The Influence of Religion on Politics

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When?
Monday, January 21 2013 at 7:00PM

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Where?
The Admiral
72a Waterloo Street

Who?
Patrick Harvie MSP, Prof. Wendy Savage, and Dr Libby Wilson

What's the talk about?

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 "Britain is a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so…  Just as our language and culture is steeped in the Bible, so too is our politics." David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 16th December 2011

 

This event will examine just what influence religion holds in society, but specifically in the world of politics, from some of the people who would know these topics best.  We will hear from those involved in the fight for equal marriage, for access to abortion, and for assisted suicide.

 

Patrick Harvie MSP will explain how religious pressure has affected the push for LGBT rights, specifically regarding the effort to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples.  Patrick Harvie is the Co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party, and has served as an MSP for Glasgow since 2003.  Patrick became involved in politics after campaigning for the repeal of the infamous Section 28, which outlawed the "teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

 

Prof. Wendy Savage will speak similarly about how access to abortion services has been influenced by religious bodies.  Wendy is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, is a former president of the Medical Women's Federation, and coordinated Doctors for a Woman's Choice on Abortion.  Described as "an inspirational leader in women's health", she was shortlisted for the BMJ Group Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

 

Dr Libby Wilson will speak on assisted suicide and euthanasia.  She pioneered family planning services in London and Sheffield, and spent a year in Sierra Leone working in reproductive health, before founding Friends At The End (FATE) in her retirement.  Libby is now the convenor and medical advisor for FATE, and is regularly invited on television and radio discussion panels to speak on euthanasia and assisted suicide.  In 2009, she became the first person to be arrested under the new guidelines on assisted dying.

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