Pandora's box.

In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman on earth. The chief of the gods, Zeus, ordered the god of craftsmanship, to create her, so he did—using water and earth. The gods then endowed her with many gifts: clothes, beauty, and gave her speech.

When her husband, Prometheus, stole fire from heaven, Zeus took vengeance by presenting Pandora to Epimetheus, Prometheus' brother. With her, Pandora was given a beautiful container – with instructions not to open it under any circumstance. Impelled by her curiosity (given to her by the gods), Pandora did open it, and all evil contained therein escaped and spread over the earth. She hastened to close the container, but the whole contents had escaped, except for one thing that lay at the bottom – the Spirit of Hope. Pandora, deeply saddened by what she had done, feared she would have to face Zeus' wrath, since she had failed her duty.  However, Zeus did not punish Pandora, because he knew this would happen.

The expression "Pandora's Box" (it was actually a jar!) has, therefore, come to refer to the unforeseen consequences - usually negative - of a particular course of action.

Marriage Minutes continue and, in this brief clip, Dr Sharon James shares some of the consequences of the Pandora's Box known now as the Marriage (same-sex couples) Act, 2013.  Sadly, this particular box need not have been opened at all - and many of us have been warning of the unforeseen consequences for a long time.  However, as my late paternal grandmother was often heard to say, "There's nane sae blin' as them as wilnae see" ("There are none so blind as those who, wilfully, refuse to see").  Too many Westminster politicians fell into that category.  We trust, and pray, that Holyrood will have more common-sense!