Homosexuality has been compared to violent behaviour and alcohol abuse by the justice spokesman of the Christian Heritage Party, Matthew Flannagan, in an op-ed piece entitled "Defence of homosexual conduct inadequate" for the Otago Daily Times. Referring to his perceived incidence of homosexuality in the population, Flannagan wrote: "Does the fact that 2% of the population, or even 10%, find themselves with a propensity or a desire to engage in some activity somehow entail that the activity is acceptable? Aggression is a normal part of the human spectrum but that does not mean that aggressive violent behaviour is acceptable. A small number of people have a genetic pre-disposition towards alcoholism; does it follow that alcohol abuse is permissible? The mere fact that some people have a desire to do something is never a justification for doing it." Flannagan also dismissed legal recognition of same-sex unions on the basis that gays and lesbians love each other. "...people have also committed atrocities in the name of love: inquisitors who tortured heretics were sincerely concerned with saving their souls and sometimes motivated by great concern, despite being sincerely wrong...As the evangelical author Frank Beckwith points out, it is possible for a family of adult children, who all love each other, to engage in mutual orgies with each other and their parents, provided this family loves each other and everyone is committed." Flannagan's political affiliations were not disclosed by the Otago Daily Times. He was credited as "a doctoral candidate in theology at the University of Otago, writing a thesis on ethics and philosophical theology". This echoes recent trends of conservative op-ed pieces published in the NZ Herald, in which the newspaper failed to disclose the fundamentalist origins of authors Samuel Gregg and Neil Whitehead.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 21st July 2004 - 12:00pm