Posted on 08/14/2006 5:14:07 AM PDT by markomalley
An investigation by Scotland Yard into whether a gay group’s advert is a faith crime has been backed by the Catholic Church.
The advert, showing a Bible next to a pool of blood under the headline 'In the name of the father,' was produced by the Gay Police Association and published in a national newspaper.
Alongside the picture is the claim that a rise in homophobic attacks was due to religious beliefs. The Catholic Church in Scotland said it supported the investigation, describing the advert as "outrageous and intolerant."
Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Scottish bishops, said: "This is exactly the kind of intolerance that gay groups claim they are trying to clamp down on.
"Once again, it is the Christian Bible which has been singled out with a headline which has Christian connections. It is another sign that Christianphobia has become fashionable and acceptable.”
The advert was published to coincide with the EuroPride rally.
It states: 'In the last 12 months, the GPA has recorded a 74 per cent increase in homophobic incidents, where the sole or primary motivating factor was the religious belief of the perpetrator."
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said it is considering whether the ad "constitutes a faith crime," after a member of the public launched a complaint.
In Scotland, a member of the Holyrood parliament tabled a motion condemning the Gay Police Association for publishing a "Christianophobic advertisement" in a national newspaper.
The motion by Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, states the parliament "rejects this assertion as totally erroneous; values Scotland's Christian community and the contribution it makes to our society and our culture; deeply regrets that any police officer would choose to place an advertisement in any medium to make such a gratuitous insult to a section of the Scottish population; and hopes that the all police officers will act in a manner that reflects fully the attitudes, values and beliefs which Scotland, as a modern society founded on the Christian faith."
Gay Police Association Scotland Officer David Lyle stated yesterday that the article was published by the association "in order to highlight a serious social issue."
“The GPA article and statement in The Independent only sought to highlight the facts. The article does not claim or infer that any religion is to blame for this increase. It does state clearly that it was the individuals themselves who commit these crimes who have used their faith to legitimise their actions. “People cannot be allowed to hide behind the cloak of religion as an excuse to commit hate crimes."
/sarc
Catholic ping?
How much more truthful and timely it would have been if the ad had shown a Koran next to a pool of blood.
A big, fat homosexual rights FOP? Shame on the Scots. They should run them out of the LEO altogether.
And just what does the KORAN say about homos?................
Now we know what's underneath those kilts...........
The difference is that they put a Koran there, and they're taking a real risk.
What on earth is a "faith crime"? Some nasty little meme the homos want us to adopt, I imagine.
Begs the question, what exactly constitutes a 'homophobic incident' and a 74% increase of what. People use percentages and vague terms to hide real facts and real numbers.
I think it says as long as they strap bombs to themselves and kill Jews they are heros who will get 72 youngs boys when they get to where ever it is they are going.
It sounds to me like the RCC might've misstepped on this one. I know that they are trying to get hate crime laws to protect them the way they already protect other religions (ie, muslims) but the principle is all wrong. They're trying to solve a problem by putting in more restrictions on free speech. The answer is never in less freedom, but more freedom. Instead of applying the 'faith crime' laws equally, repeal the faith crime laws altogether.
Maybe our timid prelates are finally waking up to their duty to defend the faith in the public square.
There's something very wrong in Scotland - it seems the homosexual activists (and their silent or not to silent supporters) have gone hog wild.
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