Gay marriage risks the “moral fabric of society” 10/12/11
The Kirk Session of
the Stornoway Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland have expressed their deep
concern over the Scottish Government's proposed Bill to redefine marriage. They have
also stated that the proposed change on the basis of human rights is unwarranted,
and that such a change could destroy the moral fabric of our society for generations
to come.
A copy of their submission to the consultation document has also been sent to Dr Alasdair Allan, the SNP MSP for the Western Isles.
It states: 'As a Christian body we believe in the teaching of the Bible which is our supreme rule for faith and morals. The Bible clearly teaches that marriage from the very beginning of time is a divine ordinance which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman for life.
“This view of marriage was clearly endorsed by the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, this has been the general view of marriage throughout history.
“It has been a bedrock institution of society at large and has served Scotland well for centuries. Being a divinely appointed institution and not the creation of politicians the Scottish Government has no right to interfere with it.
“To seek to justify the proposed change on the basis of human rights is unwarranted since all the rights of marriage are already available under the law governing homosexual civil partnerships. If homosexual civil partnerships is given the status of marriage this will redefine marriage for the rest of society.
“This would be the height of injustice since, on the basis of statistics produced by the Scottish Parliament itself, only 2% of the population are homosexual in orientation, and of that 2% a far smaller percentage are in long term and stable relationships which would result in them entering into a civil partnership or "marriage."
It adds: “Indeed the last census with appropriate data shows that only 0.2% of households are headed by a homosexual couple. If every such homosexual household in Britain were to be "married" then National policy on a critical area of Social policy would be driven by a tiny minority.”
The submission further states: 'If the Scottish Government enacts the proposed change then the new legal definition will be the one promoted in schools and by other public bodies and will open the door for a tide of homosexual promotional material to flow into schools in order to influence the cultural values of children. Some of this material is already in the public domain.
“This can only result in further family confusion and breakdown along with increased moral disorder. In other countries, such as Canada, where homosexual marriage has been introduced there is now pressure to allow polygamy. Already there are voices calling for three way bisexual relationships.
“Even in the consultation document views are being solicited regarding the potential implications of the Government's proposals for transgender people. This, surely, is evidence that we are clearly spiralling down into a moral morass and that the need to halt it is urgent.
'In our view it is perilous for the Scottish Government to make this proposed change
and thereby destroy the moral fabric of our society for generations to come.'