Kate Forbes is a 32-year-old Scottish politician, a femme sérieuse, a woman of integrity and talent, and a frontrunner in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister of Scotland.
Forbes is also a woman of faith — a member of the Free Church of Scotland. She believes, as do countless people throughout the world, that marriage is between a man and a woman and that sex outside of marriage (including sexual activity between people of the same sex) is sinful.
Predictably, Forbes’s beliefs — which are seldom expressed publicly — have become the focus of her campaign.
After she said she would have voted against same-sex marriage, Forbes said, “I unequivocally apologize for any hurt and offense that has been caused. I absolutely defend people’s right in this country to marry, as they’ve been able to do for the past nine years.”
Forbes would be well advised to get off the defensive. Her tone ought to reflect the fact that her beliefs are perfectly sensible and decent. They are steeped in ancient wisdom and are based not only on scripture and natural law but also on common sense. If people didn’t have sex outside of marriage, there’d be a lot less abortion, a lot less sexual disease, a lot less family dysfunction, and a lot less heartache. This high standard is the same for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Some might say, “It’s not realistic.” Really, it’s not cynical.
Ironically, those who adhere to traditional Christian morality now find themselves in the same position that the early gay-rights pioneers were in. They would like to be left in peace to live the way they consider is staying true to themselves.
That’s why the best response to the suspicion and judgment they encounter is assertiveness.
Some people are religious. Get over it!