Keith. I know that. I remain bemused by decent people within the fold not making a stance and asking themselves which view represents the church? If Christianity is about turning the other cheek then respectable people are well practiced at it whilst outrageous disgusting bigots speak in their name. Appeasement in order to not rock the boat ignores the fact that the hull is well and truly breached anyway.

Sorry but whilst the Church wishes to be part of the state then it will continue to be rightfully questioned and compared to other society values. Other religions do not try tointerfere with our government so it is disingenuous to bring them into the debate. In any case, a gay colleague at work lives with his husband and they both attend Friday prayers at their mosque. Their Imam blessed their partnership at a ceremony for that matter.   If CofE people don't want to be calked Jehovas Witnesses it would be a good start to not stereotype people of other faiths. Most Muslims are as appalled by those speaking in their name as any decent member of our village congregation are when hearing an American Christian preacher say Thank God for AIDS.

Akenaton. Of course you can be old fashioned and stick to traditional views. Just keep them away from polite society that's all. My old fashioned views would include concluding that for anybody to be as twisted and bitter in their comments as you are, ,taking them seriously isn't going to help with your problem. And you do seem to have one..

Will it help if being Scottish you accept that you are portrayed as an alcoholic wife beating good for nothing ne're do well? Or is the Rab C Nesbitt comparison different to your portrayal of Gay people?