Foreword – Our Freedom Of Speech Is Under Threat
Some time ago I submitted the following letter for possible publication through my usual media outlets. I did so under the impression that our island war memorials record the names of our courageous forebears who in the face of tyranny laid down their lives so that their eternally indebted descendants could exercise their fundamental right to freedom of speech.
Regrettably, I am gradually realising there are some media personnel in our community who insult and defile those forbears ultimate sacrifice by denying others legitimate free speech simply because editorial control affords them the vicarious pleasure of exercising that privilege. Are they any better than those who believe democratic debate is about silencing their opponents through intimidation? – Iain M Macdonald

Miavaig

Dear Editor

I make belated reference to a letter written to the local press by Mr Donald John Morrison, a respected Christian evangelist and Free Church (Continuing) lay preacher. Highly critical of the concept of same-sex marriage, Mr Morrison argued that such a union not only contradicted the natural order but openly defied God’s biblical instruction on gender relationships.

In his eagerness to forewarn unrepentant sinners of the awaiting ‘eternal fire’ it would be reasonable to surmise that Mr Morrison might contemplate interrupting such a church-held marriage ceremony, warning the participants of God’s displeasure at their matrimonial embarkation on the road to damnation, quoting verses of scripture to justify his warning.

Should such a scene ever be enacted, unfortunately the impact of Mr Morrison’s intervention in opening his Bible at 1st Corinthians will be greatly undermined when a fellow preacher and members from one of ten different island Christian denominations simultaneously open a carton of confetti to symbolically sprinkle the same-sex union with their blessing. Both sides would defend their actions as being consistent with biblical teaching.

Such a contradictory response should give any rational thinking person pause for thought,before rightly concluding that on this particular issue the broad church has entirely lost the plot, tying itself up in theological knots trying to face in both directions at the same time.

That is exactly where gay rights activists and equality legislators want the church to be because they know it’s much easier to defeat a divided and confused adversary who’s already broken ranks. I fear that unless the broader Christian church pulls together and starts speaking with one voice on same-sex marriage (and other issues) it will lose all credibility, allowing denominational rivalries and lack of consensus to be exploited to devastating effect by a powerful and committed gay rights lobby,satisfied by nothing less than full parity with heterosexual marriages

Their frustration at the clergy having a choice to refuse to conduct a marriage ceremony purely on the grounds of the couple’s sexual orientation, will eat away at the more zealous gay activists’ pride until they feel compelled to rectify this perceived taint on homosexuality by enlisting the help of their obedient politician allies who’ve already made apparent where their sympathies lie in any conflict arising between same-sex issues and the church.

And who’s to say the same-sex equality activists aims won’t be achieved in their entirety, faced with a divided opposition of clergy and church members compromised in their ability to voice dissent by the certainty they will be defamed by pompous liberal do-gooders who falsely portray anyone expressing misgivings about homosexuality as a prejudiced bigot

Nor will this be the gay lobby’s only recourse to achieving their aims. Once same-sex marriage is legalised, any couple refused a marriage ceremony at a specific church location purely on the grounds of their sexual orientation can in theory seek redress against the offending denomination through European Human Rights legislation. It’ll only be a matter of time before an aggrieved same-sex couple seek a European ruling.

In the very likely event of their gaining a favourable outcome, what then for the Scottish clergy? Future uncertainty for all church denomination clergy serving within Scotland’s boundaries could be removed by including in their conditions of service a Scottish Government-sponsored clause giving legal priority to their religious freedom of conscience over any obligation to officiate at a same-sex marriage for the duration of their employment

I would ask those qualified to speak for the Scottish Government, legal profession, church or gay community if they would be in favour of my proposal. And, if not, what would be their objection to including such a clause in church employment contracts.

Until such a written guarantee is forthcoming and enshrined in Scottish law, the solemn assurances given to ministers/priests by the Holyrood Government about their freedom of conscience to shun same-sex marriages is as much worth to the clergy and their congregations as a promise from Judas Iscariot.

Yours faithfully

Iain M Macdonald