Sins and stones
Bubble — By Daran Hill on January 10, 2010 8:00 pmIRIS Robinson is in the news this week in quite the most scandalous story to have emerged from Northern Ireland in many a year. As with Scotland, I do not tend to comment on matters in Stormont since my expertise is limited, though my interest is less so. There may well therefore be a far more interesting blog topic than this in discussing Peter Robinson’s current predicament as First Minister, but my focus is squarely on his wife.
My view on personal lives and politicians is that, in general, they should be kept separate. It follows therefore that I tend to take a dim view on politicians making statements on the personal lives of others.
Iris Robinson first crossed my horizon when she did just that. Back in June 2008 she commented on the attack on a young man called Stephen Scott which was thought to be homophobic in nature. She condemned the attack but also suggested Mr Scott should consider therapy to “cure” him of his homosexuality. She is quoted as having said: “I have a very lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my offices and his Christian background is that he tries to help homosexuals trying to turn away from what they are engaged in. And I have met people who have turned around to become heterosexual.”
The psychiatrist in question subsequently resigned, but Mrs Robinson (no sniggering at the back) remained in post as Chair of the Health Committee at the Northern Ireland Assembly. Indeed, she defended herself and went further when interviewed on the Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster. Part of the exchange between her and DJ Stephen Nolan went as follows:
Stephen Nolan: Do you think for example that homosexuality is disgusting?
Iris Robinson: Absolutely
Stephen Nolan: Do you think that homosexuality should be loathed?
Iris Robinson: Absolutely
Stephen Nolan: Do you think it is right for people to have a physical disgust towards homosexuality?
Iris Robinson: Absolutely
Stephen Nolan: Does it make you nauseous?
Iris Robinson: Yes
Stephen Nolan: Do you think that it is something that is shamefully wicked and vile?
Iris Robinson: Yes, of course it is, it’s an abomination.
This section is worth quoting particularly because it was the basis of a complaint of hate crime which was referred to the South Belfast police. She was supported in her view by her husband, Peter Robinson, who said: “It wasn’t Iris Robinson who determined that homosexuality was an abomination. It was the Almighty.”
This might sound archaic to some readers, but the moral and political climate in Northern Ireland is somewhat different to here in Wales. Indeed, the Democratic Unionist Party – to which Iris Robinson belonged until she was expelled yesterday – has a tradition of denouncing homosexuality. Back in the late 1970s, former party leader Rev Dr Ian Paisley led a campaign called “Save Ulster from Sodomy” which attempted to prevent the decriminalisation of consensual homosexual acts. It is a party which has a strong tradition of so-called moral pronouncements.
Even though I profoundly disagree with the stance of its members on sexuality, I would not usually take delight in the demise of a politician who espoused such views just because they thought differently to me. Others might feel less charitable.
But my charity ends when hypocrisy begins. The DUP is a party with a strong nonconformist Christian value base. To the party homosexuality is a sin, but so is adultery. No wonder she has been expelled from the party.
Forgive me therefore for having no sympathy whatsoever for the situation Iris Robinson finds herself in. She may have attempted suicide and she may have mental health issues, but what humanity has she shown to her constituents and others whose personal moral code differed from the one she has preached?
The Bible has something to say about sins and stones. Perhaps it is a passage she should familiarise herself with.
Tags: equality, sexuality
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7 Comments
I met Iris Robinson when we visited Washington DC as Chairs of the health committees. She was rude and difficult, and having heard her views about homosexuality I have no sympathy for the predicament she now finds herself in. She now has to live with her own “abomination”
Am tempted to cross post this comment to Adam’s risible article on why people of faith should be shown especial respect on those grounds alone …
The DUP is of course the political wing of the Free Presbyterians. Created by Ian Paisley Snr for the purpose of re-enforcing political unionism and bigotry among the working class protestant communities of East Belfast who were unenthused by the essential Toryism of the UUP. Until around 6/7 years ago it was essentially Paisley’s baby. The UUP implosion and the emergence of the DUP to prominence changed that as the Party became establishment, culminating in the historic compromise between extremes with the political face of the PIRA, Sinn Fein.
