You might remember Ruth Kelly, the British government minister. Originally appointed to be Secretary of State for Education, she recently was appointed to a new post – Secretary of State for Communities. Her initial appointment caused a bit of a stir because she’s a ROMAN CATHOLIC and a member (I think that’s been established) of Opus Dei.
Interviewed on BBC Radio Five Live, Ms Kelly twice declined to say whether she thought homosexuality was a sin. She said: "I’m sort of getting used to these questions as I go from one department to another. Is it possible to be a practising Catholic and hold a portfolio in government? The answer is ‘yes’. Why? Because I’m collectively responsible for cabinet decisions and I firmly believe in equality and I believe everyone should be protected from discrimination."
Pressed again, she replied: "I don’t think it is right for politicians to start making moral judgements about people. What I think the question is, is what are my political views? As a politician, those are the ones that I’m accountable for to the public."
In a second interview with Sky News, Ms Kelly repeatedly declined to say whether she agreed that same-sex couples should be permitted to adopt children. But she insisted she would promote the rights of all.
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.
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