Petition on Religious Freedom in Scotland – Rejected.
by David Robertson, theweeflea:
During the SNP leadership election I put forward the following petition to the Scottish Parliament. It is a petition that I was asked to draw up by others who were prepared to sign and argue for it. It is about a key issue for Scotland and for the Scottish parliament. The response to it is fascinating and reveals a great deal about the inner workings and prejudices of the Scottish government.
Petition Asking for the Scottish Parliament to reaffirm its commitment to religious freedom in a pluralistic society.
We believe that Scotland is and should be a liberal pluralistic democracy where different perspectives and cultures are welcomed. In recent weeks we have been concerned at the level of attacks upon a member of the government, the Finance Minister, who has been told that her religious views are not welcome in modern Scotland and should even exclude her from public office. Many in the media, and many members of parliament including members of her own party in the Holyrood and Westminster parliaments have attacked her on the basis of her religion and belief. Given that her views are those of the Roman Catholic Church, most other Christian churches worldwide, Islam and other religions, we consider that declaring that someone cannot be in high office unless they effectively renounce the teachings of their religion is discriminatory and dangerous. It is also contrary to the Equalities Act where religion and belief is a protected category.
The attacks on religious freedom by media and politicians has not gone unnoticed by the general public. A recent YouGov opinion poll suggested that merely being an evangelical Christian or a Muslim was deemed to be sufficient reason by at least one in five Scots to bar someone from holding a top government job. We are deeply concerned that Scotland’s pluralistic liberal democracy is being threatened by the de facto introduction of a new Test Act – whereby those who don’t agree with the current social doctrines of those in power, are excluded from civic life. In the name of tolerance we are not to be tolerated. In the name of diversity our views are not to be permitted. In the name of inclusion we are to be excluded.
Therefore, we (people of all faiths and none) petition the Scottish Parliament and urge them to reject this divisive social anti-religious sectarianism and to reaffirm that people of all different religions and viewpoints are welcome to participate in civic life in Scotland and that there is no barrier to such participation for those who hold to minority views.
David A. Robertson – former moderator of the Free Church of Scotland.
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