The Catholic Church has written to Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon seeking reassurances that freedom of conscience will be protected within the Scottish National Party (SNP).
The letter comes after Dr Lisa Cameron, the SNP MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, endured days of abuse after she voted against an amendment at Westminster to introduce abortion to Northern Ireland.
Dr Cameron said that since the vote, local party members, including those involved in the process of selecting candidates, had called for her to be sacked as an MP and barred from standing in future.
Yesterday (18/7), Bishop Hugh Gilbert, president of the Bishops Conference, wrote that Dr Cameron ‘has been subject to a significant degree of hostility from many quarters, including ordinary members and officer bearers of the Scottish National Party.’
Referring to the lack of support for Dr Cameron from the SNP and her comments about pro-life views seemingly being ‘incompatible with being an SNP candidate,’ he wrote: “I therefore am writing to you as leader of the Scottish National Party to seek such a public re-assurance.
“I believe I write on behalf of all who cherish freedom of conscience within the public square and hold in high regard those in public life who remain true to their conscience, even at the expense of personal popularity or political advantage.”
