Church leaders and senior politicians fell over each other in a hysterical scramble to condemn Stonewall. Sponsors threatened to withdraw funding from the organisation and there was even mention of legal action. But today, it has emerged that a number of serving and ex-clergy men, have submitted complaints against the Cardinal for inappropriate sexual behaviour towards them.
I wonder out loud, how many of the politicians and clergy in Thanet and elsewhere who have recently condemned same sex marriage, may be living a life based on double standards?
If research into sexuality is anything to go by, I think it would be safe to speculate that quite few might be in this position.
The world famous Kinsey Institute, for example, discovered that about 25% of the population have had same sex sexual encounters and an even greater number have fantasies about same-sex sexual encounters. Kinsey goes on to say that "many women and men are probably “bisexual” to some degree, or would be, if society didn’t place such strict restrictions on people to behave in certain ways".
"Do as say. Not as I do" comes to mind.
Surely here we are making an assumption that the Cardinal is guilty because complainst have been made against him. That is a bit like saying Cllr Driver must be guilty of inciting vandalism because the Mayor of Ramsgate and others have accused him of so being.
ReplyDeleteOne really does need to exercise care with blanket allegations and the Kinsey report, considered highly controversial in its time, was subsequently largely discredited because of the limitations of its research.
As a bisexual person Mr Checkfield, you do appear to be taking a rather selfish point of view. You are lucky enough to be attracted to both Men and woman. You are free to marry a woman wish; however, you want to deny that same right to someone who is only attracted to men. We live in a diverse society, and if people are not going to end up trying to kill one another, as seen in riots around the world, they must to 'live and let live' - its a two way street Peter.
ReplyDeleteAs For Sir Roger, he knew what kind of reaction he would get from his divisive speech, and to suggest otherwise is an insult to peoples intelligence.
You"re probably right, Peter, that opposing the plans for same-sex marriage doesn't make any individual anti-gay and certainly not homophobic. But you have to ask what motivates someone like Gale who has opposed EVERY measure intended to give equality to those in the LGBT section of society, and has actively supported hostile measures like Section 28. What guides his thinking if not outright condemnations emanation of homosexuality - to use your words. As for O"Brien, he is an irrelevance as far as I am concerned.
ReplyDeletetotillee agree those shit heads r so upperty they think theere shit dont stick but like i alwis say wonce a fu ckhed alwis a fuckhead
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Peter Cardinal O'Brien didn't simply oppose same sex marriage, he has a long track of opposing anything to do with LGBT equalites and rights as this quote from Wickipedia demonstrates "In May 2005 he told members of the Scottish Parliament that homosexuals were "captives of sexual aberrations".In January 2006 he criticised Westminster MPs over the introduction of civil partnerships in the UK.In December 2011, O'Brien suggested that there should be no laws that 'facilitate' same-sex relationships, which he claimed were "harmful", arguing; “The empirical evidence is clear, same-sex relationships are demonstrably harmful to the medical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of those involved, no compassionate society should ever enact legislation to facilitate or promote such relationships, we have failed those who struggle with same-sex attraction and wider society by our actions.
ReplyDeleteIn the light of O'Brien's resignation today and the implication that the complainants are rght, I think it's safe to say that Stonewall were correct to call him a bigot and that the Cardinal is also an hypocrite to boot.