No sectarian constitution, please 16/5/14

Sir,

Many Scots will be both disappointed and concerned at comments made an at independence debate this week by Mike Russell MSP, the Scottish Government's education secretary, that his vision for an independent Scotland included a continued role for the Kirk, written into a constitution.

Sectarian religious conflict exists in many countries between religious believers, and Scotland is no stranger to this seemingly intractable religious problem. It is shocking to see a Scottish Government minister follow in the footsteps of those in Westminster and uphold a sectarian approach to government whereby one religious sect is given primacy and privilege over all others and those of no belief. And this from a Scottish minister who presides over an already sectarian education system.

Those who proclaim the Kirk's contribution to Scotland like to rewrite history. The Kirk has often fought to prevent justice and fairness being applied to all people in Scotland by opposing socially progressive legislation down the years, as we saw only too well in the recent same-sex marriage reforms.

The reason we have a sectarian problem is in no small part due to the Kirk's appalling attitude towards Irish immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. To suggest it should now have this 'contribution' to modern Scotland recognised in a sectarian constitution is both backward looking and perpetuates a now outmoded prejudice.

If Scotland is to be forward-looking as an independent country, its constitution should confer the same rights and responsibilities on all Scots without privileging the ever-decreasing number who profess adherence to one particular denominational religious belief.

Alistair McBay

National Secular Society

5 Atholl Crescent

Edinburgh

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