I've made no comment on the current media stramash on the Scottish Guvinment's consultation on Same Sex Marriage up till now, but it's been interesting watching the apparently unlikely alliance of the Roman Catholic and Free Churches ("Nae chance" approach) http://www.scmo.org/articles/archbishop-mario-conti-issues-statement-on-marriage.html and also the reaction to the sharp critique offered by the Provost of St Mary's Cathedral Glasgow ("You lot embarrass the Christian community") http://www.thurible.net/20111009/sermon-preached-on-9-october-2011/comment-page-1/#comment-14304. The Primus of the SEC has given what I regard as a nicely judged contribution in today's Hootsmon snoozepaper: http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/opinion/cartoon/the_most_rev_david_chillingworth_a_secular_state_should_be_prepared_to_defend_religious_freedom_1_1905917
I acknowledge the absolute right and freedom of those opposed to the idea to let the appropriate authorities know what they think. It's called democracy. If they expect it to be uncritically adopted, then they are seeking a theocracy, which I never liked since studying Politics and the Continental Reformation at Uni. Zwingli and Calvin didn't run City States with a good record for tolerating theological diversity and their heirs would be as assuredly bad at it as they were. The Holy Camping Stove of St Andrews is quite right. Freedom to bless and affirm, with a conscience clause allowing those faith groups who conscientiously disagree to not participate, strikes as an entirely reasonable, mature approach. Welcome to the modern world, O Church leaders who hanker after an age when you were kow-towed to.
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