October 16, 2011
Pro-gay marriage LibDem leader helped by evangelical group Comments Off
Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, who has vowed to stand up to the Catholic Church in defence of gay marriage, is receiving personal support from an evangelical Christian group which is equally opposed to the idea, writes Tom Gordon.
Rennie’s Holyrood office is being assisted by the charity CARE, despite it describing the Scottish Government’s proposals for gay marriage as “deeply flawed and socially corrosive”.
The help currently includes free staff time from an intern working in Rennie’s office as part of the CARE “leadership programme”, which places Christians in “the world of policy and advocacy”.
Rennie, elected an MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife in May on a manifesto pledge to “extend legal marriage to gay couples”, was applauded at his party’s conference last week when he attacked the Catholic Church for trying to impose its hostile views on gay marriage “on everyone else”.
Rennie’s remarks were some of the most forceful yet in the political row over gay marriage, which has been raging since SNP ministers launched a public consultation on the issue last month.
The same day the consultation emerged, CARE for Scotland issued a joint press release with the Evangelical Alliance condemning the proposal.
“The Scottish Government is making a grave mistake by seeking to redefine marriage,” said Gordon Macdonald, CARE for Scotland’s spokesman and the LibDem candidate in Eastwood at the recent Holyrood election.
He said marriage was a relationship between a man and a woman, not two people of the same sex, and provided the best context for raising children and contributed to social cohesion – arguments also advanced by the Catholic Church.
Despite CARE’s clear opposition to gay marriage, Rennie’s spokeswoman claimed there was no inconsistency in him accepting its help.
“This is a positive programme. It reflects the fact that many members of evangelical churches are also members and supporters of the Liberal Democrats.
“People on the programme volunteer to help the Liberal Democrats across a range of policy areas. They do not seek to impose any personal views. Previous participants have gone on to be LibDem councillors.”
• Full story at the Sunday Herald.
