Should Holding Conservative Religious Views Be A Bar From Holding High Office`~?

[sp1814]

Bravo to Kate Forbes for actually being honest (unlike Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron who dodged the question).

By being open and honest she can be judged fairly - but at what cost?

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/26/kate-forbes-politicians-have-right-to-strong-religious-views-but-not-shielded-from-scrutiny

"If we accept that people of faith have every right to be in public life, and that there is nothing wrong with their faith shaping their political views, the corollary must be that those views should be open to public scrutiny."

[ToraToraTora]

No, as long as the voters know they can make the determination in the voting booth.

[Rosetta]

I saw her being interviewed recently and was quite impressed with her honesty and her stated willingness not to shove her faith or beliefs down anyone elses throat

[sp1814]

Exactly TTT - what Farron tried to do was keep everyone happy and by doing so - pleased no-one.

[Atheist]

No, it shouldn't. But politicians will be expected to work on behalf of the population as a whole, and not to favour those who share their beliefs. Secularism, i.e. separation of religion and state, is a valuable safeguard against government according to religious dogma and persecution by the state of religions other than the approved one. The USA constitution was aimed at protecting immigrants who fled to America (to escape religious persecution back in Europe) from such persectuion in the USA. Sadly, the privatisation of religion and consequent competition between cults and denominations in the USA seems to have led to a race to the bottom as far as reason and decency are concerned.

[naomi24]

All views should be open to public scrutiny.

[Old_Geezer]

One's religious views ought not bar one from office, but if they let such views override their job responsibilities then they need to go. Few, if any, jobs require the individual to push their beliefs in myths and legends to the fore.

[Gromit]

The following is in quotation marks, but not sure who is saying it…

// ‘Secularism now means a ban on religious people in public life.” “We seem to have ushered in a kind of reverse religious test.” “Does her faith and her refusal to renounce any elements of it effectively debar her from public office?” //

I cannot agree with none of that.
The SNP is a socialist organisation wrapped in nationalism.
This woman's views are clearly very conservative, and right wing. She is clearly in the wrong party.
Why? Because pretending to to left wing is her only prospect of promoting her dodgy views.
Clearly the wrong candidate, and I hope she is humiliated in the vote.

[naomi24]

Gromit, can’t right wingers be wrapped up in nationalism? I think you’ll find they can.

[Gromit]

Naomi,
They can.
But not in a socialist party, which the SNP allegedly is. She should be in the Scottish Conservatives - but there is little prospect of being elected there.

[naomi24]

If she’s a nationalist why would she join the Scottish Conservative Party, gromit? As far as I’m aware they don’t represent her views on nationalism - something that I imagine is politically paramount to nationalists.

[Gromit]

If she was conservative views she should join the Conservatives. She is only a nationalist because it is the only way she will get elected.

[Untitled]

a conservative and a Tory are quite different things in my opinion… whatever the latter might opt to call themselves

[douglas9401]

Look deep into her eyes.

This way problems lie.

[Peter Pedant]

and yet we didnt have that over Jack Kennedy being Roman
nor Tony BLair ( converted to RC after he was PM but showed various alarming Romish tendencies ( thx to Trollope ) (*)

(*) liking or leaning towards Romish practices

and he was the one who apptd Bishops ( Anglican that is!)

[naomi24]

Gromit, //If she was conservative views she should join the Conservatives. //

If she's a nationalist why would she join a party that doesn't support nationalism? That doesn't make sense.

[Peter Pedant]

Gromit, //If she was conservative views she should join the Conservatives. //
and a nationalist shd join the Nationalists
o god, AB on a Tuesday
and if she is labour - then the Labour party
and if she has a horse - the Trotskysists ( Trots otherwise)
and if she feels icky-boo - the Greens

great thinkers abroad, explains why there are no comments on the casey report

[New Judge]

//...a conservative and a Tory are quite different things in my opinion…//

Indeed they are and that's why "Conservative" in the question title should begin with a small 'c'. But that's the fault of AB, not the author.