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The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.The “Biblical” Worldwide Anglican Communion
Jim Burroway
November 7th, 2009
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” — Matthew 27:24
I guess the worldwide Anglican Communion can’t be accused of being unbiblical after all.
We reported earlier that the Rev. Canon Aaron Mwesigye of the Anglican Province of Uganda spoke mostly in favor of the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda. Mwesigye expressed reservations over the death-penalty and extraterritorial provisions, but was perfectly happy with the lifetime imprisonment and other provisions that would criminalize free speech on behalf of LGBT people.
The Uganda Province has now released a statement in which it is “studying” the bill and has no other comment on it. Well, except to repeat the wild, unsubstantiated rumors — and here they freely admit that they are rumors but push them nevertheless — of rich, predatory homosexuals supposedly recruiting children in schools. Most appallingly, it is Uganda’s Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi who is spreading the slanderous gossip:
In April 2009, Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi said, “I am appalled to learn that the rumours we have heard for a long time about homosexual recruiting in our schools and amongst our youth are true. I am even more concerned that the practice is more widespread than we originally thought. It is the duty of the church and the government to be watchmen on the wall and to warn and protect our people from harmful and deceitful agendas.”
Meanwhile, the rest of the Anglican Communion — much like most of Christianity in general — has remained silent.
BTB’s complete coverage of recent anti-gay developments in Uganda:
Nov 14: Anglican’s Communion’s Tangled Ties To Uganda’s Anti-Gay Extremists
Nov 11: Nigerian calls on Anglican Communion to oppose Ugandan “Kill Gays” bill
Nov 9: Uganda’s Most Wanted
Nov 9: Uganda’s “Kill Gays” bill is “Providing Leadership to the World”
Nov 9: More American Evangelical Ties To Uganda’s Anti-Gay Politicians
Nov 7: The “Biblical” Worldwide Anglican Communion
Nov 6: Australian Senate Refuses to Oppose Uganda’s “Kill Gays” Bill
Nov 6: Uganda Women’s Group: “Kill the Gays”
Nov 2: Throckmorton Appeals to Ugandan Christians
Nov 2: US Reps Condemn Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Nov 2: Uganda Parliament Committee, Religious Leaders Weigh Death Penalty for LGBT People
Oct 28: Uganda Religious Leaders All Calling for Anti-Gay Bill… But Maybe Not Death
Oct 28: A Call for Christian Action in Uganda — A Time to Show the Love
Oct 23: Uganda Civil Rights Coalition Denounces Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Oct 22: Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill Put Off Until 2010
Oct 18: Take Action: Tell Uganda To Respect Human Rights And Dismiss the Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Oct 17: Uganda’s Daily Monitor: All Ugandans Should Fear Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Oct 16: Does Exodus Support Criminalizing Homosexuality?
Oct 15: Human Rights Watch, Sexual Minorities Uganda Condemn Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Oct 15: Here It Is: The Text of Uganda’s Proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Oct 14: Uganda Parliament Takes Up Anti-Gay Bill Adding Death Sentence and Bans on Free Speech”
Sep 15: Draft Anti-Gay Bill Circulating In Uganda
Jul 26: Uganda Parliament To Take Up Bill Banning LGBT Free Speech
Jul 6: Sports Figure Latest Victim Of Ugandan Anti-Gay Offensive
Jul 3: Uganda May Ban All LGBT Advocacy
Jun 1: Nazi Comparisons
May 14: Uganda’s Anti-Gay Campaign Snares LGBT People and Rival Pastors, Tabloid Promises More “Outings”
May 4: Uganda Gays Arrested, Blackmail Attempts Reported
Apr 24: Uganda Anti-Gay Activists March, “Storm Parliament”
Apr 20: Alan Chambers Addresses Developments In Uganda
Apr 19: Uganda’s Anti-Gay Vigilante Campaign Is Now In Full Swing
Apr 17: Uganda Government Attacks Human Rights Groups for “Promoting Homosexuality”
Apr 10: Uganda Columnist: “Happy Easter …Irrespective of Sexual Orientation”
Apr 6: Uganda Press Crank Up “Predator” Rhetoric
Apr 3: Uganda to Ban LGBT Advocacy?
