Every day millions of Christians pray, in the words of The Lord's Prayer, to be spared from being put to the test. For some in Uganda, where an anti-homosexuality bill is being put to parliament, this prayer may be especially deeply felt.
This extremely unpleasant proposed law targets not only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people but also human rights and AIDS prevention activists and people in positions of trust. While some in the church are backing the bill, other Christians face a challenge to the principles at the heart of their faith.
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The bill also poses a challenge to those throughout the world with economic, social or political links to Uganda. This includes Christian leaders overseas who have helped to give credibility to homophobic Ugandan bishops and pastors while supposedly proclaiming a message of love and justice for all.
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Sixty years ago, the Anglican Communion was at the forefront of the drive for universal human rights. Though commitment to rights for all, including LGBT people, has been repeatedly endorsed at international gatherings and many churches are passionately committed, it now tends to be referred to in vague terms by top leaders. But they will have to decide how to respond to this legislation, especially since their own Ugandan-born clergy and parishioners will be affected.
What they do, or fail to do, will affect their ability to witness to a God who does not abandon the abused and exploited. These are testing times.
And isn't it way past time for the top leaders in the Anglican Communion and the churches in the Communion to speak out against the pending legislation which is so obviously evil? How hard can it be for the leadership to make that decision? I've waited and waited for a word from Presiding Bishop Katharine or perhaps a joint statement from the bishops of the Episcopal Church. Why the delay? Do the powers fear offending the Ugandan bishops? Are they working diligently behind the scenes to have the legislation scrapped?
I feel shamed by the silence of our leaders about the cruel laws which may be imposed on our brothers and sisters in Uganda. To our leaders: Please speak out for "the abused and exploited". Please speak strong words against the horrors of the pending laws.
Sadly, the silence from the CoE bishops no longer surprises me, but the silence from TEC is unexpected.
ReplyDeleteWhat Erika said.
ReplyDeleteThe TEC may feel that they are considered so much the devil's servants by most Anglican bishops in Uganda that any open statement against the bill might make the latter more intransigent (see the devil is opposing this bill so it must be the right thing to do). They are perhaps hoping for some less controversial Anglican Communion churches to speak first and applying quiet pressure. In a strong sense by having an openly gay bishop in a committed relationship (not to mention many out gay and lesbian priests) the TEC is a living rebuke to the proposed law.
ReplyDeleteErp
ReplyDeleteBut doesn't it sound a little like "We're alright, Jack" to you? African gay people keep telling me that it seems to them that we're happy to live openly and in safety and that we're not really interested in them. What signals are we giving these people?
Erp, that sounds like a pretty weak excuse to me, but I suppose you could be right.
ReplyDeleteIt is weak especially since not all of the TEC hierarchy are as liberal as they are painted. Perhaps they are trying to draft a statement and get a broad range of bishops to sign it before releasing it. Coming from just the PB won't carry much impact in Uganda coming from a multitude of American bishops including some very conservative ones might.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can see the conservative Christian and not pro-gay Warren Throctmorton seems to be doing the most against this bill in the US. Se the Face book he created against the law.