“Institutional Sectarianism”, “Homophobia” and “Religious Hatred”
Judging by media representations, these are fundamental problems of modern Scottish society and their eradication would make our nation an idyllic place in which to live. The Scottish Roman Catholic Cardinal demands that the Scottish Executive face up to the problems of “institutional sectarianism”. The commendable decision of the vast majority of Church of Scotland Presbyteries to veto the blessing of same-sex civil partnerships by Church of Scotland ministers, and the attempt of a university Christian Union to promote Biblical teaching on human relationships, are greeted with accusations of “homophobia”. Anything verging on criticism of the Islam, or any other non-Christian religion, is condemned as “religious hatred”.
The Cardinal has now concluded that most instances of sectarianism do not involve football, parades and marches (areas in which he thinks progress has been made) and that we should “begin to look at the wider social causes of sectarian animosity”. He claims that “poverty, unemployment, poor housing, and young people with nothing to do, are all contributing to the problem”. Supporters are quoted as asking why Roman Catholics are almost twice as likely to “end up in jail” and why they do not “get a fair crack of the whip” in the justice system, health, education and the boardroom? Of course the Cardinal believes that what he regards as unworthy discrimination is found at the highest levels of society in the exclusion of Roman Catholics from the throne.
No consideration is given to other possible causes for so many nominal Roman Catholics allegedly being in relatively poor circumstances. No enquiry is proposed as to why “derogatory conduct towards Catholics” made up 64% of 532 “religiously aggravated crimes” in 18 months in 2004/2005, “with Protestants being victimised in 31%” – when less than 16% of the population is registered as Roman Catholic. The disproportionate place given to Roman Catholic spokesmen on moral and religious matters, the favoured status of Roman Catholic schools, the benefit to Roman Catholicism from immigration from Europe and such-like bonuses are not mentioned.
Attempts are made to silence assertions of the biblical position on euphemistically-named “gay” relationships by attributing such assertions to homophobia. Phobia is generally taken to mean hatred rather than fear and, in either sense, wrong motivation is attributed to those who combine aversion to that way of life with a desire for the well-being of those who practise it. The Scottish Parliament recently passed, by a large majority, an Act allowing the adoption of children by those in same-sex civil partnerships and refusing to give exemption to “faith-based adoption agencies”. Opposition was led by Roseanna Cunningham MSP, who had favoured civil partnerships but was of the view that “a traditional family is the best place to bring up children”. She obviously did not recognise that to concede the principle that such relationships are legitimate only opened the way to demands for further “rights”. It seems that few in authority recognise that, as Murdo Fraser MSP put it and as many citizens probably believe, “people who express these views are not homophobes or extremists or religious nutters, as some would suggest. They have genuine concerns and their concerns should not be dismissed.”
When people even question the peace-loving credentials of a religion whose followers parade with banners declaring, “Exterminate those who slander Islam”, they are accused of religious hatred and are themselves equated with the “extremist fundamentalists” who are blamed for these demonstrations. Politicians, religious leaders, and even our Queen, feel it necessary to concentrate on what they regard as the common features of the “great faiths”. It cannot be accepted that anyone who subjects the dogma and practice of another religion to reasonable and courteous scrutiny, from the standpoint that absolute truth belongs to the Christianity of the Bible, acts from anything other than obscurantism, bigotry or religious hatred.
There is little doubt that the current strategy of “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph 2: 2), is that encapsulated in one of the world’s own proverbs: “give a dog a bad name”. Browbeat the critics into submission, or keep people from listening to their arguments, by writing them off as motivated by one of these cardinal sins of the day. Do not let people think for a moment that perhaps there are infallible standards of belief and morality and that perhaps these critics love their God and their fellow sinners so much that they are constrained to try to communicate the truth to others for their good and for God’s glory. Truly, the more that people glory in their human reason, the more unreasonable they become. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. . . . Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind” (Rom 1:22,28). We need to hear the alarm bells ringing. Rationalism and pluralism have ruinous tendencies. As the Bible puts it: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov 14:34). HMC
Sexual Orientation Regulations
The Sexual Orientation Regulations are intended to cover the provision of goods, facilities and services, and education. They apply to schools, businesses, and voluntary organisations including churches, and they have already become law in Northern Ireland (although, following a challenge by the Christian Institute, the High Court has granted a judicial review, to be heard in March). They are expected to become law in the rest of the UK in April and they recently passed the House of Lord by 199 votes to 66. The declared purpose of the Regulations is to make it illegal to harass or discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation. They are of broad application, and in some cases the burden of proof is reversed so that those accused of harassment under the Regulations are required to prove their innocence or else pay a substantial fine.
The Word of God strongly condemns homosexual conduct, treating it alongside adultery, incest, and bestiality (Lev 20:10-16). Under the Old Testament economy it was punishable by death (v 13), and it is clear that it ought to continue illegal in the New Testament dispensation. Like adultery, it is “an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges” (Job 31:11). In Britain homosexuality was criminal until 1967, but since then the law has been turned around in its favour, and the new Regulations take a further step in this direction. The long-term purpose of the homosexual movement, guided by Satan, is to silence any condemnation of homosexuality. The new Regulations, if confirmed, will certainly prove a powerful instrument of intimidation in the hands of homosexuals.
Christians are to be grieved at such laws, but they are not to despair. Christ has all power and it is He that is permitting these judgements to come upon Britain. Our nation has sown the wind in rejecting Protestantism and the Bible, and we are now reaping the whirlwind (Hos 8:7). We pray that these Regulations will not become law, or will not continue as law. But in any event the triumph of evil will be short. “The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for He seeth that his day is coming. . . . Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it” (Ps 37:12-13,34). DWBS