Love thy neighbour - straight and gay
When we see news stories from countries led by religious fundamentalists, it is easy to gasp in horror and think: "Well, at least we don't live there!"
For governments to sanction hangings, beheadings, the cutting off of hands and feet, and other such draconian punishments is relatively alien to most people in the western world.
Our own government has been celebrated recently as a shining example of how communities can be reconciled and move forward together.
Certain elements of the Assembly have been rubbing shoulders with celebrities and world-leaders with smiles, handshakes and congratulatory pats on the back all round.
A few elected representatives have a smugness to them which suggests that, underneath their lovely shirt and tie combos, they may very well have t-shirts printed with the haughty slogan: "Aren't we just great? Ah, but we are, aren't we!"
Iris Robinson's homophobic outburst on a radio show last Friday has caused a storm of protest, support, and media coverage during the week and caused us to re-examine the roles our elected representatives are supposed to play.
Robinson expressed her views during a discussion on an unprovoked attack on a gay man. Initially, Robinson condemned the attack but then proceeded to say that homosexuality was "disgusting, loathsome, shamefully wicked and vile", and suggested that gay people should seek psychiatric help.
On Monday, she went a step further and compared gay people to murderers: "Just as a murderer can be redeemed by the blood of Christ, so too can a homosexual".
She took the 'fun' out of fundamentalism when she described gays as an "abomination" and claimed they could be "turned" through psychiatric counselling.
Needless to say, the Royal Society of Psychiatrists released a statement pointing out that being gay wasn't - surprise, surprise - a psychiatric disorder.
Iris Robinson would do well to remember the wise, timeless words of Spiderman's uncle Ben: "With great power comes great responsibility".
It's fine to hold strong religious beliefs but she must remember that as an elected MLA it is her duty to promote equality for all.
Robinson hid behind her religion as a way of defending her outburst, citing the Old Testament as a reference.
It's an open secret - to anyone who has actually bothered to read bits of the Old Testament - that a number of its teachings are outdated in today's world.
Leviticus says that homosexuality is an 'abomination', but so is eating "unclean" meats including shellfish and pork (Leviticus 10:10). Who said it was suddenly fine to eat bacon and prawns, but still not fine to be gay?
Religion shouldn't be used as a weapon to attack minorities. Unfortunately, comments like Robinson's give bigoted, mindless thugs carte blanche to beat up whoever they choose - and then fall back on the word of God as a defence.
A politician's personal beliefs must not impose on and, indeed, endanger people with different views.
Afraid
Stephen Scott, the man who was beaten up, said: "I've had to leave my home because I'm afraid of people's reactions. Sadly, people where I live listen to people like her.
“First I was attacked by those men and left for dead. Then I was verbally attacked by Mrs Robinson whose comments have left my life in tatters. I want to tell her to think before she speaks out with her random religious fundamental theories.
“My mother Glynis is a Christian and she has accepted me for who I am. She hasn’t condemned me although she’s not really happy about me being gay. But she knows she has no right to judge anyone and she’ll leave that to God.”
Robinson said that as a Christian she can “love the sinner but hate the sin”. By such reckoning she must love the group of men who battered Stephen Scott and left him lying alone in the street. I don’t - I think they’re scumbags.
Josef Fritzl is a straight man who went to Church, was friendly to his neighbours and paid his taxes. So, in many ways, he was a fine upstanding citizen deserving of love. But, then again, there was that pesky kidnap and dungeon-thing he was involved in for a quarter of a century.
No sane person on this planet could say that they hate the sins Fritzl committed, yet love the man himself. The two go hand in hand, especially if the perpetrator is unrepentant.
If gay people are unwilling to repent for their “sins”, is it possible for Iris Robinson to really still love them? Who knows?
Derry’s Rainbow Project has taken the moral high ground and extended an olive branch to the devout Christian by inviting her to come and meet with them.
Whether or not she accepts will be testament to her commitment to the tolerance and love that her Saviour preached.
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Weather for Derry
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
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