February 26th, 2010
We reported last week that Ugandan pentecostal pastor Martin Ssempa has been showing gay porn as part of his anti-gay campaign in support of that country’s proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill. A columnist identified as “The Analyst” for Uganda’s independent Observer took that premise and ran with it with tongue firmly planted in cheek, claiming that gay porn is responsible for increasing attendance at his church.
This makes Makerere Community Church the only place in Uganda where watching pornography is “legal”. According to Uganda\’s laws, even mere possession of pornographic material is a crime. It would appear that Makerere Community Church has got a special license to show porn. Moreover, perhaps following Jesus Christ\’s example of welcoming children, even kids can watch porn at Makerere Community Church.
The, er, money shot is here:
“I can\’t wait to get home and try it out. The men in the movie really seemed to be enjoying themselves,” one member of the congregation told The Analyst.
We’ve seen megachurches reinvent themselves into coffee houses, rave clubs and concert halls, all in an attempt to incorporate elements of popular culture to make themselves appear hip and relevant. Why not porn? Even the worst of it beats the treacly karaoke singers that have become so popular over the past couple of decades.
Click here to see BTB\’s complete coverage of recent anti-gay developments in Uganda.
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GreenEyedLilo
February 26th, 2010
This is terrific. My grandfather used to say that some things are too serious *not* to joke about. “The Analyst” may have to watch his back, but I love how he used his wit as a weapon against this idiocy.
Ben in Oakland
February 26th, 2010
They’ve been using gay porn as a recruting tool for years. Nothing new here. There was a scene in harold and Maud where the priest gets all hopt and bothered when he tells Harold he’s been thinking of what a young boy’s body might be doing.
Think of what those ‘mo’s do to each other. Just think about it!!
and they do.
Mr. SSSSSSempa is just enjoying a stash of porn that he could not allow himself to enjoy otherwise. I’d love to be the plethistomometer (or whatever it is) in his boxers when he’s delivering one of his rants. except, of cours,e i really wouldn’t.
Frijondi
February 26th, 2010
A few evangelicals in the US have figured out how to use straight porn (as well as somewhat — but only somewhat — tamer sex advice) to sell religion.
I won’t link to this site, but Google “Sex in Christ.” That one is perhaps a tad fringe-y, but there are more mainstream examples of the same phenomenon. (Dagmar Herzog discusses the fundamentalist version of sex-positivism in detail in her book, Sex in Crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/books/review/Rosin-t.html)
As for Ssempa, I’m starting to think of him as Peter LaBarbera’s boyfriend.
Frijondi
February 26th, 2010
Btw, the review I linked to, perhaps too hastily, is rather unfair to the book, in my opinion. Still, it gives a decent overview.
anteros
February 26th, 2010
Pastor Martin ‘Scatman’ Ssempa, “I’m da Scatman!! Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop!”
Timothy (TRiG)
February 26th, 2010
I’ve read the full article. It’s rather wonderful.
TRiG.
Rob in San diego
February 27th, 2010
So wait a minute, is heterosexual sex so boring in these heterosexuals lives that they are watching this as an instructional tool to try and improve their sex lives? Try taking a shower first and shaving, that might be better. yes fingers can do wonderful things, if done properly.
anteros
February 28th, 2010
the Observer’s article has disappeared. surprise surprise.
has anyone got a cached copy of that article to share?
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