Methodist Church of South Africa condemns Ugandan anti-gay law

[theHandpuppet]

Feb 26, 2014 at 06:42 PM
Issued by: Methodist Church

Attention: News Editors

For immediate release:

METHODISTS CONDEMN UGANDA ANTI- HOMOSEXUALITY LAW

The Methodist Church of Southern Africa condemns the extreme and violent manifestation of prejudice as expressed in the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 bill which was signed into law by the President of Uganda on 24 February 2014.

The law toughens penalties against gays, defines some homosexual acts as crimes punishable by life in prison and makes it a criminal offence to support or work with gays and lesbians. This violates numerous freedoms, the bed rock of democracy and backbone of many of our constitutions, and will incite widespread violence, mistrust and animosity in already volatile areas.

We are also alarmed by the alleged 'outing' of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people in the press in Uganda as this will undoubtedly lead to victimization and vigilante type law enforcement within communities in Uganda. We implore all southern African governments to speak out against such unjust, draconian legislation as it directly refutes basic human rights and breeds stigma, discrimination and hate.

The church urges all people of faith to speak with one voice against such blatant prejudice and to continue to preach love, tolerance and peace.

Released by the office of the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa Bishop Ziphozihle Siwa

[Bluenorthwest]

1. Good for them, and thanks Bishop Siwa

nt

[theHandpuppet]

2. This is how all men and women of faith should be speaking out.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, on homophobia and anti-gay laws:

"I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place.
I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid," said Tutu, an Anglican archbishop who was a prominent force leading to the racist policy's eventual demise. "For me, it is at the same level."

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"One thing that Ugandan legislators should know is that God does not discriminate among members of our family," writes Tutu. "God does not say black is better than white, or tall is better than short, or football players are better than basketball players, or Christians are better than Muslims… Or gay is better than straight. No. God says love one another; love your neighbor. God is for freedom, equality, and love."
"It is with supreme sorrow that I witness, to this day, the subjugation and repression of African brother and sisters whose only crime is the practice of love," writes Tutu. "Hate, in any form or shape, has no place in the house of God."
Tutu also challenges the notion that LGBTI Africans are a product of Western influence, pointing out that "LGBTI Africans have lived peacefully and productively beside us throughout history."

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"We must be entirely clear about this: the history of people is littered with attempts to legislate against love or marriage across class, caste, and race. But there is no scientific basis or genetic rationale for love. There is only the grace of God. There is no scientific justification for prejudice and discrimination, ever. And nor is there any moral justification. Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa, among others, attest to these facts."

[madrchsod]

3. Mandela was baptized a methodist and went to a methodist school in south africa

compared to other churches the methodist church is fairly liberal.

unfortunately the liberal wing of the church is cursed with george bush libary at SMU