The man tipped to become Britain's next Prime Minister has defended his views on abortion and homosexuality.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP for North East Somerset, recently declared that he believes all abortion is wrong, even if a woman gets raped. He also said that gay marriage is wrong.
On Wednesday he defended his views on Good Morning Britain where, as is often the case nowadays, he was given a stern interview by the liberal presenters as though he were a naughty schoolboy...
Honesty, faith and integrity are in. Jacob Rees-Mogg would make a fine Prime Minister
Tim Stanley
7 September 2017
The Telegraph
381 Comments
Jacob Rees-Mogg has come under criticism for his views on gay marriage and abortion following his inerview on Good Morning Britain
Jacob Rees-Mogg would make a fine candidate for Prime Minister - not because of the content of his religious views but because he's honest about it.
Yesterday, Mogg appeared on Good Morning Britain and, as always happens when politicians are asked about their faith, it sounded like a police interview. Mogg, however, refused to be intimidated. He was straightforward in his views on homosexuality and abortion and later reaffirmed them on Twitter with a quote from the Nicene Creed.
Jacob Rees-Mogg ✔
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg
...Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. https://youtu.be/N8WWu2bEiUM
5:46 PM - Sep 6, 2017
1,153 Replies 979 Retweets 2,922 Likes
Cards on the table: I'm a Catholic, too. That doesn't mean Mogg speaks for all Catholics or that I'm sold on him just because he's a Catholic. When it comes to economics, foreign policy or refugees, I suspect I'm somewhat to his Left - as probably are most Catholic voters. Indeed, it's quite wrong (even a little creepy) to see Mogg's politics entirely through the prism of his faith. Partly because it implies that we operate a religious test in Britain (i.e. "Are you religious?" "Yes." "Then you can't be PM.") and partly because it misrepresents what Mogg actually said as someone shouted "what about gay sex?" at him on morning television. Far from invoking the Spanish Inquisition, Mogg came off as an old-fashioned libertarian.
There's a difference between an opinion and a prohibition. Mogg was asked his opinion on gay marriage: he explained that while it is now law, the Catholic Church teaches that it is a theological impossibility. But he won't seek to outlaw it. Asked about abortion, he said that it's morally indefensible. But, again, he doesn't expect to be able to tell women what to do.
His final quote is worth framing:
Or is it? We shall see. Mogg has thrown down a gauntlet to Theresa May: will she make him a minister despite his private opinions?
She should. He's talented, charming, was the most high profile Tory defending her on TV following the election.
And my suspicion is that most voters - beyond the knee-jerk liberals in politics and the media - will watch his remarks and conclude "I don't agree with him but, by Jove, it's nice to hear a man speak his mind." Especially when his religious opinion comes with the caveat that it won't be imposed on anyone else.
The days of politicians winning votes by lying or equivocating are over. This is the age of Brexit, Trump and Corbyn. Ideology is back, faith is back, integrity is in.
Honesty, faith and integrity are in. Jacob Rees-Mogg would make a fine Prime Minister
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP for North East Somerset, recently declared that he believes all abortion is wrong, even if a woman gets raped. He also said that gay marriage is wrong.
On Wednesday he defended his views on Good Morning Britain where, as is often the case nowadays, he was given a stern interview by the liberal presenters as though he were a naughty schoolboy...
Honesty, faith and integrity are in. Jacob Rees-Mogg would make a fine Prime Minister
Tim Stanley
7 September 2017
The Telegraph
381 Comments
Jacob Rees-Mogg would make a fine candidate for Prime Minister - not because of the content of his religious views but because he's honest about it.
Yesterday, Mogg appeared on Good Morning Britain and, as always happens when politicians are asked about their faith, it sounded like a police interview. Mogg, however, refused to be intimidated. He was straightforward in his views on homosexuality and abortion and later reaffirmed them on Twitter with a quote from the Nicene Creed.
Jacob Rees-Mogg ✔ @Jacob_Rees_Mogg
...Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. https://youtu.be/N8WWu2bEiUM
5:46 PM - Sep 6, 2017
1,153 Replies 979 Retweets 2,922 Likes
Cards on the table: I'm a Catholic, too. That doesn't mean Mogg speaks for all Catholics or that I'm sold on him just because he's a Catholic. When it comes to economics, foreign policy or refugees, I suspect I'm somewhat to his Left - as probably are most Catholic voters. Indeed, it's quite wrong (even a little creepy) to see Mogg's politics entirely through the prism of his faith. Partly because it implies that we operate a religious test in Britain (i.e. "Are you religious?" "Yes." "Then you can't be PM.") and partly because it misrepresents what Mogg actually said as someone shouted "what about gay sex?" at him on morning television. Far from invoking the Spanish Inquisition, Mogg came off as an old-fashioned libertarian.
There's a difference between an opinion and a prohibition. Mogg was asked his opinion on gay marriage: he explained that while it is now law, the Catholic Church teaches that it is a theological impossibility. But he won't seek to outlaw it. Asked about abortion, he said that it's morally indefensible. But, again, he doesn't expect to be able to tell women what to do.
His final quote is worth framing:
People are entitled to hold these views, but also the democratic majority is entitled to have the laws of the land as they are - which do not go with the Catholic church, and will not go with the Catholic church.
This is exactly right. Catholics are in a minority and bow to the will of the majority as expressed through the ballot box. Hopefully, the majority will be as tolerant towards us - although it's becoming harder and harder to articulate a dissenting view.
Or is it? We shall see. Mogg has thrown down a gauntlet to Theresa May: will she make him a minister despite his private opinions?
She should. He's talented, charming, was the most high profile Tory defending her on TV following the election.
And my suspicion is that most voters - beyond the knee-jerk liberals in politics and the media - will watch his remarks and conclude "I don't agree with him but, by Jove, it's nice to hear a man speak his mind." Especially when his religious opinion comes with the caveat that it won't be imposed on anyone else.
The days of politicians winning votes by lying or equivocating are over. This is the age of Brexit, Trump and Corbyn. Ideology is back, faith is back, integrity is in.
Honesty, faith and integrity are in. Jacob Rees-Mogg would make a fine Prime Minister
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