An Offence Aggravated By Prejudice

It is rather a sad day when one must have regard to the terms of the Offences Aggravated by Prejudice (Scotland) Act when commenting upon the Charity Commission's refusal to permit Catholic Care to operate according to Catholic doctrine.

The irony of this, of course, is that if Catholic Care has to close, then children who would be perfectly suitable for adoption with non-homosexuals will remain in the care system. While many of those who work in it do so with the best intentions, it's a fact of life that the care system is a breeding ground for crime and dysfunction. The removal of children from the care system should be the supreme aim of all those who take money for saying they are interested in childrens' welfare. Preventing children from leaving the care system, the outcome to which this decision will lead, is surely an offence crying out to Heaven for vengeance, and one aggravated by prejudice; not socially unacceptable anti-homosexuality (I refuse to use the term 'homophobia', a lazy and inaccurate shorthand the use of which implies dislike of oneself), but prejudice against those who refuse to proclaim their love of homosexuality because their Church teaches that it's a grave wrong. No doubt those indulging in such prejudice would be shocked at the idea that some consider them to be prejudiced. That might be unfortunate, but it's also accurate. The Charity Commission indicates that the principle of non-discrimination against homosexuals is of greater weight, is a greater public good, then the removal of children from the care system. There may be vocal, activist homosexuals who will say that this is a good thing; I would merely say that by placing their own really very narrow interests over the needs of the most vulnerable children in society, such men and women show themselves to be prone to the vice of all vocal activists - narcissism.

The vulpine Blair is donating the proceeds of his memoirs, or part thereof, to the Royal British Legion. This is sold to the public as an act of philanthropy. Bearing in mind Chesterton's observation that the practice of philanthropy indicates nothing more than an affinity for anthropoids, I would be very interested to know what kind of tax advice he took, if any, before deciding on his great giveaway. His henchman Alistair Campbell once remarked that Blair and his government didn't 'do God'. As shown by the appalling official treatment of Catholic Care, the private citizen can't just not do God at the same time as their business, they no longer have any right to express any view on what they believe to be merely right or wrong, and certainly cannot act on their beliefs in the public square. The New Bosses have a perfect opportunity to rectify this wrong, a state of affairs in which we really all are in it together, although I am very doubtful that they will do so. I hope they do. British Catholics could be doing with something to restore their faith in human good nature.