Catholic Church accuses Stonewall of intolerance over 'bigot' prize But she criticised the bigot of the year category, saying it was "simply wrong" to use such terminology. Ms Davidson, who attended the ceremony presented by broadcaster Gok Wan, said: "There are many voices in this debate and just as I respectfully express my sincerely held belief that we should extend marriage to same-sex couples, I will also respect those who hold a different view." The annual ceremony honours those who have made a positive contribution to the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Scotland and around the world. Ms Davidson was selected from a shortlist of five politicians including Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Upon receiving the award, the Scots Tory leader was quick to urge Stonewall to drop its controversial "bigot" category. She said: "I think it's important for young people growing up to see that it doesn't matter your politics, gender or sexuality, there should be no barrier to success. This is why I am so supportive of Stonewall's Role Models leadership programme. But where I disagree with Stonewall in these awards is the need to call people names like 'bigot'. It is simply wrong. The case for equality is far better made by demonstrating the sort of generosity, tolerance and love we would wish to see more of in this world. Coutts, the Queen's bankers, and Barclays threatened to withdraw their support for the event unless the 'bigot' category was dropped, The Cardinal, who has strongly opposed Scottish Government plans to extend marriage to same-sex couples, has previously described gay marriage as a "grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right." Stonewall Scotland director Colin Macfarlane said: "It's fitting that Stonewall's 10,000 supporters voted decisively to name Cardinal O'Brien as 'Bigot of the Year'. We've never called anyone a bigot just because they don't agree with us, but in just the past 12 months the Cardinal has gone well beyond what any normal person would call a decent level of public discourse. Speaking later on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland, Mr Macfarlane said some of the language used recently by the Cardinal has been "vicious" and "cruel" and has caused upset to gay people and their loved ones. Defending the "bigot" category at the award ceremony, he told the programme: "The very fact is the people that were nominated for bigot of the year have this year called gay people Nazis, they've compared them to bestialitists and to paedophiles and one of the nominees suggested that gay people should be put in front of a firing squad and shot dead. I think what we are doing is highlighting the fact that very cruel, very nasty, very pernicious language is being used by some people, and in particular by the Cardinal who won. I think we're right to highlight that, I think we're right to shine a light on that kind of discrimination, hence why bigot of the year was one of our award categories. A spokesman for the Catholic Church said Stonewall's announcement last night "reveals the depth of their intolerance and willingness to attack and demean those who don't share their views." The statement also called into question Government funding of the organisation. It said: "Numerous public bodies give sizeable financial donations to Stonewall including the Scottish Government, these intolerant and intimidatory tactics should mean that this funding is now questioned and examined as a matter of urgency." The Catholic Church in Scotland's parliamentary officer John Deighan told the BBC today: "It's an outrage that an organisation like this, which is funded massively by the public purse, should hold such a position. It shows a lack of judgment, it calls into question the role that they should have in any of the functions that they have. Cardinal O'Brien is said to have stated that same-sex relationships are "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being" and compared equal marriage to slavery and child abuse. Under his leadership the Catholic Church in Scotland has pledged to "declare war" on marriage equality and committed an additional £100,000 for the fight.