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Liberal attitudes among Catholics could safeguard Labour vote

"It is little wonder that every time a Catholic cleric criticises Labour, questions are asked about how much electoral damage might be done to the party," writes Professor John Curtice. "At the last Scottish Parliament election, no fewer than one in five of those voting Labour claimed an affiliation with the Catholic Church.

"Yet it is doubtful whether Bishop Devine's defection from Labour because of his opposition to social legislation, such as civil partnerships for same-sex couples, will do the party much damage. After all, it is not obvious to whom Catholics should turn, even if they do agree with the bishop's views.

"All of Scotland's established parties accept the civil partnerships legislation. As the bishop admitted, the only alternative appears to be a fringe party, the Christian Alliance.

"But in any event many Catholics do not share Bishop Devine's views. Indeed, the attitudes of Catholics towards homosexuality differ little from those of their fellow Scots. For example, according to the 2005 Scottish Social Attitudes survey, while 40 per cent of Catholics think that sexual activity between two people of the same gender is "always" or "mostly wrong", slightly more, 45 per cent, feel that it is "rarely" or "not at all wrong". Among Scots in general, the equivalent figures are almost identical."

Full story at The Scotsman.