This content requires the Adobe Flash Player. Download Adobe Flash Player here.

Scottish Update Issue 3 - The Newsletter of The Christian Institute (Scotland)


The personal story of an ordinary mother who went before a Scottish Parliament Committee to say: 'don't ban smacking'

By Trudy Kinloch

Concerned by the Scottish Executive's proposals to criminalize smacking, I wrote to a committee of MSPs using The Christian Institute's guidelines. Consequently I was invited to personally present my views to the Committee. The Lord helped me during daunting questions from MSPs. As an ordinary mother of four young children I sought to explain how I used smacking lovingly as a means of discipline. I gave the example of my toddler, unable to understand reasoning, who needed to learn to stay in his car seat. Hopefully the committee saw how loving parents could suffer prosecution, potential imprisonment and the consequent harm that would be inflicted on families.

Back to contents