Archbishop supports firemen over gay snub
Firefighters have a responsibility to serve everyone irrespective of sexuality says the fire service
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Friday, 01, Sep 2006 08:44
The Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow has defended nine firefighters who were disciplined for refusing to distribute leaflets during a gay rights march.
Strathclyde fire service announced yesterday that the firefighters had been sent on "diversity training" courses after refusing to hand out "community fire safety advice" at the Pride Scotia festival in June.
Some of the firefighters from the Cowcaddens fire station, in Glasgow, had claimed that it would be "embarrassing" for them to attend the gay pride event in uniform, while others argued that the event offended their moral beliefs.
But Strathclyde fire service said their refusal to distribute fire safety leaflets at the event constituted a "fundamental breach of their core responsibilities" and said that it had demoted one firefighter and issued written warnings to the others involved in the dispute as a result.
Defending the firefighters today, Archbishop Mario Conti said there was "no question" that the officers' competency or commitment had been queried and stressed they had "legitimate concerns" about being the subject of taunts, while others would have found the event offensive to their religious beliefs.
"They were asked, while in uniform, to hand out leaflets during a demonstration where they had legitimate concerns about being the subject of taunts and jokes, and in which in some cases, their religious sensibilities would have been grossly offended by people dressed as priests and nuns lampooning the church," said Archbishop Conti.
"The duty to obey one's conscience is a higher duty than that of obeying orders," he added.
Strathclyde fire service said yesterday that it had a responsibility to protect each of the 2.3 million people it serves, "irrespective of race, religion or sexuality".
"Firefighters cannot, and will not, pick and choose to whom they offer fire safety advice," the service said.