Faith in the public square
The British mainstream media are obsessed with Christian SNP candidate Kate Forbes’ personal view on all matters sexual. As this does not appear to happen to candidates of other faiths, we are listing below some responses.
Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch, a supporter of gay marriage herself, who fiercely defends the right to free expression. Watch here.
See also: “It’s okay for somebody who’s a Marxist to bring what they’ve learned from Das Kapital into the room, but not to take what you believe from the Bible. That’s nonsense, isn’t it?” Former Liberal Demoncrat Leader Tim Farron, who was hounded for his views on gay sex despite voting for gay marriage, tells #TimesRadio that being religious can be a bar to serving in high public office.
Read also: (newer items at the top)
SNP’s Kate Forbes says hounding people who disagree is dangerous for democracy
Belief and the Blob, by Poppy Coburn, Artillery Row
‘Does Government Do God’ review a missed opportunity, Independent Catholic News
Major Government report recommends legislation to shut illegal schools, Humanists UK
National Secular Society questions “biased” government faith review
Police, NHS workers and civil servants failing to understand religious beliefs, review finds by Holly Bancroft, Independent
Briefing from Religion Media Centre
Government must improve its understanding of faith says Bloom review, Premier
Why has conversion therapy become a major election issue in Scotland? by David Robertson, Christian Today
Does private conscience have a place in modern politics? by Ruth Peacock, Religion Media Centre
Can only gay marriage supporters hold high office? from Coalition for Marriage
Beware the bigots sidelining Christian hopefuls from power by Leo McKinstry, Daily Express
BBC disinvited us after we stood by Kate Forbes’s freedom of speech, claims LGB group by Ewan Somerville, Telegraph
MacCaliphate or the New Jerusalem: Scotland faces a hard choice by Roger Watson, The New Conservative
Kate Forbes is voters’ choice as first minister, poll finds, The Times (£)
Scotland’s poisonous politics by Campbell Campbell-Jack, Christian Today
Watch: Ashenden-Scripted: ‘Witch-hunts’ become saints-hunts’ – SNP politics & the new v the old religion, Gavin Ashenden
Watch: Disgraceful grilling of Kate Forbes, STV
Kemi Badenoch is right to defend Kate Forbes from religious intolerance by James Mildred, Premier
Comment: Should strict religious views on morality prevent political leadership? Read a selection of views by Ruth Peacock, Religion Media Centre
Christianity banned from public life? from Christian Concern: Tim Dieppe is joined by Rev. Dr Joe Boot, and Colin Wilson, Editor at Christians Together and a member of Kate Forbes’ constituency, to discuss her candidacy, her Christian views, and what kind of role Christians should take in public life.
Can only gay marriage supporters hold high office? from Coalition for Marriage
It’s not game over yet for Kate Forbes by Stephen Daisley, Spectator (£)
The brutal dirty tricks campaign against Kate Forbes is beginning to backfire by Alan Cochrane, Telegraph (£)
The crucifixion of Kate Forbes by Kathleen Stock, UnHerd
In defence of Kate Forbes, a politician with principles by Gavin Asheden, Catholic Herald
Protestants are now hounded out of politics, as Kate Forbes has shown by Fraser Nelson, Telegraph (£)
A new test act? by Sebastian Millbank, Artillery Row
Humza Yousaf must also answer questions about religion by Effie Deans
Can such a conservative as Kate Forbes lead the SNP? by Henry Hill, Conservative Home
A Re-set Anglican Communion? Will Welby Jump or Be Pushed?, English Churchman
In Defence of the Free Church of Scotland by David Robertson, theweeflea
Kate Forbes’ opponents are the truly intolerant ones by Tom Slater, spiked
Kate Forbes: Would a Christian be permitted to lead Scotland? by David Robertson, Christian Today
Sanctimony, cant and evasions in the fight to be First Minister by Philip Patrick, TCW
‘It’s absolute nonsense to paint the Christian faith as anti-egalitarian.’ Calvin Robinson and Peter Tatchell discuss, GB News
Scotland: Poisonous Politics by Campbell Campbell-Jack, A Grain of Sand
The feeding frenzy around Kate Forbes’s faith is blatant political hypocrisy by Michael Deacon, Telegraph (£)
Is Kate Forbes a victim of aggressive secularism, or just rubbish at politics? by William Atkinson, CapX
Kate Forbes and the question of liberalism by Melanie Phillips
SNP leadership: Kate Forbes defends gay marriage stance, BBC News