The Moderator Emeritus of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland has spoken out against plans to implement mandatory teaching on LGBT issues to primary school children.
The plans, outlined earlier this year by Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon, are being pushed by campaign group Time for Inclusive Education.
Reverend David Robertson, however, has spoken out against the plans, saying that "indoctrinating children" is not the correct approach to tackling bullying.
'Social engineering and propaganda'
Nicola Sturgeon pledged to promote "children's health and well-being right throughout early years, primary and secondary education (…) to address and prevent prejudice and about healthy relationships through refreshed, age-appropriate strategies and resources.”
David Robertson, who also writes the weaflee blog, said: "Primary school children do not need to be taught what gay and transgender is.
"We are concerned that what is being proposed is not teaching children facts but indoctrinating them with a particular political/sexual philosophy.
"The bottom line is that we are opposed to our state education system being used for social engineering and for foisting propaganda upon children.
'Will result in confusion and brokenness'
Rev Robertson continued: "We believe that no one should be subject to bullying but that the way to combat bullying is to teach people respect for all human beings, not to indoctrinate children."
"We believe that if this policy is accepted and acted upon, it will result in confusion and brokenness amongst our children rather than fulfilled potential.
"It is a policy that will bring untold disaster and harm upon Scotland’s children. This is nothing less than state sponsored indoctrination of the weakest and most vulnerable members of our society.
"To tell children that they can choose their own gender is a recipe for misuse and abuse. Teaching children they can choose their own gender is itself a form of child abuse."
Section 28
Megan Crawford, Chairwoman of the Scottish Secular Society, said the debate around the issue could be described as Scotland's new Section 28 of the Local Government Act - which banned the 'promotion' of homosexuality in schools until its repeal in 2000.
Implemented in 1988, Section 28 stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".
Thenew plans to force children to be taught about LGBT issues would be a direct contradiction of Section 28, as they would forbid schools from refusing to promote homosexuality.
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