For all that I bitch and moan about the Scottish parliament, it has to be said that on social and moral legislation, it is doing a rather good job. We have some of the best child protection legislation in the world, we have a proper human rights agenda and that brings with is a commitment to equality. So far so good.
Yesterday, a woman for whom I have previously had little time - Margo MacDonald - presented a bill to the parliament, suggesting that it is time that Scotland has a properly thought-out policy on Assisted Suicide or Voluntary Euthanasia or what ever you care to call it.
Today, the catholic church in Scotland said that it would do everything in its power to prevent this bill from becoming law. Once more, a minority of religious fanatics think that they have the right to dictate morals to the majority... Worse, this is the same church which tries to defend priests who lie to the police when chopped up bodies are found under their church floors; which refuses to acknowledge or punish systemic child abuse; which advises people not to use condoms in the face of AIDS and other STIs; which condems homosexuality whilst ignoring the fact that enormous numbers of their priests are homosexual; which indoctrinates children and; which is headed up by an unapologetic ex-member of the Hitler Youth.
If the catholic church don't want Assisted Suicide, that is fine. They don't need to have it. Should I ever want it, however, I don't want some prissy frock-wearing hypocrite with dubious "morals" telling me that I can't.
Jewellery talk and more from Dauvit Alexander, The Justified Sinner.