Tory MSP ‘doesn’t know’ if God approves of leader’s lesbian wedding
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A Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament has insisted marriage is between “one man and one woman” – after party leader Ruth Davidson announced her engagement to her female partner.
Ms Davidson, who recently helped the Conservatives surge to second place in Scotland earlier this month, had announced her happy news last week.
She confirmed her engagement to long-term partner Jennifer Wilson, tweeting: “I had an important question to ask. “Delighted Jen said Yes. Very happy.”
However, one diehard conservative MSP isn’t entirely sure whether God would ‘approve’ of his own leader’s wedding.
Christian politician Jeremy Balfour, who previously lobbied for anti-LGBT Evangelical Alliance, told the Sunday Herald he still thinks marriage is between a man and a woman despite the news.
He said: “The Bible is for me the book that I take guidance from in how I should live my life. My interpretation of the Bible is that marriage is between a man and a woman.
“Clearly other people hold different views on that, and clearly other people have different interpretations of that, but my understanding of the Bible is that marriage is between one man and one woman.”
Asked whether Davidson’s marriage is a ‘true’ marriage, he said: “It is a true marriage in that it is a legal thing that is allowed in Scotland.
“I recognise that that is what the Scottish Parliament decided in its last term. I hope she and her partner have a fulfilment in that.”
However, when asked whether Ms Davidson will be married in the eyes of God, he said: “Well, that’s a difficult theological question. All I would want to say is that she is legally married.”
Tory leader Ms Davidson previously expressed hope that the Church of Scotland would come to embrace same-sex weddings.
She told PinkNews earlier this month: “In terms of the decision for sacraments to be administered, that’s one for the General Assembly – but I believe I’ll see it in my lifetime, absolutely. I certainly hope so.
“The Church has come a long way very fast. It still has a long way to go but it’s absolutely going in the right direction. I’m very hopeful I’ll be able to see gay church weddings in my lifetime.”
