Policy Policy - work in progress WORDS: STEVE CHINN
Our approach to policy was set out in an article in the last Humanitie and presented at the Conference on 15 October. There will now be a report on policy work in progress in each issue of Humanitie.
Policy teams have started to form, but we need more members to step forward and declare your policy interests. Details will be on the new Society website, due to launch in January - in the meantime, please take a look at the article in the last Humanitie and/or get in touch with the Policy Development Officer, Steve Chinn (policy@humanism-
scotland.org.uk). Here’s what’s happening as we go to print.
Same Sex Marriage
Research consistently shows around 60% of Scots in favour, and David Cameron recently announced his agreement. The SNP Government has initiated this Bill and it is in line with Alex Salmond’s track record. But strong voices are being raised against - the Catholic church has said it is
www.humanism-scotland.org.uk
trying to get 100,000 negative responses entered into the consultation. Via the October newsletter, members were asked to respond to the Government consultation. Some members have made there responses known. The details vary, but the most frequently applied principle is that both statuses (civil partnership and marriage) should be available to all couples, irrespective of sex mix, and to all celebrants, irrespective of religious affiliation or organisation.
HSS members have
proposed that all celebrants and organisations remain free to choose what couples they marry. This means keeping the law out of the relationship between the organisation and the celebrant, so that where
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their views conflict (for example, Catholic priests who are prepared to perform same sex marriages) they have to fight it out themselves. We will be making an ‘official’ Society response, so please make your own and keep the ideas coming.
We’re looking at a joint media event with the Equality Network and the Scottish Youth Parliament, using the H Factor film on same sex marriage, the fact that we now marry more people than the Catholic church, and some same sex couples who want to be married.
Physician Assisted Suicide
We have a position paper that sets out a clear point of view and approach, and I
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