As a PS to my earlier post there is one other comment from Cardinal O’Brien that I cannot let go unchallenged.

He says “Those of us who were not in favour of civil partnership, believing that such relationships are harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of those involved, ….”

I rather skipped over this the first time round because I was so incensed by his misappropriation of Article 16. I take issue with him now.

I am a gay man. I have been in a stable, loving relationship with my partner for eleven years. We have been in a civil partnership for the last three years. Yes, we express that with sex, but that is only one part of our relationship. Above all we are each other’s best friend.

Anybody who knew me before I met Alex will tell you that I was a deeply troubled man. I had serious “issues”. And then, one day, this handsome, funny, cuddly, loveable, loving, adorable man came into my life.

He changed me – for the better.

I’m not the man I was – I’m better.

Life is not what it was – it’s better.

I did not enter a civil partnership with Alex because I wanted equality before the law, although it does have some advantages in that direction. I did it because I wanted to make a public declaration of my love for him and commitment to him. It was a beautiful experience to do so in the company of our families and our closest friends.

How dare this ignorant man suggest for one moment that my relationship is “harmful” in any way?

By the way. I am also an atheist, and if O’Brien is an example of “god’s love” I’m very happy to stay that way.