THE Church of Scotland is to
be commended for the open, honest and thorough way it has revisited its
past and acknowledged those times when its actions were demonstrably
un-Christian.
For example, the Kirk has held up its hands to the frankly
despicable attitude some ministers had towards Irish Catholic
immigrants to Scotland in the early 20th century.
As we
report today, a committee of the Kirk is taking the same attitude to the
way some ministers treated the families of travelling people.
There is
always a danger in applying today's moral standards to the actions of
the past.
But the accounts of children of travellers forcibly removed
from their families makes harrowing reading. It betrayed an attitude
towards travellers - and Irish immigrants in another context - that saw
them as undeserving of the full respect to be afforded another human
being.
This debate, however, is not just about the past. Equality and human rights are as much an issue for the Kirk today as they were a century ago. The church can be proud of its record in many aspects of equal rights.
This debate, however, is not just about the past. Equality and human rights are as much an issue for the Kirk today as they were a century ago. The church can be proud of its record in many aspects of equal rights.
It was, for example, a pioneer in the ordination of women.
But the General Assembly, which sits this week, will once more be riven
by debate and division - possibly even schism - on the subject of gay
ministers.
Those opposing equality for gay people within the church - at all levels - might do well to pause and learn from the lessons of the past.
Those opposing equality for gay people within the church - at all levels - might do well to pause and learn from the lessons of the past.