Scottish Catholic Observer

A ‘gay rights’ organisation’s decision to brand Cardinal Keith O’Brien a ‘bigot’ has been condemned by both the Catholic community and Scotland’s First Minister.

Stonewall’s decision last week to name the UK’s senior Catholic clergyman ‘Bigot of the Year’ for his strong defence of traditional marriage is a sign of its ‘intolerant and intimidatory tactics,’ according to a Church spokesman.

First Minister Alex Salmond also said that the award was ‘clearly wrong.’

Catholic reaction

Peter Kearney, director of the Scottish Catholic Media Office, reacted with shock and disappointment to last week’s Stonewall award.

“Stonewall’s decision to award their ‘Bigot of the Year’ award to Cardinal O’Brien reveals the depth of their intolerance and their willingness to attack and demean those who don’t share their views,” Mr Kearney said. “Stonewall and others have promoted terms such as ‘bigot’ and ‘homophobe’ relentlessly, in order to intimidate and vilify anyone who dares oppose their agenda.

“It is an agenda which the wider public does not endorse and which their excessive language has undermined.”

Mr Kearney added the cardinal’s defence of traditional marriage had earned him the enmity of ‘gay rights’ lobbying groups and it was worrying that such groups received public funding.

“Numerous public bodies give sizeable financial donations to Stonewall, including the Scottish Government,” he said. “These intolerant and intimidatory tactics should mean that this funding is now questioned and examined as a matter of urgency.”

Mr Kearney’s stance was echoed by lay Catholic order the Knights of St Columba’s spokesman, who suggested that Stonewall was itself a bigoted organisation.

“The dictionary defines bigot as ‘a person who is intolerant, especially regarding religion, politics or race’ and it is a title which could well be applied to Stonewall, given the hysterical and sustained invective they shower on anyone who dares to disagree with their campaign to legalise same-sex ‘marriage,’” Tom Knight, the knights’ press officer, said. “The gay community has equal rights in civil law and no right thinking person can argue with that. However, their push to have same-sex ‘marriage’ legitimised in law will be seen by many as a very small minority pushing too far.”

Mr Knight went on to say Stonewall had to reconsider its tactics.

“Stonewall, in announcing this award, have shown their utter arrogance and lack of respect for the views of anyone who disagrees with them,” he said. “By cleverly courting publicity they have achieved a prominence which is disproportionate, given their relatively small numbers. Their case would be much better served if they themselves were to demonstrate tolerance and consideration of the views of others who do not happen to agree with them.”

Political backlash

Stonewall was also criticised by First Minister Salmond, however the Scottish Government will continue to fund the group.

“Stonewall were clearly wrong to describe Scotland’s cardinal in these terms and, in any case, should reflect on whether pejorative titles like this do anything to enhance their cause,” Mr Salmond said. “Personal insults are not conducive to a proper and dignified debate on the important issue of equality in Scotland.”

However the First Minister ruled out cutting the £100,000 a year of Government funding that goes to Stonewall.

Sponsorship challenged

Barclays and Coutts banks, who sponsored two of the awards at the ceremony in London, have said that they will axe their funding if the bigot category is not dropped next year.

Ruth Davidson, the openly lesbian leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, was booed at the Stonewall awards ceremony for criticising the attack on Cardinal O’Brien.

Ms Davidson, who was herself receiving an award, said she disagreed with Stonewall’s ‘need to call people names such as ‘bigot.’

“It is simply wrong,” she said.

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