 Joseph Devine, Bishop of Motherwell, came under fire after describing the "gay lobby" as "the opposition" who were responsible for mounting "a giant conspiracy" to shape public policy.Criticism has also been levelled at perceived intransigence on joint faith schools over threats to withdraw acquiescence if guarantees of separate staff rooms, toilets, gyms, visitor, and pupil entrances were not met.In 2003, a Catholic church spokesman branded sex education as "pornography" and now disgraced Cardinal Keith O'Brien claimed plans to give sex education to pre-school children amounted to "state-sponsored sexual abuse of minors."