Posted on 02/09/2014 5:44:22 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Scotland's parliament voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to legalize same-sex marriage in the country in a 105 to 18 vote, despite objections from Scotland's main churches and Christian representatives in the government.
Scotland Health Secretary Alex Neil praised the vote and said that it was "right that same-sex couples should be able to freely express their love and commitment to each other through getting married," Reuters reported. "Marriage is about love, and that has always been at the heart of this issue."
Both the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Scottish Roman Catholic Church have opposed the legal change of the definition of marriage, according to The Guardian. Over 50 ministers and church officials had written to the government expressing "deep concern" before the vote took place.
Richard Lyle, a Scottish National Party Member of Scottish Parliament, argued that one main problem with legalizing same-sex marriage is that foster parents could be barred from taking in children if they declare their opposition to the practice.
"What is more likely, yet not less tragic, is that applicants with so-called traditional views on marriage will be put off applying in the first place, fearing they will be branded homophobic," Lyle stated.
SNP's John Mason also had an amendment rejected which called for recognizing that "a belief in marriage as a voluntary union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others for life is a belief worthy of respect in a democratic society."
Mason explained: "This has been the prevailing view in Scotland for centuries, and may now be considered a minority view or even old fashioned, but it is an integral tenet of faith for many Christians, Muslims and others as well as the belief of many of no faith position at all."
Scotland is now set to become the 17th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. In July 2013, Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II officially approved the practice in England and Wales, despite heavy church opposition.
Gay rights activists have praised Tuesday's vote, with Tom French of the Equality Network calling it a "profoundly emotional moment for many people who grew up in a country where being gay was still a criminal offence until 1980."
"Scotland can be proud that we now have one of the most progressive equal marriage bills in the world, and that we've sent out a strong message about the kind of country we are," he added.
The legislation has been opposed by Scotland's minority Christian groups as well, however, with Evangelical Alliance Scotland calling the move a "blow to society."
"Marriage has now been effectively privatized to privilege adult choice and the changes have stripped husband and wife of their obvious meaning. At a time in Scotland when we are considering what kind of nation we want to live in, this legislation sends all the wrong signals about the place of marriage and family in modern day Scotland," said Fred Drummond, director of Evangelical Alliance Scotland.
Northern Ireland is now the last remaining U.K. country without legalized same-sex marriage.
Enjoy buggering yourselves to extinction, Scots. We'll miss your cute accent.
The devil’s work is never done...
The good Scots moved to America nad many established a Presbyterian strong hold around Charlotte NC
That’s a good observation ... but they don’t have cute accents now.
Scotland was once such a hotbed of Christianity that Scotsmen were known as “the people of the Book.” Looks like this is still be the case, but the book in question is now the Communist Manifesto.
And to think that this is the country that is the heir to the Westminster Confession of Faith that is adhered to by Reformed and Presbyterian churches worldwide...
They left the Catholic Church way back when. Now they don't have that legacy to remind them how WRONG homosexuality is.
They don't believe in the papal right to the chair of St. Peter, so NO ONE is there to tell them of the horrid sins they commit when they consider same-sex MARRIAGE. WHAT an abomination.
What's next? Gay adoption? I wouldn't be surprised. My prayers for Scotland's lawmakers.
Well, their population WILL decline but since only 1-1.5% of people CHOOSE homosexuality, the decline will be minimal.
What is appalling is their CHOICE to put the sin of homosexuality on the side of RIGHT. It is an abomination in no uncertain terms.
They WILL repeat the rewards of condoning Satan's bailiwick.
True enough. Scotland has condoned mortal sin by allowing homosexual marriage. They have, by a stroke of their legislative pen, made a WRONG legal. It will never be right, just legal.
EEEEWWWwwwwww!
I am heartened to read that “Churches object.” You bet your arse they object. Their Church leaders know right from wrong. This WILL be excellent fodder for many a homily to come!
“Marriage is about love”
Among other things.
MANY other things.
“Marriage is about love, and that has always been at the heart of this issue.”
To the state in the modern era, marriage is about whatever judges, pols, or the voting public think it is about at any one time. That’s all it ever was or will be to the state. And that has always been at the heart of this issue.
Freegards
End Times
RE: This WILL be excellent fodder for many a homily to come!
Ah, But does Scotland have a fundamental law equivalent to our First Amendment? or will homilies like the one you describe above be made illegal?
RE: Now they don’t have that legacy to remind them how WRONG homosexuality is.
The Bible IS their legacy. The Westminster Confession of Faith is based on the Bible. If you ignore God’s word, not even the Catholic Church or any church for that matter can help you unless you see the error of your ways and repent.
I disagree, for two reasons:
First, the embrace of homosexuality is a tail-end indicator of a general rejection of natural reproduction. Before a society approves homosexual "marriage," a sufficient percentage has already decided that national extinction is acceptable.
Secondly, the choice to engage in homosexual activity is strongly affected by the society's values. There was nothing genetically peculiar about the men of Athens or Sparta: they simply preferred man-on-man sex, for a number of socially-driven reasons.
When enough people in a society pursue genital pleasure independent of permanent, procreative families, the sex of the sex-partner quickly ceases to matter. For example, a man who is used to performing sodomitic sex acts on women can easily switch to a man, if that's all that's convenient when he wants to do it.
I was thinking the same thing. Anybody who thinks marriage is just about love is either not married or hasn’t been married for very long. Fairly tale notions of infatuation for life are half the reason that marriage is such a mess and opened the doors for sodomites to demand recognition.
I don’t think Scotland has a 1st amendment. A street preacher was recently arrested for condemning sexual sin.
“In July 2013, Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II officially approved the practice in England and Wales, despite heavy church opposition.”
So much for Defender of the Faith.
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