Scottish Christian.com

Home > News > Scottish Christian News Monitor

Polls chaos 'must not put people off politics'

A Kirk minister has urged people not to allow spoiled votes in the Holyrood elections to make them cynical about politics.

And the Rev Peter Macdonald, of Edinburgh's St George's West Church in Shandwick Place, argued political involvement was a Christian duty.

Writing in the latest issue of his church magazine, he said: "In the aftermath of the Scottish parliamentary election campaign and the scandal of 142,000 spoiled votes, it would be easy to be cynical about politics and politicians. It would be easy - but it would be wrong.

"Alternatives to democracy are not appealing. Dictatorship, oppression, injustice, corruption and violence are sadly all too common around the world and tens of millions of people would rejoice to exercise the political freedom we take for granted."

Mr Macdonald hailed the new devolved assembly in Northern Ireland as an example of the "slow, patient victory of politics over violence and hatred".

And he continued: "Religious bigotry and politics are not a good mix, but involvement in politics is a duty for all Christians, whether by simply voting and participating in everyday conversation about politics or standing for public office.

"As citizens we are all responsible for challenging cynicism and apathy and restoring faith in politics and politicians."

Full story at the Edinburgh Evening News.