It is all very well to call for respectful debate on belief but this must go both ways

We politely suggest to Anthony Horan, Director of the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office, that he consider the beams there have recently been in his own organisation’s eye, before pointing the finger at those who criticised some politicians’ opposition to equal marriage (Friends of the Scotsman, 6 March).

There are abusive individuals on both sides of many debates, and social media makes them more visible. National organisations should, in contrast, lead by example in respectful debate. As a national Scottish LGBTI organisation, we do this, and have never been rude or abusive to any of the small minority of MSPS who have voted against LGBTI equality, in the past 19 years. Over the same period, the Catholic Church’s national leadership – two cardinals and a number of bishops – have publicly called LGB people perverts, and likened our relationships to child abuse and bestiality.

We agree with Mr Horan that debate should be respectful and non-abusive. That has long been our policy, and we hope that it is the policy of his employers also.

TIM HOPKINS Equality Network Bernard Street, Edinburgh

It was quite extraordinary to read two articles by religious believers Anthony Horan and Gordon Mcdonald, both lamenting what they perceive to be an absence of deference to their bible in political life.

Remember that Dr Macdonald is parliamentary officer of CARE for Scotland and Mr Horan is director of the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office: two established parliamentary posts not afforded to any other philosophical outlook in Scottish society.

Mr Horan complains that his orthodox Christian views are no longer allowed to trump equality legislation and Dr Macdonald’s interesting idea that truth and justice are relative quickly collapses into his solution: the absolute objective truth of his God.

Religious believers for whom a Bronze Age text is a lifestyle guide must be protected in their beliefs but that does not extend to a privileged role in making laws and government policy, or indeed, protection from the criticisms their views will inevitably attract.

NEIL BARBER Edinburgh Secular Society Saughtonhall Drive, Edinburgh

Anthony Horan raises some important points about political life in the UK today, in particular, the social liberalism that seems to dominate. What is strange is that part and parcel of liberalism is tolerance, yet advocates of this stance seem to be highly intolerant of opposing views, in particular, social conservatism – issues like gay marriage, abortion.

Anyone proposing such views must prepare themselves for much abuse, even if they manage to get themselves heard in the first place.

WILLIAM BALLANTINE Dean Road Bo’ness, West Lothian