Public Questions Report

The Convener of the Committee, Prof Donald M MacDonald, calls attention in the Report to the devaluing of truth and the disregard for straight thinking evident in public life and political debate. He notes that recent and current legislation in the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments increasingly impacts on family life and religious practice, for example the Adoption Bill; the powers sought by the Home Office to create an offence of incitement to religious hatred; and anti-discrimination laws which would seriously affect Christian institutions.

The Church’s Parliamentary Officer, Mr Donald Matheson, echoes these concerns and urges church members to contact their Parliamentary representatives on such matters, since MPs and MSPs pay close attention to letters from their constituents. The Committee has responded to various Government and Scottish Executive consultations about proposed legislation in the past year and it is important that we continue to make our voice heard and cooperate with others of like mind. The report also highlights the need for us to support and pray for those who represent us in Parliament.

The Report also highlights the prevalence of teenage problem drinking, in which Scots lead the world, and of alcohol addiction – a problem which some of the initiatives financed by the Committee’s Grant-Aid Scheme have been helpful in combating.

Measures taken by the Scottish Executive to curb sectarianism are welcomed, and church members are counselled against adopting any point of view which involves hatred of the practitioners of another faith. The Committee issues a warning, however, against an inter-faith approach which devalues the importance of religious distinctives. Islam in Britain is a phenomenon which calls for careful study and a better understanding on the part of church members, in particular of the need to erect not walls but bridges to Muslims. An informed and sensitive approach to evangelism is called for. The same goes for contemporary “spirituality” which comes in various forms that need to be distinguished. Some emphases of the new “spirituality” might even have something to teach the Christian church – as well as presenting evangelistic opportunities.

Human bioethics is a huge field and the Report focuses on three areas of current interest: genomics, issues surrounding IVF and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, and euthanasia. Genomics is the study of the science and technology of the genome and will have an increasing impact on many aspects of life. A Genomics Policy and Research Forum has been established recently in Edinburgh and it is essential that the Christian voice is heard in this area. There have been repeated attempts to legalise euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide and the report argues against such legislation. While we should continue to support those who campaign against the legalisation of euthanasia, we should also support the provision of better palliative and terminal care. Such care is the best expression of compassion and support for human dignity and not the deliberate ending of a human life. The report advocates support for the new alliance Care Not Killing, which brings together many organisations and groups who share this concern.