January 31, 2011
Anglican bishops condemn homophobia
The majority of Anglican leaders have followed Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in condemning the “victimisation or diminishment” of gay women and men. Their intervention echoes the Archbishop’s own response to the murder of Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato.
Anglican primates attending the bi-annual Anglican meeting in Dublin released a statement yesterday calling upon clergy to “to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and condemn irrational fear of gay people”. They joined Williams in insisting that “no one should have to live in fear because of the bigotry of others”.
Critics have suggested that the Anglican leadership should do more to tackle homophobia within the church itself. “It is a pity that the Archbishop doesn’t acknowledge that, though they may have condemned violence, his fellow Anglicans’ ‘attitudes of mind’ [...] have contributed to this appalling murder and the dire situation for all LGBT people in Uganda”, said George Broadhead of the Pink Triangle Trust.
Contrasting attitudes towards LGBT issues have caused deep divisions within the Anglican church. A number of archbishops boycotted the weekend’s bi-annual meeting and numerous primates, including the Archbishop of Uganda, have previously argued that homosexuality is incompatible with Biblical scripture.
David Kato’s own funeral was disrupted by presiding Anglican pastor Thomas Musoke, who called upon gay people to repent or face divine punishment. He was escorted from the premises by police following a scuffle.
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Archbishop Rowan Williams said: “No one should have to live in such fear because of the bigotry of others. Such violence has been consistently condemned by the Anglican Communion worldwide . . . This is a moment to take very serious stock and to address those attitudes of mind which endanger the lives of men and women belonging to sexual minorities.”
This is sheer hypocricy when his fellow Anglicans in Uganda have supported a still pending viciously anti-gay bill.
The Anglican Church of Uganda has declared: “We appreciate the spirit of the Bill’s objective of protecting the family, especially in light of a growing propaganda to influence younger people to accept homosexuality as a legitimate way of expressing human sexuality. We particularly appreciate the objectives of the Bill which seek to provide for marriage in Uganda as contracted only between a man and woman; prohibit and penalise homosexual behaviour and related practices in Uganda as they constitute a threat to the traditional family; prohibit ratification of any international treaties, conventions, protocols, agreements and declarations which are contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of the Act; prohibit the licensing of organizations which promote homosexuality.”
Doesn’t the Archbishop realise that the ‘bigotry of others’, which he refers to, must include members of his own Anglican Church?