Apr 2: Exodus Maintains Month-Long Silence Amid Ugandan Gov’t Calls For LGBT Arrests
Apr 2: Press Release from Ugandan LGBT Advocacy Group
Mar 31: Forced Outings Continue As Uganda LGBT Advocates Allege Oundo Is In It For The Money
Mar 31: Uganda Activist Cites Disbarred “Therapist” As Authority on Homosexuality
Mar 30: Uganda Situation Continues To Deteriorate; Exodus Washes Their Hands
Mar 27: Videos Surface of Ugandan Activist Stirring Anti-Gay Fervor; Fears of Violence Grows
Mar 26: Ugandan Gov’t Poised to Take “Stern Action” Against Gays
Mar 26: The “Ex-Gay” Star of the Uganda Anti-Gay Campaign
Mar 25: More on Uganda Anti-Gay Vigilante Incitement
Mar 25: Another Anti-Gay Vigilante Campaign May Have Begun In Uganda
Mar 23: Schmierer’s & Lively’s Uganda Talks Continue to Reverberate
Mar 17: Lively Defends Forced Therapy Proposal
Mar 16: Commentary: When Good Men Do Nothing
Mar 13: Sanctimony Alert
Mar 13: Scott Lively and Alan Chambers Respond to Questions About Uganda Conference
Mar 13: Exodus Applauds Schmierer’s Part in Uganda Conference
Mar 12: South African LGBT Advocates Condemn Exodus
Mar 12: Ex-Exodus Minister Condemns Uganda Conference
Mar 12: Ugandan Conference Leaders Call For Another Meeting While Pushing Pedophilia Theme; Exodus Continues Silence
Mar 11: Open Letter To the Exodus International Board of Directors
Mar 10: Scott Lively: The Gay Agenda Is “To Turn The Whole World Gay”
Mar 9: Exodus Removes Link To Scott Lively From Its Web Site
Mar 9: EU Group Condemns Ugandan Conference
Mar 8: Uganda Anti-Gay Conference: Day Three — Gays Blamed For Rwandan Genocide & Pedophilia; More Exodus Ties To Holocaust Revisionism
Mar 6: Uganda Anti-Gay Conference: Day Two
Mar 6: Exodus’ Silence About Uganda: Day Five
Mar 6: Exodus Board Member Participates In Uganda Conference Calling For Forcing Gays Into Conversion Therapy
Mar 5: Anti-Gay Conference Kicks Off In Kampala
Mar 5: Warren Throckmorton Speaks Out Against Uganda Conference
Mar 5: International LGBT Group Expresses Concern About Uganda Conference
Mar 2: Anonymous Ugandan Blogger Wants Answers From American Anti-Gay Activists
Feb 24: Exodus Board Member Joins Nazi Revisionist At Uganda Conference
BCCanuck
November 7th, 2009 | LINK
Please see this post (on his excellent blog) by Adrian Worsfold:
http://pluralistspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/10/final-solution-in-uganda.html
As Worsfold aptly notes:
“Uganda has come up with a Final Solution for gay people … Oh, and remember Rowan [Williams]: the Anglican Communion comes first. Sod what happens to people.”
BearToast Joe
November 7th, 2009 | LINK
And on the other end of the spectrum, The Episcopal Church has, in large part, put itself on the line for LGBTQ folk. Not all, but many congregations are welcoming.
Not all Anglicans are like that. By any means.
John
November 7th, 2009 | LINK
And the response from the Holy See and the Catholic Church in Uganda?
Nothing.
tavdy79
November 7th, 2009 | LINK
It is the duty of the church and the government to be watchmen on the wall and to warn and protect our people from harmful and deceitful agendas.
Does anyone else think his choice of words was intentional?
Richard Rush
November 7th, 2009 | LINK
Wow, what a surprise.
We are often reminded that many moderate or non-fundamentalist Christians are in favor of equality, and surely that is true. And surely many straight people who identify as Christian were involved with the No on 1 campaign, BUT not on behalf of specific Christian organizations/denominations. (someone, please tell me if I’m wrong about this) While the Catholic church was busy pumping big serious money and effort into the Yes on 1 campaign, where was money and organizing efforts from the moderate churches for No on 1? Our Christian opponents are loud, motivated, focused, organized, well funded, and united, while our supposed Christian allies are quiet, unmotivated, unfocused, unorganized, unfunded, and not united. While the moderate denominations issue favorable position statements on gays, they don’t say it too loud or too often out of fear of offending the fundamentalist factions within their denominations who will threaten to leave. So we don’t get much more than words (kind of like Obama).
Timothy Kincaid
November 7th, 2009 | LINK
Richard,
I will agree that our religious allies are often quiet, unmotivated, unfocused, unorganized, unfunded, and not united. But I have noticed change in the past few years as our allies have become increasingly willing to stand up for what they see as a justice issue.
And our community is increasingly trying to find ways to tap into this asset, though often unsuccessfully and with confusion, as Justin noted in his guest commentary.
So while I am disgusted at the Anglican reaction to Uganda (it’s foul, it’s irresponsible, it’s reprehensible, and any just God will call Rowan Williams to accountability), I am encouraged by the action of the Episcopalians in Kalamazoo.
Let’s hope for more Christians who hear the call to justice and mercy and fewer religious politicians who would rather keep together a collection of ideologically dissimilar religious bodies than speak out against atrocities commited in the name of Christ
Richard W. Fitch
November 8th, 2009 | LINK
This came to me via e-mail from the EC-USA blog “Walking with Integrity”. It is just one diocese but at least a very clear statement:
The Diocese of Rochester [NY] passed:
A Resolution Opposing Anti-Gay Legislation in Uganda
Submitted by General Convention Deputy Neil Houghton on behalf of the Committee for Gay and Lesbian Ministry
Resolved, that the 78th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester condemns the “The Anti-Homosexuality Bill , 2009″ currently before the Parliament of Uganda as a violation of the Ugandan Constitution—as well as several international human and civil rights treaties to which Uganda is a party; and be it further
Resolved, that this Convention express its profounddisappointment that the Anglican Church of Uganda supports this legislation contrary to the Anglican Communion’s “Don’t Throw Stones” initiative; and be it further
Resolved, that this Convention directs the Secretary of Convention to relay this resolution as soon as possible to the following persons…
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi
Speaker of the Parliament Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka
The Honorable Opio Gabriel, Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Affairs
Med Kaggwa, Chair of the Uganda Human Rights Commission
Mathisen Gørild, Chair of the Uganda Diplomatic Human Rights Working Groups
Jerry P. Lanier, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda
Perezi K. Kamunanwire, Ugandan Ambassador to the U.S.
Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the United Nations
Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Henry Luke Orambi
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori
paul j stein
November 9th, 2009 | LINK
Like anyone in Uganda gives a sh*t if some fagg*ts get killed.It keeps the straights from getting killed as often. Life is cheap there and gay lives are even cheaper.
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