Shellfish or just Selfish? Gays, the Wee Frees and the Lewis fishing industry.

The Free Church of Scotland, colloquially known as the "Free Kirk" or the "Wee Frees" are one of the most Presbytarian and conservative Christian faiths in Scotland.  Extremely strict sabbatarians, even in my lifetime local authorities ran by Wee Free members have chained up children's swings and roundabouts in public parks late on Saturday evenings and not unchained them until Monday mornings, to prevent children playing on them on a Sunday.  I don't know if it is still the case but in their stronghold of Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, it was once impossible to buy drink on a Sunday.  Their 'doom and gloom' hard line Protestantism has been parodied by many, notably in the book by Compton Mackenzie, and subsequent movie, Whisky Galore and famously by the Scots comedian, the late Rikki Fulton, who had to change the name of his character of a dour, depressing Scottish church minister from "Rev W E Free" to "Rev I M Jolly".

Needless to say, to the Free Kirk gays are a complete no-no. They maintain that same-sex relationships are unnatural and a choice (funny how they don't state when they decided to be straight).  This of course, like many Wee Free teachings is based upon Old Testament Biblical teachings.  Particularly the Free Kirk will quote one passage in the Book of Leviticus against homosexuality; "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (Leviticus 18:22, KJV).

Among other things the Free Kirk has been very vocal recently in Scotland concerning the Marriage and Civil Partnerships (Scotland) Bill, which will ratify the right to same-sex marriage in Scotland and which is currently at the discussion stage in the devolved Scottish Parliament.  A Free Kirk spokesman recently called for a conscientious objectors clause similar to that which applies for the 1967 Abortion Act and added that “the Free Church wants some reassurance that in the eyes of the state it will still be legal to believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.”  They also want the Equalities Act amended to similarly "protect" those opposed to same-sex marriage on the grounds of religion.

The Marriage and Civil Partnerships Bill is the greatest ever reforming of marriage law in Scottish history.  Apart from recognising and legalising Same Sex Marriage, it will make full provision for the rights of transgender people and permanently ratify the rights of non-religious celebrants to carry out marriage ceremonies (previously each such celebrant had to be granted temporary permission to do so).  The sitting Scottish National Party administration in the Scottish Parliament, with cross party support, are making sure that this bill is inclusive of all.  This is why it is apparently taking so long, as the government wish to make it completely watertight against objection. 

Those of us who have actually taken the time to read the Bill carefully are fully aware that provision is already made for clergy who do not wish to be celebrants in same-sex marriage ceremonies.  Not that it was needed.  In law no-one can enforce a member of clergy to marry anyone, whatever their gender or sexuality.  Free Kirk, Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic clergy have been known to refuse to marry couples purely on the grounds that they are not regular church attendees.  The Free Kirk will be fully aware of this and one would imagine that they have already done their homework and read the Bill.  If so, they will be equally aware that provision has indeed already been made for objectors.  One can only assume therefore that this is merely an attempt at stalling the process of the Bill.  Is so, the Wee Frees are merely delaying the inevitable; the Marriage and Civil Partnerships (Scotland) Bill has overwhelming support from all sides of the Scottish Parliament and it shall become law, no matter whether they like it or not.

It is interesting to note however, that while the Free Kirk are so up in arms about same sex marriage, and homosexuality generally, they remain very silent upon the fishing and processing of shellfish, which is one of the mainstays of industry and biggest employers in their Isle of Lewis homeland.  This is despite that the Bible, in the same Book of Leviticus they are so fond of quoting against gay rights, also expressly forbids the eating of shellfish equally as strongly as gay sex; "And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you." (Leviticus 11:10-12, KJV).  You'll notice here that Leviticus names shellfish not once as an "abomination" but three times.  That seems perfectly clear to me, yet the fishing of them has the full blessing of the Free Kirk.  There is a word for this; hypocrisy.

Macduff Shellfish recently agreed to buy the Stornoway Seafood Factory from Young's, thereby protecting the 33 jobs at the plant.  One of the major Shellfish processors and exporters, in 2012 Macduff purchased the UK's largest scallop fishing fleet, Scott Trawlers.  The work at the Stornoway Seafood Factory concentrates mainly upon the processing of langoustines, but also shells prawns to for the UK scampi market.

One can only wonder therefore if the Free Kirk would be so welcoming of the shellfish industry if they realised that the Northern Prawn found in the North Atlantic Ocean, Pandalus Borealis are in fact hermaphroditic?  They are born male but in the second year of life, their testicles turn to ovaries and they complete their lives as females. Should we be surprised?  Shrimps are so shockingly pink that they are FABULOUS!  Add to this that Macduff Shellfish may actually extend or diversify the Stornoway factory to include the processing of one of their mainstays, scallops, many of which are also natural hermaphrodites.

So, will it be business as usual with the Lewis Wee Frees, or can we soon expect some edict against abominable gay shellfish?