Call to honour EU vote and heal divisions

                                                                                                     Friday June 24 2016

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND has urged voters to honour the decision of the EU referendum vote and to remain ‘internationalist’.

The Rev Dr Richard Frazer, Convener of the Church’s Church and Society Council, said today: "The UK has voted to leave the EU at the end of what has been, at times, a bitter and polarising campaign. I believe this is a decision which many people will regret. The Church of Scotland has spoken out consistently over the last 20 years in favour of our continued membership to the European Union – but it is the democratic decision of people living in the UK and we must honour that. In Scotland, the majority voted differently and this will inevitably raise questions about Scotland’s future in the rest of the UK. That is for another day.

“The natural inclination of the Church has been internationalist, because our Christian faith does not recognise borders but sees the world and all its people as one. We are part of a world-wide community with a responsibility to one another and the whole of creation. Over recent years, the urgency of taking that international responsibility seriously has become more clear as global poverty, environmental degradation, and the refugee catastrophe call us to find co-operative and international responses.”

Urging healing of the divisions caused by the vote, he added: “Today, it is important to recognise that those who were our neighbours yesterday are still our neighbours today.”

Read Dr Frazer’s full statement here

Comments

james knight - Saturday, June 25th, 2016

“What is the church's role in politics? Render unto Caesar? Until the church can communicate successfully God's all embracing love to to all people and it is reciprocated this world will lurch from one crisis to the next. Until we have true equality for all people, the politics of selfishness will prevail. I urge the ministers and congregations and congregations of the Church of Scotland to re-examine their consciences once again to see that we are doing all we can for refugees and all those living in poverty in this world.
your friend in Christ
Love Jamie”

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