AN outraged Ross church minister has blasted a supermarket giant for supporting gay "perversion".
Rev Andrew Allan, of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), hit out at Tesco for cutting its support to Cancer Research UK while still pledging £30,000 towards Gay Pride events.
And now the minister is asking local folk to bombard Tesco with letters of complaint and even boycott the supermarket until the decision is reversed.
But Tesco bosses say despite the fact they are no longer the headline sponsor of Race for Life, which is the main event from which Cancer Research UK benefits from their sponsorship, they are still continuing to support the charity.
They admit they will again be donating £30,000 to the World Pride event.
However, Mr Allan, of Pier Road, Aultbea, told the North Star: "The views are my own, but I believe most Christians would have a problem with this.
"Cancer Research UK is a multi-national charity that serves all sections of the population.
"Gay lobby groups, I believe are a very vocal and articulate, and they do get their message across very well, but the number of people involved represent a tiny minority of the population.
"It would seem it is more important to Tesco to further the aims and practices of a tiny minority of the population in preference to supporting a charity, whose sterling work all ages and sections of society benefit from."
Mr Allan explained although he would not discriminate against homosexual behaviour, he does not believe in it as a way of life.
He said: "I would not agree with their life style choices. We as Christians don't discriminate against any group, but we do not believe their practices are in accordance with the bible."
And Mr Allan believes many readers of the North Star will feel the same way.
He said: "Ask yourself a very simple question. Would you like to help a organisation that is seeking to find a cure for cancer or would you rather support an event dedicated to perversion? I know what my answer is.
"Write to Tesco and complain. Boycott their supermarkets until this decision is reversed."
Mr Allan was backed by Free Church (Continuing) Assembly Clerk John Macleod who said: "In relation to Cancer Research UK, Tesco obviously have a defined budget for donations to outside causes and must clearly be setting priorities in choosing which organisation to give to.
"Tesco are making a choice in favour of something."
He added: "In choosing to give priority to organisations promoting homosexuality, Tesco are supporting and publicising behaviour which is contrary to the teaching of the bible and therefore against the convictions of bible-teaching Christians."
A spokesperson for Tesco said: "We have been the headline sponsor for The Race for Life for the past 10 years from which we have donated over ?£7 million to Cancer Research UK.
"This year, on mutual agreement with Cancer Research UK, we have decided not to be the headline sponsor, but we are still supporting the charity by paying all of our staff's entry fees for next year's race, which will undoubtedly add up to thousands of pounds.
"Next year, for the second year in a row we will be donating £30,000 to the World Pride event, which is completely unrelated to the sponsorship for Cancer Research UK.
"This is because we are a diverse company and believe Tesco is for everybody."
Joanne Mackenzie-Winters, secretary of the Highland Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Forum, said: "Personally, I welcome a company such as Tesco offering to sponsor WorldPride 2012 in London.
"The importance of LGBT charities and events cannot be underestimated as work still needs to be done to counter homophobia and transphobia in our society.
"When left unchallenged, this can aggravate problems of social and geographical isolation which have a real impact on people's lives.
"We have heard of several recent homophobic incidents in the Highlands which have had a significant impact on the wellbeing of those involved.
"The Forum works together with other charities and statutory bodies to challenge stigma and discrimination wherever it occurs."
She added: "Next year we will be working with members of the Church of Scotland in Inverness and CourageSCOTLAND - an LGBT-inclusive Christian network - to host a seminar on faith and homosexuality."
