What is in Kelvin's Head?

Public Opinion and Same-Sex Marriage – John Curtice

A while ago we had a real treat at St Mary’s. Prof John Curtice gave a talk about public opinion and same-sex marriage. It was one of those forums which was very special for those who were there. There simply isn’t anyone who knows how to read and interpret public opinion as John can and it was great to see him in action.

It was also one of the first forum meetings which I videoed. Unfortunately, the talk that John gave was fantastic but the audio on the video was terrible. Lots of people tried to listen but some were quite disappointed. For that reason, I was delighted that John agreed to give a similar, though slightly updated, talk to the diocesan synod that we held here in the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway on 1 March 2014. Once again, John was gracious enough to allow it to be videoed and this time the audio is tip-top, thanks to Kennedy Fraser’s work on the sound-desk.

This can be posted freely. I suspect that it may help far more people in the church get their heads around where public opinion lies on this question than were at the synod the other week. Do share and use on other blogs and diocesan websites. And take a look – it is well worth putting aside half an hour to watch.

Now the question for the day, is – in what ways does public opinion matter when the churches make their minds up about same-sex marriage?

Comments

14 responses to “Public Opinion and Same-Sex Marriage – John Curtice”

  1. Kennedy Avatar
    Kennedy

    It was actually David on the sound desk – I was making sure that the slides appeared.

    Reply
  3. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Well, I guess that those who think the most important thing about erotic love is the gender of the people involved do at least know they are on the wrong side of history, and, in a substantial number of cases, know that they think as they do because of their age. But I would rather they could see how irrational and shallow their beliefs were for themselves. Those beliefs are based on a belief in the importance of gender roles which are a threat to every women, immediately and directly. They are a threat to every man, too, because they place men in a tiny ghetto of thought, feeling and behaviour. In a way, they are more of a threat to men. If anybody doubts that, consider that I may wear a trouser suit without anybody even thinking it odd, while if an man wore a skirt suit, he has at once to start explaining.

    But as regards numbers, and thoughts, you could, just as easily, use the talk to show you that belief in Christianity is also dying out, and we are all on the wrong side of history in that, as well.

    Reply
  4. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    > Well, I guess that those who think the most important thing about erotic love is the gender of the people involved do at least know they are on the wrong side of history

    Rosemary, I hope and pray that you’re right, but I wish I could be as confident as you are. History isn’t a tale of unbroken progress. Sometimes it can go the other way and bad times come again. How hopeful and exciting 1920s Berlin must have seemed for Jews and homosexuals! The death penalty for sodomy in England and Wales was abolished in 1861, but then in 1885 came the Labouchere Amendment, known as the Blackmailers’ Charter, which created a new offence of gross indecency.

    Things are getting worse for homosexuals in Russia, parts of Africa and parts of Asia. Who knows? They may start getting worse in the West too. I hope and pray that they won’t, but it can’t be guaranteed.

    Reply
  5. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    I do not think they will get worse here, because I think that that prejudice has been seen as the idiotic thing it is. The trouble with Russia and Africa is that it has been easy to divert attention from other evils to issues of equality, and it has also been an easy way of rejecting ‘Western values’. LGBT people are paying a heavy prise for the sins of colonisation and social imperialism. It will only be, I think, when people see Africans as both gay and admirable that things can start to change. And at the moment, they cannot see that at all due to the vile oppression. And of course, the laws there are an absolute blackmailer’s charter, and an easy way of disposing of any enemy you have, gay or straight.

    Reply
  8. Fr. Ron Smith Avatar
    Fr. Ron Smith

    Thank you, Fr. Kelvin, for your last two posts: this one and the one on the need to pray for Fred Phelps. I have taken the liberty of placing both on my web-site kiwianglo.

    This particular video, with Professor John Curtice is particularly helpful to those of us (I am part of ACANZP in New Zealand) who need to know how the subject of Same-Sex relationships, and S/S Marriage is being received in both Scotland and England & Wales.

    Interesting the the Roman Catholic adherents seems more open to Same-Sex relationships than the rest of us. We need to up our game on this important matter of social justice in our Churches.

    Reply
  9. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Oh Kelvin that makes sad and worrying reading. In Scotland too? What should we do? (Not a rhetorical question)

    Reply
  10. Kelvin Avatar
    Kelvin

    Absolutely in Scotland. We used to have public support from some of our bishops – now there is almost none.

    The church which once had outspoken bishops speaking up for gay folk, has throughout the recent parliamentary process, spoken out against same-sex marriage.

    John Curtice’s presumption is that there is probably a majority of Episcopalians who are in favour of change. However, those going on the Pitlochry “Cascade Conversation” after Easter have been entirely chosen by bishops who were asked to produce a “balanced list” of participants, meaning that those opposed to gay marriage being recognised by the church will be over-represented.

    And at our recent synod, Bishop Gregor said that though he would not discriminate against anyone gay who came out or talked about their life and relationships at the forthcoming Pitlochry conversations, he could obviously not give that guarantee on behalf of other people. Now that admission, very clearly, indicates that this isn’t going to be a safe space.

    Things are not good.

    Reply
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