July 20 | 
2 COMMENTS 
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As marriage hangs in the balance, is anyone really listening?
— This week’s opinion leader
The Scottish cabinet’s decision, or lack thereof, this week on the future of marriage in this country can be interpreted in several ways, including:
— No news is good news, no decision has been made on controversial proposals to redefine what constitutes a marriage, options are still open and reasonable hope remains that there is all to play for with diplomacy and lobbying by defenders of traditional marriage, including the Catholic Church or…
— The decision was made before the first response to the consultation was filed, the Scottish Government was just going through the motions and is now waiting for the ‘right time’ to break the damaging news that it is going to batter on with dismantling what Catholics know to be a marriage—a union between a man and a women, the building block of our society.
What does not bode well for the first hope is the announcement that the Scottish cabinet took a split second this week to reject Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s call for a referendum on marriage, a call that was actually backed by the majority of Scots recently polled who said they wanted the matter decided by the public, not the Scottish Parliament.
Unfortunately, the Government statement this week that the ‘cabinet views this as an issue of conscience not constitution’ to ‘be determined by a free vote’ therefore ‘a referendum would not be appropriate’ indicated strongly that it is on a set course and is not for turning.
The fact that the cabinet has also opted to form a cabinet sub-committee, led by the Deputy First Minister, to further examine some issues of detail before a final decision is also open to interpretation.
— Education Minister Mike Russell’s presence in the sub committee may pave way for the impact redefining marriage would have on Catholic schools to be heard or…
— Nicola Sturgoen has always been a leading proponent of redefining marriage, stating ahead of last year’s consultation that the Scottish Government was ‘of a mind’ to back same-sex ‘marriage,’ and fellow sub committee member Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill has a reputation for standing by decisions once they are made, no matter how controversial.
After due consideration, that particular slippery seesaw does not appear to bode well for traditional marriage either. So here we stand, on the brink, hoping and praying that someone in Government will see strength in consultation with Christians and those of other faiths, wisdom in the Church’s experience and realise that listening and changing course before irreparable damage is done can be a sign of strength and true leadership rather than an indication of weakness.
The SNP Government, and MSPs from the other parties, would be foolish to think that the mandate and trust given to them by Scottish voters affords carte blanche over marriage. Make no mistake, the decision on marriage will have long-term consequences.
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…but what about those denominations of Christianity and other faiths who wish to carry out same-sex marriages? Do you really think its right for one faith to dictate to others how they should practice?
What about those involved in the Faith in Marriage coalition? The Roman Catholic Church does not speak for Christianity as a whole. The Church of Scotland has yet to consider this matter properly at general assembly and is sitting firmly on the fence, despite reports to the contrary. The Scottish Episcopal Church has only said that it’s current cannon laws prevent it from marrying same-sex couples, but the Primus rightly pointed out that cannon law can be changed, and the SEC already regularly blesses same-sex civil partnerships.
What about marriages solemnised by faith groups and ministers in other countries such as my own? They are religious marriages not civil partnerships.
The Cardinal needs a period of quiet reflection I think…
Quite frankly, I think the Cardinal and the Catholic Church in general have done quite a bit of reflection on this question,perhaps more than the rest of society. In few decades’ times,some may marvel at the wisdom of Catholicism. Look at China’s “one child” policy. Hasn’t it validated the wisdom of “Humanae Vitae”?