Women for Scotland criticise CoE diocese’s ‘LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy’

The women’s group whose legal motion led to this 12 months’s Supreme Court ruling in favour of biological reality, has condemned the Diocese of Oxford for its “dreadful” message to transgendered people.

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the dioceses’ “LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy” posted a message saying it was available for anyone who was “struggling” consequently of the ruling.

“We know many trans, non-binary, and intersex people will probably be personally feeling the burden of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act 2010. We are praying it’s possible you’ll know afresh that you just are deeply loved, and beautifully created within the image of God,” it said.

“If you, or anybody you understand, is struggling following the Supreme Court ruling, please get in contact and speak with one among the LGBTQIA+ Chaplains.”

For Women Scotland took issue with the statement, asking if “the image of God looks like Adam/Isla Bryson”.

Bryson is a convicted rapist who subsequently transitioned from male to female. Bryson was briefly placed in a female prison before a public uproar led to a reversal of the choice.

The Bryson case became distinguished as a talking point when the Scottish government was seeking to throw its full support behind the thought of gender self-identification. For Women Scotland argued that self-identification made terms like “man” and “woman” essentially meaningless.

The Supreme Court decided that “man” and “woman” refers to biological sex, a severe blow to those that support self-identification.

While For Women Scotland took exception to the Diocese of Oxford’s statement, the diocese itself said that it was not desiring to take sides on a political matter, but simply wished to supply pastoral care to those in distress.

“Our message doesn’t intend to take sides, it simply seeks to acknowledge the pain and offer support for all those affected,” it said.