• 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?

3 responses to “Egypt”

  1. Tony Coxon Avatar

    I, too, find what you say disturbing. Keep up your comments

  2. Hermano David | Brother Dah•veed Avatar
    Hermano David | Brother Dah•veed

    Pope Shenoudah appeared on Egyptian TV early this week asking the protesters to stop. He wanted them to accept the word of Mubarak that he would not run for reelection and all go home.

    One has to think that he is afraid of what could become of the Copts, and the Anglicans and others for that matter, if Mubarak’s henchmen are not in place to hold off the advance of radical Islam.

    Forced to choose the lesser of two evils.

  3. pax58 Avatar
    pax58

    David,
    I have a Coptic friend at work, she reminded me that 10% of the Epyptian population is Coptic and has lived in a delicate balance with the Muslim majority for centuries. When one looks at what happened to the churches in Iraq after the strong hand of a dictator was lifted it does make sense for the Coptic folks to worry about the future. However, Egypt may not be Iraq and we could see a governent which may be a mix of secular/Islamic which does provide protection for religious minorities. Only time will tell.

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