining the executive's attitude to homosexuality. "I would like Mr
Dewar to come out with a statement saying 'This is the policy of
the Scottish executive with regard to homosexuality', and to
emphasise the protection of children particularly."
The reported comments of the Cardinal further reinforce his recently
repeated demeaning and insulting attitude to homosexual people,
and further seek to demonise them and lend support to a minority
of intolerant and prejudiced people in Scotland. Such behaviour in a
secular leader would be appalling enough, but from an individual
responsible for the promotion of the Christian gospel of
unconditional love, the comments are even more repugnant.
The Cardinal's comments are particularly objectionable for the
following reasons:
(1) He seeks to claim support from a "silent majority": In fact, there
is no evidence that a silent majority support the marginalisation of
homosexual people or the retention of section 28. The Scottish
Executive have today revealed that of the 2,350 letters received by
them during the consultation period on the abolition of section 28,
75% were in favour of repeal. In addition, in an NOP Poll conducted
in 1999, 61% of parents questioned across Britain were in favour of
the repeal of section 28. The "silent majority" Cardinal Winning
refers to are in favour of repeal of section 28.
(2) Cardinal Winning's use of the term "perverted" shows his
increasing desperation. The Cardinal is a man on the run,
desperate to increase his influence in a society which increasingly
rejects his condemnatory views. His language betrays a lack of
charity and Christian love for his fellow human beings, created in
the image of God. He cannot possibly believe that the use of such
terminology will increase the kingdom of God. The abuse he heaps
on gay and lesbian people is very far from the commandment of
Christ: "Love one another". His language can only be designed to
pander to the basest prejudice and hatred. It has no basis in the
Christian gospel, but only in the rhetoric of a figure who is
increasingly an embarrassment even within his own Roman
Catholic community.
(3) Cardinal Winning seeks to portray the Scottish Executive as
evasive with regard to their position on homosexuality. This is far
from the case. Both the First Minister, Donald Dewar MSP, and the
Minister for Communities, Wendy Alexander MSP, as well as
numerous other political leaders from across the Scottish political
spectrum, have been crystal clear on their attitude to homosexual
people. Their view, and it is one shared by the Lesbian and Gay
Christian Movement, is that all Scottish people, regardless of race,
national origin, creed, gender, sexuality, or disability, are entitled to
the same human rights and civic liberties. This vision of an
inclusive Scottish Society, where all human beings may pursue
their happiness with respect and mutual concern for others, is one
which Cardinal Winning, through his support for section 28, has
distanced himself from. The Cardinal is entitled to pursue his vision
of a conservative Catholic society if he wishes, but this does not
give him the right to force this on others, nor to ridicule and deride
the majority, who through electing members of the Scottish
Parliament committed to the repeal of the bigoted section 28, have
clearly and unequivocally shown their support for a society
underpinned by civil rights and equality for all.
Martin Hogg, an Edinburgh based Director of the Lesbian and Gay
Christian Movement, commenting on the Cardinal's comments,
said:
"The Cardinal's latest statement has demonstrated clearly his
loathing for homosexual people and their relationships. No attempt
at 'spin' by his press officers can cover this up. This is not a case
of the Cardinal, to use that abhorrent and bankrupt phrase, 'loving
the sinner, but hating the sin'. This is not a case of the Cardinal
protecting family values and the rights of parents and children. This
is a case of a Christian leader who is so steeped in conservative,
prejudiced views that he has closed his mind to the vision of love
which Christ holds for all people. This is a case of a Christian
leader who appears to care not one jot for the isolation of gay and
lesbian schoolchildren, who are so often subject to repeated and
horrific verbal and physical abuse. This is a case of human beings
being demeaned and denigrated by a man who should be coming
to their defence."
18th January 2000
ENDS
Further information
Rev Richard Kirker 0171 739 1249