The bitter row over same-sex marriage has been reignited by a Perthshire MP predicting that the Scottish Government ”will” introduce the controversial legislation.
The comments by the SNP’s Pete Wishart provoked an angry response from the Catholic Church, which said it had been promised an ongoing consultation into the issue would consider all views.
During a fringe debate at the SNP conference in Inverness, Mr Wishart indicated the legislation was inevitable.
The Perth and North Perthshire MP told delegates at the Eden Court Theatre: ”What I believe will happen is that our government over the course of the next few years, after this consultation, will bring forward legislation which will ensure we will have equal marriage in this country.
”I’m proud of that, I’m proud that this is the party that will be leading us forward and I look forward to that new Scotland that we’re trying to build.”
The SNP Government is holding a consultation on the issue but has said it is ”minded” towards allowing gay couples to marry in church.
But Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said Mr Wishart’s comments undermined the credibility of the consultation.
He said: ”This is a direct contradiction of what we were told personally by the First Minister on October 7,” referring to a recent meeting between Alex Salmond and the Bishop of Paisley Philip Tartaglia.
”When the bishop raised his concerns the First Minister said no final decision has been taken. The onus is on Pete Wishart to withdraw that statement or on Alex Salmond to admit the consultation exercise is a complete sham.”
Currently same-sex couples can take part in civil partnerships but the ceremonies may not take place in religious premises and can only be registered by civil registrars. The proposed change would allow churches to conduct marriages for same-sex couples if they want to.
The issue has been a source of contention within the SNP. Earlier this month Gordon Wilson, a former Dundee East MP and leader of the SNP, argued that the Government could not ”redefine” marriage and any attempt to do so would destroy the institution.
Mr Wilson, who aired his view as part of his role with Dundee Christian faith group Solas, also argued that the move would be a violation of the human rights of traditional married couples.
Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker also caused controversy when he insisted marriage between same-sex couples is not ”in any way equal” to partnerships between males and females.
Friday’s debate came after Perthshire North MSP John Swinney acknowledged that the issue has ”divided opinion.”
He said he hopes the consultation process will provide a ”route through these issues” in the months ahead.
He added: ”There will be no compulsion here, there will be no obligation. The protection is there so that no individual within the religious community will be obliged to do this.
”I think we’re right to take this course of action we’re right to make it possible for religious practitioners to conduct same-sex marriages if they wish to do so.”
The fringe debate was chaired by Alyn Smith MEP and featured a panel from lobby group LGBT Youth Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament.
Delegate Ann Cameron also said she was ”extremely disappointed” to hear support for same-sex marriage in the SNP but her view received little support from nearly 150 people who turned out for the packed debate.
Mr Smith said: ”I was delighted that we had a frank and open discussion and the clear majority of the room are on the progressive side of the agenda. It is right that there was a plurality of views expressed.”
He added that church leaders ”are entitled to their faith and their ideology” but said he doesn’t share it.
Photo Geoff Kirby/PA Archive