It’s official! British GLBT charity Stonewall has declared the highest ranking member of the Catholic Church in the UK as this year’s bigot. Needless to say the Catholic Church is not pleased. Why would they be? It’s negative propaganda and the Catholic Church are hurting in Europe. Already widely pilloried for the systemic abuse the Catholic Church is not in the best shape in the UK.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien is a bigot. His statements on gay marriage being legalised in Scotland prompted me to write the Church a letter, but to be recognised as a bigot publically helps. Yes, Christians who complained about this are MAD. Not because it’s a lie but because it’s the truth. Because it makes them look bad. The bigot category of the awards given out included people who actively denied the rights to gay people. These aren’t people who “disagree”, these are people who would be happy to stop gay people being treated as human beings.
What I am disappointed in is Barclays and Coutts who sponsor Stonewall. They have spoken out against the “bigot” award and their stance has been championed by groups such as Christian Concern. I bank with Barclays… I am deeply disappointed. I understand why a multinational bank doesn’t want to sponsor an award that pisses off the world’s biggest christian sect and thus lose money through strongarm tactics but I get the feeling that a lot of Barclays employees and customers would agree with Stonewall.
Do not confuse politeness for submissiveness. There are bigots and fools across the planet and if we don’t specifically define them for what they are then we validate their arguments. Cardinal Keith is not “my respected opponent”, he is a bigot. A homophobe. He is a wanker and should be treated as such because he shouldn’t be given the respect he recieves based on his imaginary friend and his imaginary taste in fashion.
Everytime I hear about “Gay marriage” all that goes through my head is “WHY! WHY! WHY SHOULD I EVEN CARE?”. Because this is not even something we should debate. Legalising gay marriage won’t change anything for me. It won’t change anything for the 92 to 94% of us who are straight. It changes things for just 6 to 8% of us. Most of us will go through our lives never being invited for a gay marriage. We won’t have to do anything except go “Hm? Oh? Your other half is Steve? Goodness! How daft of me!”. Legalising gay marriage doesn’t mean that you are going to get a post about me going “That’s it! Legalised Gay Marriage made me Gay. I am now marrying Ricki Martin in a shock twist that even the Papparazi didn’t see coming! FIERCE and other stereotypically gay things I learnt from watching a lot of Will and Grace.
But then again… It does explain why I really like Glee.
So I (and I am sure all of FTB) would like to congratulate Cardinal Keith O’Brien for winning The Bigot of the Year Award (Category Homophobe). I would take the time to write him and the church another letter but I figured I should fight homophobia through something very nerdy, very gay and very very welsh…
Oh yes… It’s Torchwood Time. Damn you Barrowman. You magnificent bastard…
14 comments
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oolon
November 2, 2012 at 11:17 PM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
I’d suggest we take the advice here: http://www.christianconcern.com/bigot-award
But do the opposite of what they want… I for one am tweeting to my 3 1/2 followers on the #bigotaward hashtag and copying @CConcern!
Nick Gotts (formerly KG)
November 3, 2012 at 12:02 AM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
Why, FFS? It is, perhaps, the most corrupt of major British banks – and that’s saying something. Its recent fine for fixing the Libor rate is only the latest of a scandalous series of, er, scandals, as detailed here. Those of us with long memories will also recall its long-time support of the apartheid regime in South Africa. Switch to the Co-operative Bank, or one of the building societies that is still a mutual (the Nationwide is the largest, but there are quite a few others).
Avicenna
November 3, 2012 at 12:16 AM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
Because I live in India and would like a bank I can take money out of… Leaving me the choice of HSBC and Barclays…
Otherwise I simply cannot take money out with an elaborate song and dance…
Also? Historic atrocity doesn’t equal modern treatment.
Otherwise I can never own a Toyota…
Lou Doench
November 3, 2012 at 5:44 AM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
Barrowman is definitely on my list of “okay, if I must do it with a guy please let it be him” just after Pierce Brosnan.
Christoph Burschka
November 3, 2012 at 2:06 PM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
Mmmmmh, Captain Jack Harkness.
(I’m straight btw.)
Nick Gotts (formerly KG)
November 3, 2012 at 7:18 PM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
There’s nothing historic about the Libor fine, or the huge amounts Barclays is having to pay out for mis-selling payment protection insurance (read: defrauding its customers); and if an individual or institution wishes to be forgiven for past crimes, they should apologise and compensate those they have wronged – which AFAIK, Barclays has never done to the victims of apartheid. However, I admit that HSBC doesn’t seem to be a whole lot better.
anne mariehovgaard
November 4, 2012 at 5:20 AM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
It’s those 51st century pheromones…
brucecoppola
November 5, 2012 at 9:23 PM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
Avicenna:
Word. Unless you live there or have even just visited, you have no idea what it can take for the simplest transactions in an Indian bank. Being naively unaware I spent over an hour trying to change US$20 to rupees when I was caught a bit short – filling out paperwork, being shunted from one functionary to another, cooling my heels waiting for said functionaries. Later my Indian friends told me, “OMG, we thought you were lost! We would have loaned you some rupees! NEVER go to an Indian bank for ANY reason!”
bradleybetts
November 5, 2012 at 11:33 PM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
Regarding Barclays… you really think all the other banks aren’t doing the same? They just haven’t been caught yet. Leave the poor man alone; I don’t know anyone who picks their bank based on the moral implications. The factors involved the decision are usually, believe it or not, financial.
sonofrojblake
November 6, 2012 at 10:10 PM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
Odd – I know plenty. And they all, without exception, bank with the Cooperative Bank. No major financial or convenience penalties (unless you live in India – unlucky), and a bank with a deserved reputation for ethical investing and dealing.
You *can* bank ethically if you want to.
Nemo
November 6, 2012 at 11:17 PM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
There was a major movement in the U.S. last year aimed at getting people to pull their money out of big, national banks, and put it into small, local banks, or (preferably) credit unions. And I did.
I realize this option might not be viable everywhere.
The Vicar (via Freethoughtblogs)
November 7, 2012 at 12:01 AM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
Words to live by. (And Miss Manners — a.k.a. Judith Martin — agrees.)
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carl cuaby
April 23, 2013 at 2:06 PM (UTC 5.5) Link to this comment
I like riding on trains stricle because of the metal clashing around together.