the Houston speech in London

By Diogenes ( articles ) | May 10, 2006

Question: Could a committed Catholic, dedicated to the promotion of Church social teaching, find a place in the British cabinet under PM Tony Blair?

Answer: Sure. Ruth Kelly, an active Catholic and reputed member of Opus Dei, is in Blair's cabinet.

Question: But Kelly's faith has made her a target for persistent criticism. Liberals want her out.

Answer: So what? Let the liberals complain. The point is that she's there in the cabinet, as a strong voice for Catholic principles.

Question: Um... Could you take another look at that story? She refuses to discuss her own "private" views, and supports the government's stand on issues like homosexuality.

Answer: That's troubling, I admit. But at least she can still vote the right way...

Question: Read on:

Ms Kelly has missed a total of 12 votes on homosexuality and equal rights since 1997. They include a vote in June 1998 on the Crime and Disorder Bill to lower the age of homosexual consent, and two votes in 1999 on the Sexual Offences (amendment) Bill also lowering the age of consent.

In 2002, she also missed three votes on the Adoption and Children Bill, which permitted gay adoption, but did vote in May 2002 for an amendment to the Bill that would have allowed unmarried heterosexual couples to adopt, but exclude same-sex couples.

Answer: Could a committed Catholic, dedicated to the promotion of Church social teaching, find a place in the British cabinet under PM Tony Blair?