Global opposition is growing to the "Anti-Homosexuality Bill" recently proposed in Uganda, which would introduce the death penalty for homosexual activity.
An increasing number of Christian organisations are condemning the Bill but the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is facing criticism for not speaking out on the issue, according to Ekklesia, a religion and society think-tank based in the United Kingdom.
On November 15th, the Executive Council of the Anglican Church of Canada voted unanimously to oppose the Bill as a "fundamental violation of human rights". Several groups dedicated yesterday November 17th as an international day of prayer on the issue.
At the same time an online petition has been launched calling on Rowan Williams the Archbishop of Canterbury "to end his silence on the matter, to condemn the bill in public and to urge Ugandan Christians to oppose it".
While several Christian leaders in Uganda are sympathetic to the proposals, other Christian groups, such as Integrity Uganda, are campaigning strongly against them.
If passed, the legislation would allow priests and ministers to be imprisoned for up to three years if they failed to report any homosexual activity of which they became aware.
The bill has been condemned by a number of African organisations which promote equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people, including Sexual Minorities Uganda, Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM) and The Rainbow Project of Namibia.
Sexual Minorities Uganda said that the legislation "goes against the inclusive spirit necessary for our economic as well as political development" and described it as "profoundly undemocratic and un-African".
The organisation is likely to become illegal if the Bill is passed, as it introduces new offences of "promoting homosexuality".
Christian groups in Britain opposing the Bill now include Accepting Evangelicals, Changing Attitude, Courage, Ekklesia, Fulcrum, Inclusive Church and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM).
The evangelical group Fulcrum, who have issued a detailed briefing on their website, have described the bill as "fatally flawed from a Christian perspective". While Fulcrum consider sexual activity between people of the same sex to be unethical, they condemn the Bill as encouraging "irrational fear of homosexuals".
The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu who is Ugandan, has made it clear that he will make no comment on the Bill, but pressure is growing on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to make a statement.
"I am sure that the vast majority of Christians, who hold a range of views on sexual ethics, will be horrified by the extreme and violent measures proposed in this Bill" said Symon Hill, associate director of the religion and society thinktank Ekklesia.
"By speaking out, it is possible to expose the hollowness of the religious rhetoric used by the Bill's supporters," he added, "Given the place of Anglicanism in Ugandan life; it would be right and proper for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to end his silence and to oppose the bill in public."
Comments 1 to 1 of 1 Post a comment
Would Jesus kill someone to make them act how his creator created them to act?
Yes, this is vague. Same-sex loving Christians will insert that they are created to have a same-sex spouse.
Anti heterosexual Christians will insert that God created us to have an opposite-sex spouse. And that "as it is in heaven, so it should be on earth." So, if same-sex partners are not allowed in heaven, then not on earth, by any means necessary, including death.
However, God made death and judges the quick and the dead to decide who sits by His right hand. Should be guess (however confident we are) what He wants? And, okay, really, even if we think He does not want homosexuality, does He really want us to go against "Thou Shalt Not Kill" and actually kill homosexuals?
What about life imprisonment?
And God clearly teaches us what love is in Corinthians 13, according to this how do we act? How do homosexuals who claim to be Christian? What do we do? Act for God, wait for God's rule? If heterosexuals act against Corinithians 13 (for example engage in adultery or spouse abuse or sex outside of marriage, and are heterosexual, then how do we treat them? Do we treat them the same as homosexuals? Or in our heart of hearts, what do we do?)
I personally wonder. I am alive on this earth by the grace and mercy of God for perhaps 100 years at most! But, for eternity I am alive many, many times more than this. I will have to live with all of my decisons and the people who receive the consequence of my decisions for all of eternity. So, I earnestly pray, please God, show my Thy will. It is so easy to do the will of man. To slap the wrongdoing into jail forever. What about the heterosexual wrongdoer? And how do we have enough jails to make "earth as it is in heaven?" And what if people change? And, more to the point, what if they seek to change but continue to engage in adultery (heterosexual) or homosexuality?
God forgive me my questioning. One part of me says to believe the priest. But, I have been born again. I have a personal and direct relationship with you. And... my older brother who took care of me while my father was engaged elsewhere... is homosexual... He was always your kind spirit to me... now I am so confused. But how can I allow my father to escape penalty and the man who raised me to spend time in jail? Or death? I know you are loving and compassionate. So loving to us all, oh God. Please put Your light on Your path to us, oh dearest God.
Guide us with the power of Your Holy Spirit to You, shelter and teach us, Your Holy ways, Praise You, God, Hallelujah! Glory be to You, The One God, Our Most Holy and Loving Father, all praise be to YOU!