Uganda's Catholic Bishops Reverse Their Stance to Support Anti-Homosexual Bill

The Daily Monitor, a newspaper from Uganda’s capital city, Kampala, is reporting that the nation’s Catholic bishops have reversed their decision and now support an anti-homosexual bill, which at one point called for the death penalty for lesbian and gay people. Along with other religious leaders, they are now calling for the criminalization of homosexuality bill to be revived.

The article states:

“Speaking after their recent annual conference organised by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), an ecumenical body which brings together the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox churches, the bishops resolved that the parliamentary committee on Gender should be tasked to engage the House on the Bill which is now at committee level.

Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga

“ ‘We also ask the Education committee to engage the Ministry of Education on the issue of incorporating a topic on human sexuality in the curricula of our schools and institutions of learning,’ the resolutions signed by archbishops Henry Luke Orombi [Anglican], Cyprian Kizito Lwanga [Roman Catholic] and Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga [Eastern Orthodox], indicated.

“The clerics also appealed to all the churches in the country ‘to remain steadfast in opposing the phenomena of homosexuality, lesbianism and same-sex union.’ ”

The website Care2.com carries an article which highlights the Catholic reversal on this bill, noting:

“The Catholic Church had previously been the sole major religion in Uganda in opposition to the bill. . . .

“The Vatican came out strongly and publicly against the bill and, Wikileaks revealed, even lobbied against it. Uganda watchers say that the change by the Ugandan Catholic church is ‘very serious’ and that the UJCC resolution was pushed by an Anglican Bishop.”

An earlier version of this posting, based on a report from an African news source, suggested that the bill contained the death penalty as punishment for homosexuality, as it originally had.  A later report indicated that the death penalty has been removed from this bill.

Five previous Bondings 2.0 posts have dealt with the situation of lesbian and gay people in Uganda:

December 23, 2011:  A Gay Catholic in Uganda Speaks; Cardinal George Should Listen

December 26, 2011: Breaking the Catholic Silence on LGBT Human Rights Violations

January 26, 2012: NEWS NOTES: January 26, 2012

March 4, 2012: When Will the Pope Speak Out, Too?

March 29, 2012: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend’s ‘Case for Gay Acceptance in the Catholic Church’

International outcry, starting with the Vatican, can help to sway Uganda from undertaking this gross human rights violation.

–Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry

0 replies
    • newwaysministryblog
      newwaysministryblog says:

      From what the reports say, it appears so. Whether the death penalty is still in the bill remains to be seen. The best info at this point is that it is not, but this is not absolutely clear. One correspondent of mine suggested that this move by religious leaders may actually be to prevent draconian measures. However the anti-gay rhetoric which accompanied this move seems to contradict such a motive. At the very least, it shows how the bishop is sending a mixed message.

      Reply
      • Anton
        Anton says:

        seems as though we’re back in the era of the Nazis. I can hardly believe that the Vatican is not more outspoken on this issue with Uganda, given there are so many Catholics there and that the bishop is giving such a mixed message.

        Reply
  1. Gerald
    Gerald says:

    And the Vatican investigates religious Sisters, censuring some women theologians, and is silent about Uganda and murder?! Something is very wrong here. . . .wrong indeed! If homosexuality. . ..being a homosexual is “a criminal act” two gay people meeting over a cup of coffee are committing a criminal act.
    Who/how will this be punished? If the death sentence can that easily be applied in Uganda, I’d want to be absolutely sure being homosexual is not still reason for a death sentence.

    Does the Vatican know this is going on? Somebody ought to tell “those fellas”. . . . .And, btw, large financial support for this murderous Bill is given to Uganda by U.S. Christian Evangelicals. . . .

    Gerald

    Reply
  2. Magy Stelling
    Magy Stelling says:

    Ok now , if Uganda wants to kill all homosexual, how many priests, bishops, cardinals and even popes are going to line up to be executed??????? And if we follow this line of reasoning why not just execute all heterosexual parents who give birth to homosexual beings??????? and while we’re doing this dastardly deed lets execute all siblings of homosexual so they can’t reproduce and take the chance of them having homosexual children. By doing this we will show God we don’t want and will not accept His plan of diversity. Sounds like a solid plan to me!!!! And all the while Jesus wept!!!

    Reply
  3. Annette Magjuka
    Annette Magjuka says:

    I am brokenhearted that the University of Notre Dame, my alma mater, has joined the lawsuit against Obama’s healthcare initiative. They would deny coverage to millions for their “pure” standard. Meanwhile, they are aligning with the Far Right Evangelicals, both theologically and politically. Look at where it is leading!! This Ugandan bill is horrifying. People are capable of heinous acts. The Catholic church was silent for too long when Hitler did similar unthinkable horrific acts. We did not learn? I do not support the Pope or the right wing bishops. The Holy Spirit has spoken to the truly faithful and has changed our hearts. We know that discrimination against gay people is a grave sin, no matter what the Pope and some bishops say. And we also know that women who are pregnant and desperate need and deserve our loving embrace, as Jesus surely would have done.

    Reply

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