The expert who led Scotland's drive to improve sexual health said yesterday the Scottish Government had deliberately "closed down" debate because of heat from the Catholic Church. Professor Phil Hanlon said that, rather than embrace the need to change attitudes to sex and sexuality, the country's culture had deteriorated since his strategy was published four years ago.
Speaking ahead of a review of progress since his report, which was published in November 2003, Mr Hanlon noted NHS services for people with sexual health problems had improved and said there had been some good, if inconsistent, efforts on sex education, emergency contraception and outreach work.
However, he said there had been little attempt to spark social change, even though this was key in tackling high rates of teenage pregnancy and sexual disease.
Mr Hanlon contrasted Scottish culture to Holland where he said there was a liberal, open approach to sex combined with strong family values. Holland has some of the best sexual health statistics in western Europe.
He admitted it would be hard to move in a similar direction, but said the government was not even engaging in the topic, adding: "In fact it closed down that debate deliberately because they got so much flak from the Catholic Church and other forces."
A professor of public health policy at Glasgow University, Mr Hanlon suggested the Catholic Church had blocked debate by scaremongering. During the strategy talks, he said, there were allegations his group wanted to put sexually explicit material in front of three-year-olds. "If they're using that kind of language to inhibit debate that seems to be irresponsible," he added.
Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said there was a nursery that had used such materials and blamed the spread of "value-free sexual health services" for promiscuous behaviour.
He also questioned the claim the Catholic Church had caused government inaction, listing legal changes the Church had opposed which had still been passed, including the repeal of section 28 banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools and the adoption bill that allowed same-sex couples to adopt.
Minister for Public Health Shona Robison said: "We are undertaking a stock-taking review of the sexual health strategy which aims to identify any gaps in its implementation."
She added a committee meeting in June would agree priorities for the next three years and these would include a greater focus on social and cultural issues.
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