Scottish archbishop will meet gay partner of deceased lawmaker
July 26, 2012
Archbishop Philip Tartaglia has agreed to meet with the homosexual lover of a deceased Scottish politician. The newly appointed Archbishop of Glasgow has been heavily criticized for implying that the politician, David Cairns, died suddenly because of his homosexual lifestyle.
Cairns died suddenly last year, at the age of 44, of acute pancreatitis. Earlier this year, at a forum at Oxford, Bishop Tartaglia addressed the question of how homosexuality could affect health, saying:
Recently in Scotland there was a gay Catholic MP who died at the age of 44 or so, and nobody said anything, and why his body should just shut down at that age? Obviously he could have had a disease that would have killed anybody. But you seem to hear so many stories about this kind of thing, but society won't address it.
David Kehoe, who had been Cairns’ lover, expressed resentment over the bishop’s remarks. "This is genuinely very upsetting and painful for David's family and friends,” he said.
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Further information:
- Bishop to meet MP's former partner (UKPA)
- Scottish archbishop-elect faces criticism for comment on homosexuality (CWN, 7/25)
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Jul. 28, 2012 7:10 PM ET USA
The cause of this man's death,acute pancreatitis,need not necessarily be laid to his lifestyle. That's a mean conclusion to draw. Was he alcoholic? What qualifies the bishop to jump to his conclusion? No wonder the gay community doesn't feel the love the Church claims to have for them.
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Posted by: New Sister -
Jul. 26, 2012 9:31 PM ET USA
What a just and necessary point he raises. God bless him! I've also noticed that all articles I read on CWNews about Bishops in Scottland are encouraging ones- so glad for that. Deo gratias!
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Jul. 26, 2012 6:53 PM ET USA
And now Abp Tartaglia understands why society says nothing about it. He can use our prayers.
