Scottish Enlightenment

It has often been a matter of national pride that Scotland was the first nation to truly accept the Age of Reason with open arms, and become the first modern nation. Without the Scots, for instance, the United States of America could never have been born.

Now, Scots clergymen are proving the nation's traditions of enlightened thought still hold strong. Scottish Anglican churchmen and women have made two pronouncements: practising gays should not be prevented from becoming priests and they have agreed to requests to bless same-sex relationships.

The Scottish Church's College of Bishops put itself firmly in the liberal camp with a statement on its Web site that publicly spelled out its reaction to last month's meeting of Anglican leaders.

"The Scottish Episcopal Church has never regarded the fact that someone was in a close relationship with a member of the same sex as in itself constituting a bar to the exercise of an ordained ministry," it said.

This was in direct contrast to the position of the Church of England which will only ordain homosexuals who are not in a physical relationship.

The Scottish Bishops said they had always welcomed gays in their congregations.

"This has on occasion led clergy to respond to requests to give a blessing to persons who were struggling with elements in their relationship and who asked for such a prayer," they added.

Bishop of Aberdeen Bruce Cameron said: "There are homosexual priests in Scotland as there are in many other Churches, not only Anglican."

That's the kind of thinking the US founders would have recognised as coming from their own roots, educated as they were by Scots or by those copying what was then the only national education system in the Western World. They would have recognised the precepts of tolerance, clear thought and acceptance of people's differences as adding to the rich tapestry of life. I believe the American founders as well as the great thinkers of the Scottish Enlightenment would join with me as I say that these Scots should make their country proud.