Sunday 30th July 2006

Ann Widdecombe shares insightful thoughts. Written in response to the recent Gay Police Association advert posted in the Independent. First published in the Daily Express. Reprinted by permission.

It is an offshoot of exactly the same political correctness which allows an artist to be seen eating a foetus on television but imprisons an octogenarian for circulating pictures of aborted foetuses.

And the same PC madness which forbids teachers to dispense aspirins or Elastoplast but encourages them to refer underage girls for abortions unbeknown to their parents.

Hitherto, Christians have fought with argument and protest and the powers that be, including government, the BBC and police, have brushed us off.

The time has come to use the very weapons which have been so successfully used against us.

We should complain formally of hate crimes and the stirring up of religious hatred and demand our human rights to religious freedom and to freedom of conscience.

The Gay Police Association advert might be a very good place to start.

This article is reproduced with permission from Ann Widdecombe and The Daily Express. It was first published in The Daily Express on 12 July 2006.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

About Ann Widdecombe

Ann worked in marketing at Unilever from 1973 to 1975 and was Senior Administrator at London University from 1975 to 1987.

From 1987 to date she has been member of Parliament for Maidstone which became Maidstone and The Weald in 1997.

Ann is also an author of a number of books.

View all articles by Ann Widdecombe

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Reader Comments

Posted by Rose @ 23:54 on Jan 16 2011

I find it laughable that anyone could think that Islam is left alone, while Christianity "bears the brunt" - Islam is constantly demonised in so many aspects, at the very least their attitudes to women.
I also can't understand why everyone feels it necessary to judge others, especially in terms of homosexuality and religion. It's simple: Butt Out! If you don't get so offended at everything we don't have a problem.
I also can't understand why people are so against homosexuals having/adopting children? Do they assume that the children will be gay? It's incomprehensible stupidity, and unless someone can justify this belief beyond "it's a sin", I will continue to think very poorly of anyone who holds this view.

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Posted by John in Stoke-on-Trent @ 09:36 on Jan 12 2007

Ann Widdecomb is well-known for her homophobic attitudes even though, apparently, she doesn't believe herself to be homophobic.

I believe she is.

I do agree though, that not all homophobia is due to Christianity.

Having said that, I went to Manchester Gay Pride 2007 and the only protest I saw was from a Christian religious group who had banners with quotes from the Bible. They were also giving out leaflets saying that homosexuals must repent or they will burn in hell.

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Posted by Lori Snow in Colorado @ 06:12 on Aug 9 2006

You need to spend some time researching facts. Your article proves the case against yourself.
If christianity wasn't intent on wiping out gayness and would accept homosexuality for what it is, articles like this would have no purpose.

Open your mind.

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Reply by Kit in Cardiff @ 11:40 on Aug 22 2006

Well said, Lori. The bible has been used to try and justify homophobia, hatred and intolerance countless times and Ann Widdecombe claims that it is Christians who are being attacked! Hatred is contagious, and I find it desperately sad that someone in her position of influence cannot show a bit more love and acceptance of others.

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Posted by Fiona in Cranbrook @ 01:45 on Aug 8 2006

I have experience a lot of prejudice in the work place when people have found out often not by my admission that I am christian. It seems it is one rule for respecting other faiths (one in particular) but another rule for respecting Christians. I have had obusive and threatening behavior from other staff. Even when taken to management it was not dealt with properly. I think this would be a diffrent balll game if i was from another faith.

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Posted by Eric in UK @ 13:33 on Aug 7 2006

Dear 'PostChurched'
It's not the homosexual that is despised - but the homosexuality that they practice!
You seem to have missed Ann's point altogether - why suggest that it is solely Christianity that abhors homosexuality and why suggest that it is only us that 'stir up hate' - if Islam had been similarly 'labelled' the outcry would have been enormous!

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Reply by danjhonston in london @ 11:14 on Apr 29 2011

"why suggest that it is only us that 'stir up hate'"? What a ridiculous argument. No-one is saying that christians or catholics are the only people to have ever hated homosexuals but the very fact that you 'stir up hate' at all (regardless of how many others are doing it) is abhorrent.
I see in this article no denial of the hatred of the church but rather a petty attempt to pass the buck.

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Reply by John in Stoke-on-Trent @ 09:39 on Jan 12 2007

Why don't religious people ever think that there may be no God and the Bible was written by men with their own opinions?

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Posted by Cyril Okere in London @ 21:14 on Aug 6 2006

I thank God for people like Anne Widdecombe. She has drawn line in the sand and clarified what the core issues are in the ideological battle of our times. Those attacking her for what she wrote are ignorant do-gooders who misrepresent the Christian perspective. For avoidance of any doubt: Christianity commands us to love everyone (including homosexuals), but does not and will never condone homosexuality or any other sin for that matter. It is as simple as that.

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Posted by Andy Evans in Germany @ 07:36 on Aug 4 2006

Aaron- why don't all the catholic and protestant believers join to stand in unity against this march?

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Posted by judi in North Dakota, USA @ 04:12 on Aug 3 2006

Perhaps you would be interested in reading: Genesis 19 and Judges 19

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Posted by PostChurched in Arizona @ 15:20 on Aug 2 2006

-continued-

There's a reason that people like myself have walked away from the churches. We're tired of hearing garbage like that you're spreading. We're straight people who are fed up with Jesus being used for the purposes of "Christian" bigotry. Do I really need to remind you what Jesus said when he was asked "And who is my neighbor?" Your neighbor, Ms. Widdicombe, is that despised homosexual you insist on browbeating in the name of Jesus. Meditate upon that.

Really, though, do you Britons want to import American-style bigotry? It's not very nice at all.

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Posted by PostChurched in Arizona @ 15:19 on Aug 2 2006

Sorry, Ms. Widdicombe. You've gotten together a grab bag and insist it's some sort of trend. But you're not being persecuted for your beliefs. Rather, people are tired of hearing "biblical" justifications for hatred of others and are calling you and yours out on it.

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