Cheers for Cardinal Thomas Winning...
Cardinal's Slurs Against Homosexuals Condemned
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
lgcm.org.uk
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