You might know that the Scottish Independence campaign seems to have been kicked off in Edinburgh yesterday with both Alex Salmond and Gordon Brown giving speeches on the subject. It isn’t all that often that I dip a toe into politics, usually it’s just when I feel the need to have a wee bit of a rant but James Stafford of Oil Price sent me a copy of an interview with Alex Salmond, and I suppose we should all be gathering as much information as we can, prior to voting for or against Scottish independence in the 2014 referendum. It’s quite a long interview but if you’re interested you can have a look at it here.
I had been intending to do a post on Scottish politics anyway, because Cardinal Wotsisname, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland is having what in my family I call a huff-huff in a huff-tree – in other words he isn’t speaking to the Scottish Government at the moment because it’s likely that gay marriage will become law in Scotland at some point in the future.
Actually, despite my having no interest in any religion I do have some sympathy with them, although I understand that under no circumstances would priests, ministers, rabbis and the like be forced to perform marriage ceremonies for gay couples, I can’t really understand why gay people would WANT to be married in a religious ceremony. It sort of smacks of them poking a big stick at an already sore spot.
Homosexual couples can already become civil partners at a registry office, just as many heterosexual couples have done for years. It’s exactly the same for them all and heterosexual couples don’t go about saying that they had a civil partnership nowadays, it’s just called a wedding or marriage, no matter what it might be officially. I can’t see that what it’s called matters at all, it comes to the same thing, and if they want to break up then they’ll have to get a divorce like anyone else, in fact it seems to me that it’s all just more money for lawyers – as usual! Will getting hitched in a church make any difference? Well it hasn’t done for heterosexual couples.
But, to get back to the cardinal. I know how the next verse of his ‘I’m Not Speaking To You’ song goes, I’m sure everyone else knows too. It’s something like this:
If you don’t do what I want you to do Mr Salmond – then I will tell all of my flock that they must vote against Scottish Independence and the SNP in general. (The tune is Gleeful.)
Given that the turnout for any sort of election is woefully low now, that sort of manipulation could make a big difference. To make matters even more worrying, it’s a well known fact that until very recently the Catholic Church, in common with others was ‘fizzling’ out. They have even closed the seminary because they had no trainee priests. However in recent years they have had a big boost to congregations, due entirely to the eastern European economical migrants who have settled temporarily in Scotland.
The upshot of that is that the whole future of Scotland might be held in the hands of people who have no real interest in the future of the country, because they know that they’ll only be here for a few years, then they’ll go back home again.
It’s those evil twin subjects which should always be avoided in polite company – politics and religion. I know I’m being terribly impolite but it’s a bit of a worry when religious people with power over a lot of voters insist in flexing their muscles.
Well said!
Margaret,
I’m glad you agree!
And shouldn’t religion keep right out of politics? Especially ‘Christian’ religions: the first century Christians, who were much nearer to the teachings taught by Jesus, had nothing to do anything political.
I can’t see the justification for any political interference on the part of the church.
Debbie,
They definitely should keep out, but I know that they RC church used to tell their congregation who to vote for, even in local elections, I’m sure they still do it. The Church of Scotland and Episcopalians didn’t interfere, probably because they knew that their people are Bolshier and wouldn’t do as they were told.
I agree that religion should be kept out of politics, but the converse is also true – government has no business telling the Church what to do either.
Individual acts of individual persons should be subject to the laws of the land, but the State should not be dictating how and when the Church goes about the conduct of its religious rites…like marriage.
Note: I have nothing against gay unions – there are all sorts of legal reasons that two people who wish to make a life committment should be able to do so, regardless of gender.
Of course, I’m of the decidedly unpopular opinion that the State has it’s sticky tentacles in way too much of the people’s business these days anyway.
Pearl,
According to the Scottish government it would be up to individual priests/ministers to decide for themselves. I can’t really understand why the gay people aren’t happy enough with the so called civil partnership, it is a marriage anyway whether by gay or heterosexual people. I think if it did really upset them then they could easily set up their own branch of Christianity – or whatever. Churches are always splitting up and having schisms when they argue, well they do in Scotland.
One thing that I think is unfair is that gay couples have civil partnerships for tax reasons, like when one of them dies the other wouldn’t have to pay death duties. However if two sisters are living together then when one dies the survivor might have to sell her home to pay the tax bill.
I agree, but then I also think that estate taxes are an abomination ! They tax it whilst you earn it; they tax it when you spend it; and they find a way to tax it if you’re able to save some to lay by for your heirs.
I have trouble zipping my jeans — too many others’ hands in my pockets!!!
Pearl,
I know the feeling, I’m particularly annoyed that we were urged to take out pensions and save for old age, just so that they could tax us on it all. Should’ve stuck it in a biscuit tin under the bed!
I agree with you, Pearl: the converse is absolutely true.
The State of Ohio here in the US has done away with death/estate taxes. Now the federal government and all other states should do like wise. Guess we will have to move to Ohio before we die! I was born there actually.
Peggy Ann,
It does seem harsh that you have to pay so much to die. I think I’ll give Ohio a miss though – too hot! All these states like Ohio and West Virginia make me think of songs!