|TOP|Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into whether a gay group’s advert in Scotland amounts to a faith crime. As the analysis of the situation commences, the Roman Catholic Church has offered its full backing to the investigation.

The advert under review shows a Bible next to a pool of blood, with the headline ‘In the name of the father’ accompanying the shocking image.

The Gay Police Association is the organisation which published the advert across national newspapers in Scotland.

By the picture is the claim that a rise in homophobic attacks was due to religious beliefs. The Catholic Church in Scotland said it supported the Scotland Yard investigation, describing the advert as “outrageous and intolerant”.

|QUOTE|Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Scottish bishops said, “This is exactly the kind of intolerance that gay groups claim they are trying to clamp down on.

“Once again, it is the Christian Bible which has been singled out with a headline which has Christian connections. It is another sign that Christianphobia has become fashionable and acceptable,” he said, according to the Total Catholic newspaper.

The advert has caused even more controversy as it was launched to coincide with the EuroPride rally.

The image states alongside it: “In the last 12 months, the GPA has recorded a 74 per cent increase in homophobic incidents, where the sole or primary motivating factor was the religious belief of the perpetrator.”

|AD|A spokesman for Scotland Yard has confirmed that it is considering whether the ad “constitutes a faith crime”, after a member of the public launched a complaint.

In Scotland, a member of the Holyrood parliament tabled a motion condemning the Gay Police Association for publishing a "Christianophobic advertisement" in a national newspaper, explains Total Catholic.

Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, launched the motion and has said that the parliament “rejects this assertion as totally erroneous; values Scotland's Christian community and the contribution it makes to our society and our culture; deeply regrets that any police officer would choose to place an advertisement in any medium to make such a gratuitous insult to a section of the Scottish population; and hopes that the all police officers will act in a manner that reflects fully the attitudes, values and beliefs which Scotland, as a modern society founded on the Christian faith.”

Gay Police Association Scotland Officer David Lyle commented at the weekend that the article was published by the association “in order to highlight a serious social issue.”

“The GPA article and statement in The Independent only sought to highlight the facts. The article does not claim or infer that any religion is to blame for this increase. It does state clearly that it was the individuals themselves who commit these crimes who have used their faith to legitimise their actions.

“People cannot be allowed to hide behind the cloak of religion as an excuse to commit hate crimes.”