I could be accused of bitterness in saying I’m glad Cardinal O’Brien’s career as a priest, for career it was, has ended in ignominy and resignation under possibly sordid circumstances. But O’Brien is a hateful man whose vocal declarations of anti-gay bile and organised propaganda campaign against equality for all were breathtakingly ambitious in their malign intentions.

So. Potentially, maybe, we have one hypocrite among too many in a singularly powerful and influential, elitist, corrupted institution unmasked and removed from office. No, it is not bitterness to be pleased when bad people fall from positions of privilege. This reminds us yet again, those who cry disgust at homosexuality the loudest nearly always have some self-loathing or secret shame or fear they work hard to hide away from view.

Homosexuality is not a disease. Homophobia is—a dis-ease, a disturbance of the spirit. It surely cannot please anyone’s God for entire groups of people to be lumped together and despised.