Full Text of Catholic Archbihop’s Condemnation of “Kill Gays” Bill

Jim Burroway

December 24th, 2009

BTB brought you exclusive video of the Catholic Archbishop of Uganda’s denunciation of the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill in his annual Christmas message from Rubaga Cathedral. Thanks to BTB reader Lynn David, we now have the full text of that message below.

The Catholic Church in Uganda Against Homosexuality bill

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Uganda, Cyprian Lwanga

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Uganda, Cyprian Lwanga

We, the Catholic Bishops of Uganda, appreciate and applaud the Government\’s effort to protect the traditional family and its values.

The Catholic Church is clear in its teaching on homosexuality. Church teaching remains that homosexual acts are immoral and are violations of divine and natural law. The Bible says that homosexuality is strictly forbidden (Lev. 18:22) “Do Not lie with a man as one lies with a woman, that is detestable”, Further more the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that ” Homosexual acts are contrary to the natural law, and under no circumstances can they be approved.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2357)

However, the Church equally teaches the Christian message of respect, compassion, and sensitivity. The Church has always asked its followers to hate the sin but to love the sinner. Considering the fact that all are called by God to fulfill his Will in their lives and to repent of their sins (Mk1:14-15) “After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Homosexuals have the need of conversion and repentance. They also need support, understanding and love as all strive to be members of the Kingdom of God

The recent tabled Anti-Homosexuality Bill does not pass a test of a Christian caring approach to this issue. The targeting of the sinner, not the sin, is the core flaw of the proposed Bill. The introduction of the death penalty and imprisonment for homosexual acts targets people rather than seeking to counsel and to reach out in compassion to those who need conversion, repentance, support and hope. The bible says in Luke 6:36-37 “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

Further more, the Proposal to prosecute those who fail to disclose information regarding homosexual acts puts at risk of the breach of confidentiality and professional ethics of persons such as Parents, Priests, Counselors, Teachers, Doctors and Leaders, at a time when they offer support and advise for rehabilitation of homosexuals. The proposed Bill does not contain clauses encouraging homosexuals to be rehabilitated. As a Catholic Church, we have a mission to reach out to all of the people of God as Christ showed no one is beyond God\’s mercy and love, “In Mt 9:10-13, while Jesus was at table in his house, many tax Collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus… The Pharisees saw this and said to his Disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with Tax Collectors and sinners? He heard this and said, Those who are well do not need a Physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire Mercy not sacrifice, I did not come to call the Righteous, but sinners.”

The criminalizing of such reaching out is at odds with the core values of the Christian faith.

Additionally, in our view the proposed Bill is not necessary considering that acts of sodomy are already condemned under section 145 of the penal code.

+Cyprian. K. Lwanga
ARCHBISHOP OF KAMPALA
23rd December 2009

Click here to see BTB\’s complete coverage of recent anti-gay developments in Uganda.

David Mudkips

December 24th, 2009

“The Catholic Church is clear in its teaching on homosexuality. Church teaching remains that homosexual acts are immoral and are violations of divine and natural law. The Bible says that homosexuality is strictly forbidden (Lev. 18:22) “Do Not lie with a man as one lies with a woman, that is detestable””

Cherry-pick from the Bible much?

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbours. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath.Exodus 35:2. Clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there ‘degrees’ of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16.Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

Lynn David

December 24th, 2009

The Catholic Church is the master at cherry-picking the Bible. When I first was reading I was somewhat hopeful that they would condemn any criminalization. But the tenor of the letter quickly changed my mind on that. When I got to the end and all they spoke out about was criminalizing anyone who might counsel a gay person, I sorta hit a new low. Then when it said in effect ‘eh (shrug), we can throw them in jail anyway’ – I was ready to leave the Catholic faith all over again.

Timothy Kincaid

December 24th, 2009

It does sound as though the Catholic Church would be in favor of forced reorientation therapy. Or, perhaps, just forced religious conversion.

This position certainly isn’t at odds with their history.

Scott

December 24th, 2009

What I find interesting is the long delay we see before organized religion has publicly expressed opposition to the Uganda anti-gay proposals. This topic has been out in the news for months now. Instead of immediate outrage by the Catholic Church and the Anglicans, we see a delayed response suggesting that true Christian concerns aren’t the motivating factor here. It’s amazing that the possiblity of gay people being killed or tortured didn’t lead to immediate concern by these so called Christians. I suppose it’s hard for organized religions to backpeddle and promote lesser degrees of hate. Hate is hate no matter how you look at it, and efforts to spin it into a more gentle hate do nothing to lessen the hypocrisy.

Lynn David

December 24th, 2009

You’d think when the Catholic Church had previously written: “The Holy See…. urges States to do away with criminal penalties against them {homosexuals].” That they would jump in and denounce something like Ugandan Bahati Bill. But there is a ‘cover your own ass’ mentality in the Vatican which looks at any ambiguous or controversial issue with a more narcissistic viewpoint. The Vatican then needs to know just what does such a decision mean for the Catholic Church.

And so the Vatican takes notice of the extreme homophobia in Ugandan society – and thus among their parishoners – and realizes that it has to go slow (no one is being killed now afterall) or else it may lose some of those people it now claims among its believers. So now after many other Christian leaders have denounced the bill or spoken for lighter sentencing requirements the Catholic Church is sure it can now speak and not disappoint Ugandan Catholics. Doing it right before Christmas might further calm the situation as no one would likely talk about homosexuality over Christmas.

There might be an opportunity for pastors to talk about the situation in Uganda with the upcoming Feast of the Holy Family. Of course, they would condemn homosexuality, the behavior, as evil. However, if the Church shows any aptitude about this situation, there might be some sermons concerning the better Catholic pastoral letters concerning gays and lesbians (or as they say homosexual persons).

But any delay, that’s the Vatican looking out for number one.

Michael

March 8th, 2010

I think wtha is going on is the Catholic Church is going by” Do as I say Not as iI do” For every day you see somone in the Church that has taken a sex act with some little child. And what do thay do? Will thay dont go to jeal like you or I can do thay? No thay pay them out and put them in some other church to do this over and over. Yes the Bible gives us the ansower.(Rev. 18:4 And I heard another voice out of heaven say:”Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues” Think about what is going on.And read your Bible and look at what it is telling you to do and not to do.And get out of her!!!!!!!

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