tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078331897510807942.post5053420617169198882..comments2023-12-28T01:11:49.188-08:00Comments on Cum Lazaro: Guess who won’t be coming to dinner...Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716412032074416331noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078331897510807942.post-28077522986996020292011-11-11T01:14:02.148-08:002011-11-11T01:14:02.148-08:00I agree that Scottish politics is in a fascinating...I agree that Scottish politics is in a fascinating period just now! The independence referendum is going to dominate discussions for the next few years. I can't see any sign of a specifically Christian party emerging, although Murdo Fraser's unsuccessful candidature for the Conservative Party leadership, had it succeeded, would have meant a new centre-right party in Scotland to replace (or at least rebrand!) the Tories (James MacMillan blogs on this here http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/jmacmillan/100055846/how-murdo-fraser-could-win-over-ex-labour-voters-an-open-letter-from-james-macmillan/.) <br /><br />There's a wide variety of political views amongst Catholics and you'll find supporters of all the main parties. The SNP I think has a particular problem with this issue in that it has attracted (deliberately) Muslim and Catholic votes in previous years from Labour and Bishop Tartaglia's warning (http://www.journal-online.co.uk/article/7995-antigay-marriage-bishop-meets-with-first-minister)of a 'big chill' in Catholic/SNP relations has to be seen in that light. One of the good things that may come out the current proposals is a closer working relationship between Muslims, Catholics and orthodox Protestants in the area of social policy (http://www.christian.org.uk/news/muslims-and-roman-catholics-meet-to-protect-marriage/).<br /><br />I don't think it's ultimately in the interest of any party to be seen to be pushing an agenda identified solely with a metropolitan elite. I think the main political danger of the SSM proposal is a general disillusionment and lack of enthusiasm for Scottish politics amongst the religious -a lack of engagement with the political process rather than opting for a new Christian party (which it's hard to imagine being anything other than a pressure group)- and perhaps a sense of detachment from all the parties.<br /><br />On the sectarianism issue, it's all a bit of a mess! Although I've rarely encountered it directly, it does exist at some level (certainly in the football ground). There's very little agreement on how widespread the problem is, how to analyse it, and how to deal with it.Lazarushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09716412032074416331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5078331897510807942.post-36539244575832276322011-11-10T17:23:47.591-08:002011-11-10T17:23:47.591-08:00I'm an Englishman and have only been to Scotla...I'm an Englishman and have only been to Scotland twice, but Scottish politics does seem very interesting, especially now that devolved government has been introduced. Proportional representation makes the party system a bit more fluid. Do you think there is any prospect of a new "Christian" party emerging and becoming a force there? Maybe that would become a possibility if enough Christians felt disillusioned with the main parties.<br /><br />By the way, this story about the anti-sectarianism bill might interest you: <br /><br />http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2011/11/10/fans-unite-to-kill-bill-to-end-sectarianism/Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00843758098631948181noreply@blogger.com