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Bishop declares anti-Labour vote | Bishop declares anti-Labour vote |
(1 day later) | |
One of Scotland's most senior Catholics has declared he will not vote Labour in May's Holyrood elections. | One of Scotland's most senior Catholics has declared he will not vote Labour in May's Holyrood elections. |
The Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine, said he now feels many Labour policies, such as civil partnerships, fly in the face of Christian tradition. | The Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine, said he now feels many Labour policies, such as civil partnerships, fly in the face of Christian tradition. |
He said his congregation's traditional allegiance to Labour had been tested to breaking point. | He said his congregation's traditional allegiance to Labour had been tested to breaking point. |
However, Labour minister Margaret Curran said her party's policies had support across the mainstream parties. | However, Labour minister Margaret Curran said her party's policies had support across the mainstream parties. |
In a BBC interview, Bishop Devine said: "I'll ask Catholics to exercise their vote responsibly according to their conscience. | In a BBC interview, Bishop Devine said: "I'll ask Catholics to exercise their vote responsibly according to their conscience. |
I can't really understand why he's so focused on the Labour Party holding these views Margaret Curran MSPLabour | I can't really understand why he's so focused on the Labour Party holding these views Margaret Curran MSPLabour |
"But I'll do something else for the very first time. I will indicate the party to which I'm going to vote for. I've never done that before. | "But I'll do something else for the very first time. I will indicate the party to which I'm going to vote for. I've never done that before. |
"I haven't yet seen the party manifestos, but I have a shrewd idea it may have something to do with the Christian Alliance Party. | |
"I'll not ask people to follow me. If they want to take that lead, that's fine enough." | "I'll not ask people to follow me. If they want to take that lead, that's fine enough." |
Ms Curran, the minister for parliament, said she was perplexed by Bishop Devine's focus on Labour. | Ms Curran, the minister for parliament, said she was perplexed by Bishop Devine's focus on Labour. |
"Obviously we would respect people of different opinions, but I can't really understand why he's so focused on the Labour Party holding these views," she said. | "Obviously we would respect people of different opinions, but I can't really understand why he's so focused on the Labour Party holding these views," she said. |
"The legislation that has been passed, particularly on moral issues around equality and gay adoption, have been supported by many political parties, so it's not just an anti-Labour point." | "The legislation that has been passed, particularly on moral issues around equality and gay adoption, have been supported by many political parties, so it's not just an anti-Labour point." |
Bishop Devine said he would vote for the party which best supports Christian values. | Bishop Devine said he would vote for the party which best supports Christian values. |
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