Uganda, Nigeria, Homosexuality and the Church
The government of Uganda is proposing new, barbaric laws that would impact homosexuals, their families and friends. The legislation calls for up to life imprison for those known to have engaged in homosexual acts. Persons who know homosexuals and do not turn them in to the authorities can serve three years in prison. The proposed law originally mandated capital punishment for some acts of homosexuality but the supporters had to abandon the harshest of all punishment because the church could not back the death penalty. The same thing is happening in Nigeria, although the legislation is not as close to passing as it is in Uganda. Laws such as this are something that could have been expected maybe in antiquity, but in the 21st century? Besides opposing the death penalty, where is the church’s voice in this?
The church’s local voice is this: although the church could not support the death penality, it does, in both countries support the rest of the legislation. In fairness I must say that the church in Uganda is “studying” the proposal and has taken no official position. However, by not saying early, strongly and difinitively that the church opposes such legislation one can see how the church views homosexuals. One Christian leader, not an Anglican, proposed that all homosexuals be rounded up, taken to an island and left there until they die. In his view, I suppose, this would solve the problem once and for all. This kind of rhetoric is hard to believe, but it is actually coming from the mouth’s of people who claim to be followers of Jesus.
It is worth noting that Archbishop Orombi of Uganda and Archbishop Akinola of Nigeria are among the leaders of the movement among Anglicans who do not want to be in communion with the church in the United States because of our inclusion of all persons in the life of our church, including homosexuals. I have been one who has hoped that we can remain in dialogue and find a way to stay together. But this gives me pause. One wonders how it is we are supposed to be in communion with parts of Christianity that is supportive of legislation that is absolutely evil. And more than that, how can we continue to be in communion with parts of Christianity who say one thing about homosexuals one day, and then something entirely different the next? The church in Uganda and NIgeria cannot be trusted to live and minister as they say they will. For example, Akinola signed (I am not certain whether or not Orombi was present to sign, but he has nowhere I can find refuted the communique of the Anglican Primates) a statement in 2005 that said the Anglican Church would, “…continue unreservedly to be committed to the pastoral support and care of homosexual people. The victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to us. We assure homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by him, and deserving of the best we can give of pastoral care and friendship.”
Really? Orombi, Akinola and others in their churches have an odd way of living what they say they believe.
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