Robinson was Paisley’s chosen successor. He is now a political dead man walking. It isn’t the corruption that will come as such a shock to the DUP faithful – although their sneering references to Charlie Haughey may be a bit more muted, the political classes of Northern Ireland have long taken for granted that their political leaders (even where they weren’t murderers) were hardly paragons of fiscal probity. Rather the it’s the sex element that could prove devastating to the DUP’s image of probity and righteousness. Once Robinson shuffles off the stage it will be interesting to see if the DUP can maintain it’s recently won hegemony on the loyalist side.
If so at what price for power sharing? and if not can Lady Sylvia Hermon re-build the shattered UUP into (as close as Ulster’s circumstances allow) a genuinely non sectarian Christian Democratic / Centre Right offering? If so, Northern Ireland’s present political turmoil may prove a long-term blessing. If not, David Cameron may be spending more time on the Irish Problem than he could possibly have anticipated 6 months ago.
Dave
Reg Empey is the leader of the UUP. And I can only imagine the hollow amusement among the Paisleys to hear Peter Robinson described as Ian snr’s chosen successor.
Having escaped prosecution for her views on homosexuality, Robinson may not be so lucky this time around. She didn’t declare an interest when voting as a councillor on her lover’s business – a criminal offence.
Dave – if we take your argument through to its logical conclusion, then if all Christians deserved to be tarred with the same brush as Iris Robinson, should we treat all Muslims like Osama bin Laden? Thought not.
Peter on homosexuality:
“It wasn’t Iris Robinson who determined that homosexuality was an abomination. It was the Almighty.”
Peter on Iris:
“I know that she has sought and received God’s forgiveness.”
He has an uncanny knack for knowing what the Almighty thinks!
@Daran Hill:
> “the Democratic Unionist Party… has a tradition of denouncing homosexuality”
If you go on to Wikipedia’s search engine and type “Bermondsey by-election,” you’ll find that tradition in other political parties. Singling out the DUP without mentioning anyone else is misleading, to say the least.
> “The Bible has something to say about sins and stones. Perhaps it is a passage she should familiarise herself with.”
Perhaps you should familiarise yourself with lines 7-8 of the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Yet, in the preceding paragraph you demand forgiveness “for having no sympathy whatsoever for the situation Iris Robinson finds herself in.” Sins and stones?
@Jonathan Morgan:
> “I have no sympathy for the predicament she now finds herself in. She now has to live with her own “abomination””
According to the Daily Mail: “A spokesman for Mr Robinson said last night that she was receiving ‘acute psychiatric treatment’ from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.” I don’t agree with Mrs Robinson’s conduct or her views on homosexuality, but I will pray for her and her family.
@Daran Hill (again)
> “She may have attempted suicide and she may have mental health issues, but what humanity has she shown to her constituents and others whose personal moral code differed from the one she has preached?”
When Gareth Thomas admits to having cheated on his wife with several gay men, he is congratulated for his “personal honesty” and for “having the guts to announce he’s gay.” When Iris Robinson confesses to cheating on her husband with a younger man, she is shown nothing but snarkiness and schadenfreude. No compassion, no mercy; not even for attempting suicide or suffering from a mental breakdown.
Michael, just to come back on a few points:
“Singling out the DUP without mentioning anyone else is misleading, to say the least. ”
I am well aware of the behaviour at the Bermondsey by-election. What is unique about the DUP is they place a moral condemnation of homosexuality as central to their social policy stance. There have been other examples of course – from parties as well as individual politicians – but I cannot recall anything as hateful as Iris Robinson’s remarks in many years.
“Perhaps you should familiarise yourself with lines 7-8 of the Lord’s Prayer: ‘Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ Yet, in the preceding paragraph you demand forgiveness ‘for having no sympathy whatsoever for the situation Iris Robinson finds herself in.’ Sins and stones?”
Maybe a touch, but I was asking the forgiveness of readers in a turn of phrase, not basing my argument on Christian philosophy. Though I accept paraphrasing a Christian expression may have led to some confusion.
I stand by my post and my lack of compassion and mercy to Mrs Robinson. To my mind, she deserves none on the basis of moral hypocrisy. Others may find that harsh, but that is the way I feel.
I have never written a word anywhere about the behaviour of Gareth Thomas. The quotes you use are not mine. That is not to say I don’t endorse them, but it is rather unfair to ask me to justify the words of others. I’m sure there is enough to debate in what is clearly attributable to me.