Beware Blair's religious mafia
Are we on the verge of a new era of puritanism? A 21st-century Inquisition?
Because while some people get into a tizzy over whether the Islamic hordes will soon have us all living under Sharia law, another form of fundamentalism stalks the corridors of Westminster, interfering with our lives.
Everyone knows that the Tony Blair is a Christian. Of course the Prime Minister wouldn't answer Jeremy Paxman's pre-Election question about whether he prayed together with George W Bush, but his discomfort was obvious. And there are times when it seems religion is his only 'logical' motivation for backing all Dubya's 'crusades'.
But let's go beyond the PM. There's Ruth Kelly, a member of that extreme little sect of Roman Catholicism, Opus Dei, whose adherants love wearing spiked garter belts to remind themselves of their sinful natures.
Kelly is now Minister for Women and Equality, with responsibility for looking after implementation of legislation on sexuality equality. Which must be so trying for the poor soul, since her particular cult doesn't like gays and lesbians at all.
A few months ago, just after her appointment, Kelly refused to answer questions about her attitude to homosexuality; but she always avoided being around when there have been any votes on anything to do with the issue – Section 28, age of consent, Civil Partnerships Act etc.
Can she really be trusted to deliver on implementation of the equality Act? Would she have to wear longer spikes, for longer, if she did her job properly?
And so to Catholic Paul Coggins, the Minister with responsibility for the government's planned legislation On Possession of Extreme Pornography.
The Home Office team dealing with the consultation period on this has three "ardent Catholics" (according to the Spanner Trust) amongst its five-person team. Perhaps that's why it's such a crackpot plan, based more on a feeling that women (it's never men, you note) who are involved in producing "extreme" porn (which they can't define) can't have done so voluntarily and must be helped – and must be helped even if they are involved voluntarily.
Recognise something very Catholic about such a patronising and sexist attitude?
The consultation process was not carried out correctly (they so wanted to keep it all quiet) and the consultation document itself was a joke – not least because even they had to admit that, after decades of research, there is still not a shred of evidence that women and children suffer as a result of men looking at porn.
All of which suggests that this proposed legislation is being driven by something other than facts; that it is being driven by ideology.
Let's not forget Home Office minister Fiona Mactaggart, who described people going to prostitutes as no better than child abusers. Guess who is now dealing with prostitution? And, whilst we don't know any specifics about Mactaggart's personal faith, her rapid political rise saw her appointment, only a short while after entering Parliament, as the chair of one of Blair's pet committees discussing how 'faith groups' can do more in the community. So presumably she isn't anti-religious.
Last week, Pink News challenged Blair's heir apparent and a fellow believer, Gordon Brown, over why, like Kelly, he has never been in Parliament for any vote on gay-related issues, including the Civil Partnerships Act, Section 28, gay adoption, the equality legislation and the age of consent.
Brown's press secretary has challenged the Pink News article but, as of today, hasn't explained why the Chancellor didn't attend 14 votes.
And while we're on the subject, don't forget Blair's beloved City Academies, some funded by Christian fundamentalists such as Sir Peter Vardy. Not only are a number of these institutions already teaching creationism as comparable with evolution, but new curriculum changes mean that, as of this September, schools will be able to include discussion of creationism in science classes, alongside evolutionary science. Presumably they'll be able to discuss science in their mythology classes too?
Worry about Islamic fundamentalism all you will, but if you value your sexual and intellectual and cultural freedom, don't let such a fear blind you to the threat of the enemy within.
Because while some people get into a tizzy over whether the Islamic hordes will soon have us all living under Sharia law, another form of fundamentalism stalks the corridors of Westminster, interfering with our lives.
Everyone knows that the Tony Blair is a Christian. Of course the Prime Minister wouldn't answer Jeremy Paxman's pre-Election question about whether he prayed together with George W Bush, but his discomfort was obvious. And there are times when it seems religion is his only 'logical' motivation for backing all Dubya's 'crusades'.
But let's go beyond the PM. There's Ruth Kelly, a member of that extreme little sect of Roman Catholicism, Opus Dei, whose adherants love wearing spiked garter belts to remind themselves of their sinful natures.
Kelly is now Minister for Women and Equality, with responsibility for looking after implementation of legislation on sexuality equality. Which must be so trying for the poor soul, since her particular cult doesn't like gays and lesbians at all.
A few months ago, just after her appointment, Kelly refused to answer questions about her attitude to homosexuality; but she always avoided being around when there have been any votes on anything to do with the issue – Section 28, age of consent, Civil Partnerships Act etc.
Can she really be trusted to deliver on implementation of the equality Act? Would she have to wear longer spikes, for longer, if she did her job properly?
And so to Catholic Paul Coggins, the Minister with responsibility for the government's planned legislation On Possession of Extreme Pornography.
The Home Office team dealing with the consultation period on this has three "ardent Catholics" (according to the Spanner Trust) amongst its five-person team. Perhaps that's why it's such a crackpot plan, based more on a feeling that women (it's never men, you note) who are involved in producing "extreme" porn (which they can't define) can't have done so voluntarily and must be helped – and must be helped even if they are involved voluntarily.
Recognise something very Catholic about such a patronising and sexist attitude?
The consultation process was not carried out correctly (they so wanted to keep it all quiet) and the consultation document itself was a joke – not least because even they had to admit that, after decades of research, there is still not a shred of evidence that women and children suffer as a result of men looking at porn.
All of which suggests that this proposed legislation is being driven by something other than facts; that it is being driven by ideology.
Let's not forget Home Office minister Fiona Mactaggart, who described people going to prostitutes as no better than child abusers. Guess who is now dealing with prostitution? And, whilst we don't know any specifics about Mactaggart's personal faith, her rapid political rise saw her appointment, only a short while after entering Parliament, as the chair of one of Blair's pet committees discussing how 'faith groups' can do more in the community. So presumably she isn't anti-religious.
Last week, Pink News challenged Blair's heir apparent and a fellow believer, Gordon Brown, over why, like Kelly, he has never been in Parliament for any vote on gay-related issues, including the Civil Partnerships Act, Section 28, gay adoption, the equality legislation and the age of consent.
Brown's press secretary has challenged the Pink News article but, as of today, hasn't explained why the Chancellor didn't attend 14 votes.
And while we're on the subject, don't forget Blair's beloved City Academies, some funded by Christian fundamentalists such as Sir Peter Vardy. Not only are a number of these institutions already teaching creationism as comparable with evolution, but new curriculum changes mean that, as of this September, schools will be able to include discussion of creationism in science classes, alongside evolutionary science. Presumably they'll be able to discuss science in their mythology classes too?
Worry about Islamic fundamentalism all you will, but if you value your sexual and intellectual and cultural freedom, don't let such a fear blind you to the threat of the enemy within.
posted by Amanda Kendal at 12:14 pm
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