Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyNovember 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.
Click here to see BTB\’s complete coverage of recent anti-gay developments in Uganda.
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BCCanuck
November 7th, 2009
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
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
And the response from the Holy See and the Catholic Church in Uganda?
Nothing.
tavdy79
November 7th, 2009
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
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
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
This came to me via e-mail from the EC-USA blog “Walking with Integrityâ€. 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
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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