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Scottish Churches, Morality and Homosexual Law Reform, 1957–1980

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2015

JEFF MEEK
JEFF MEEK*
Affiliation:
Glasgow E-mail: Jeffrey.meek@glasgow.ac.uk
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Abstract

The role of Scottish Churches in the decision not to include Scotland in the 1967 Sexual Offences Act requires scrutiny. This article examines the role of the Church of Scotland, and other Churches, in debates regarding homosexuality in the years following publication of the Wolfenden Report. It argues that although Scotland's Churches appeared steadfast in their determination to prevent homosexual law reform during the 1950s and 1960s, there was much ambivalence, contradiction and debate and that, in fact, Scotland's two main Churches played a significant role in the development of Scotland's foremost homosexual rights organisation, the Scottish Minorities Group.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History , Volume 66 , Issue 3 , July 2015 , pp. 596 - 613
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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References

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3 Davidson and Davis, ‘ “A field for private members” ’, 175.

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19 ‘Report of the Wolfenden Committee: large majority for disapproval’, GH, 27 May 1958, 3.

20 Ibid.

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22 MacDonald, Confidence in a changing Church, 149.

23 Ibid.

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63 Simpson to Dunn, 23 Feb. 1969.

64 Ibid.

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67 Author interview with ‘Walter’, 13 Apr. 2007.

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84 For example, the Revd Bob Eccles, the Catholic chaplain for the University of Strathclyde, addressed the SHRG in January 1981.

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86 Author interview with ‘Daniel’, 27 Mar. 2007.

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88 Ibid.

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