Stand Up and Fight...

I see that the Holyrood SNP political elite is determined to press ahead with legislation to legalise same sex marriage. Indeed, it would appear that anyone who is a supporter of the current definition of marriage is in danger of being labelled as ‘homophobic’ or intolerant in the same way as racists and other extremists are labelled.

As a former teacher of history and modern studies, pupils frequently asked me for my views on a whole variety of issues. I always tried to give an honest answer, stressing that the view being explained was my personal view and that others would take a different position on the issue in question. I always emphasised that a fundamental tenet of democracy is that we defend the right of fellow citizens to hold different and often contrary views to our own.

I was therefore deeply concerned when I read Andrew Whittaker’s report in the Scotsman earlier this week stating:

“Teachers who oppose same-sex marriage could face disciplinary action if they speak out against it, under government plans to legalise gay weddings, a senior SNP figure has said.

The warning from Nationalist MSP John Mason comes as the Scottish Government this week prepares to formally introduce its Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill at Holyrood. Mr Mason claimed teachers who oppose gay marriage could end up being “persecuted” if they state their position on the issue at school.

Tim Hopkins, of the Equality Network, said: ‘Schools will deal with same-sex marriage in the same way they deal with divorce, which some teachers also personally disapprove of. Teachers would need to confirm the facts of the law, and must be supportive and fair to all pupils regardless of their family background, but no teacher will be required to say that they personally approve of divorce or same-sex marriage.’

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said opponents of gay marriage should not ‘use their position to promote homophobia’.

Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association acting general secretary Alan McKenzie said the union would ‘encourage our members to watch what they say at work.If somebody made racist comments they’d be in danger of disciplinary action and it’s no different from that’.”

If the current situation south of the border is anything to go by, assurances from politicians mean nothing as Christians continue to be persecuted by the ‘PC Fascists’. Recently the case of a Christian teacher was raised by Lord Dear in the House of Lords.

A teacher from London is under investigation because she refused to give a lesson telling children that all opponents of gay marriage are homophobes. The unnamed teacher didn’t think that it was a “fair characterisation of the debate”, she says, but is now under investigation at her school.

Quoting from the teacher’s letter during a debate on same sex marriage, Lord Dear said: “The head teacher investigated the incident and concluded there was no case to answer. Another colleague, who is also a union rep, then followed up the complaint, and has formally raised additional concerns about my Christian beliefs and my membership of a church.

The union rep has demanded an investigation of my beliefs and my membership of the church, and whether it had any negative impact on my job as a teacher. That investigation process is currently underway, and at the time of writing I do not yet know the outcome”.

I wonder if the teacher would have been treated in the same way had she been a Muslim ?

For too long, Christians, both locally and nationally are now reaping the harvest of decades of craven and divided leadership which has been indifferent to the advance of secularisation in Scottish society. Surely the time has come to stand up and fight.

In the 1930’s Pastor Martin Niemöller wrote about the sloth of German intellectuals following the Nazis' rise to power and the subsequent purging of their chosen targets, group after group. Evangelical Christians should take note of this poem.......they might be next !!!

First they came for the communists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Catholic.

Then they came for me,