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| Dr.John Sentamu, Bishop of York |
Canterbury and York Archbishops criticise Uganda anti-gay laws
By Agencies
Posted Thursday, January 30 2014 at 18:20
Posted Thursday, January 30 2014 at 18:20
In Summary
In their letter, the archbishops reiterated their
support for a document known as the Dromantine Communique, published in
2005 by the primates of the Anglican Communion.
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to the presidents of Uganda and Nigeria, after being asked about laws there penalising gay people.
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to the presidents of Uganda and Nigeria, after being asked about laws there penalising gay people.
The letter said homosexual people were loved and valued by God and should not be victimised or diminished.
Uganda and Nigeria have both passed legislation targeting people with same-sex attraction.
The letter is also addressed to all primates (heads of national Churches) in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
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| Pope Francis with Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury |
Archbishops Justin Welby of Canterbury and John
Sentamu of York said the letter was a result of "questions about the
Church of England's attitude to new legislation in several countries
that penalises people with same-sex attraction".
The letter comes as Archbishop Welby starts a five-day tour of Africa.
'Draconian'
'Draconian'
In Nigeria this month, President Goodluck Jonathan
signed into law a bill which bans same-sex marriages, gay groups and
shows of same-sex public affection.
In Uganda - Archbishop Sentamu's native country - a
bill allowing for greater punishments for gay people, and those who
fail to turn them in to police, has been passed by parliament, but
blocked - for now - by President Yoweri Museveni.
The laws have been heavily criticised by gay and human rights groups.
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay described the Nigerian law as "draconian".
She said she had rarely seen a piece of
legislation "that in so few paragraphs directly violates so many basic,
universal human rights".
In their letter, the archbishops reiterated their
support for a document known as the Dromantine Communique, published in
2005 by the primates of the Anglican Communion.
The communique said: "We 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 the best we can
give - pastoral care and friendship."
'False gospel'
'False gospel'
Archbishop Welby's stance on homosexual relationships has created tension with more traditionalist Anglicans.
Last October, he held talks with members of the
Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon), which condemns those who
preach what it calls a "false gospel" claiming God's blessing for
same-sex unions.
The primates of seven national Anglican churches in Africa attended October's Gafcon meeting, including Uganda and Nigeria.
Archbishop Welby has said some gay couples have loving, stable and monogamous relationships of "stunning" quality.
But he says he still supports the Church of England's opposition to active homosexuality.
BBC
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stanly Ntagali has
responded to a letter written by two senior Anglican Church leaders on
recent passing of anti-gay laws in Uganda and Nigeria.
On Thursday, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who is the head of the Anglican Church together Dr John Ssentamu, the Archbishop of York, wrote to the presidents of Nigeria and Uganda over the laws criminalizing homosexuality.
The two prelates say in their letter that homosexual people are loved and valued by God and should not be victimised or diminished.
Uganda and Nigeria have both passed legislation criminalizing same-sex attraction relationships. On December 30, the Ugandan Parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, allowing for greater punishments for gay people, and those who fail to report them to police. President Yoweri Museveni has however declined to assent to it.
Early this month, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a similar bill which bans same-sex marriages, gay groups and shows of same-sex public affection.
But just hours after the letter became public, Archbishop Ntagali, a known critic of gay unions and supporter the anti-homosexual legislation, has responded to Church of England’s report saying the church leaders in Uganda are encouraged by the work of the country’s parliament to pass the law.
Archbishops Welby and Ssentamu addressed their letter to all primates who are heads of national Churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The authors said the letter was a result of questions about the Church of England’s attitude to new legislation in several countries that penalizes people with same-sex attraction.
In their letter, the archbishops reiterated their support for the Dromantine Communique that was published in 2005 by the primates of the Anglican Communion. The communique noted that they continue unreservedly to be committed to the pastoral support and care of homosexual people and that the victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to them.
But Ntagali, in his response made yesterday, says the law is necessary. He says the Church of Uganda is encouraged by Parliament’s decision to amend the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and remove the death penalty among other changes.
He noted that this frees the clergy and church leaders to fulfill the 2008 resolution of the House of Bishops to “offer counseling, healing and prayer for people with homosexual orientation, especially in schools and other institutions of learning.
Ntagali said that the Church is a safe place for individuals, who are confused about their sexuality or struggling with sexual brokenness, to seek help and healing.
He noted that the Church of Uganda is grateful for the reminder of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to fulfill such commitments as stated in the 2005 Communique of the Primates Meeting held in Dromantine, Northern Ireland.
He insists that as per the resolutions of the Lambeth Conference of 1998, homosexual practice is incompatible with the Scripture, and the conference cannot advise the legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions.
Ntagali noted that it was the Episcopal Church of USA and the Anglican Church of Canada’s violations of Lambeth 1.10 resolution which caused the Church of Uganda to break communion with those Provinces more than ten years ago.
He hoped that the Archbishops and governing bodies of the Church of England will step back from the path they have set themselves on so the Church of Uganda will be able to maintain communion with its own Mother Church.
BBC
Archbishop Ntagali Hits Back At Anglican Leader On Anti-gay Law
http://www.redpepper.co.ug/archbishop-ntagali-hits-back-at-anglican-leader-on-anti-gay-law/
Archbishop Stanley Ntagali
On Thursday, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who is the head of the Anglican Church together Dr John Ssentamu, the Archbishop of York, wrote to the presidents of Nigeria and Uganda over the laws criminalizing homosexuality.
The two prelates say in their letter that homosexual people are loved and valued by God and should not be victimised or diminished.
Uganda and Nigeria have both passed legislation criminalizing same-sex attraction relationships. On December 30, the Ugandan Parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, allowing for greater punishments for gay people, and those who fail to report them to police. President Yoweri Museveni has however declined to assent to it.
Early this month, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a similar bill which bans same-sex marriages, gay groups and shows of same-sex public affection.
But just hours after the letter became public, Archbishop Ntagali, a known critic of gay unions and supporter the anti-homosexual legislation, has responded to Church of England’s report saying the church leaders in Uganda are encouraged by the work of the country’s parliament to pass the law.
Archbishops Welby and Ssentamu addressed their letter to all primates who are heads of national Churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The authors said the letter was a result of questions about the Church of England’s attitude to new legislation in several countries that penalizes people with same-sex attraction.
In their letter, the archbishops reiterated their support for the Dromantine Communique that was published in 2005 by the primates of the Anglican Communion. The communique noted that they continue unreservedly to be committed to the pastoral support and care of homosexual people and that the victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to them.
But Ntagali, in his response made yesterday, says the law is necessary. He says the Church of Uganda is encouraged by Parliament’s decision to amend the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and remove the death penalty among other changes.
He noted that this frees the clergy and church leaders to fulfill the 2008 resolution of the House of Bishops to “offer counseling, healing and prayer for people with homosexual orientation, especially in schools and other institutions of learning.
Ntagali said that the Church is a safe place for individuals, who are confused about their sexuality or struggling with sexual brokenness, to seek help and healing.
He noted that the Church of Uganda is grateful for the reminder of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to fulfill such commitments as stated in the 2005 Communique of the Primates Meeting held in Dromantine, Northern Ireland.
He insists that as per the resolutions of the Lambeth Conference of 1998, homosexual practice is incompatible with the Scripture, and the conference cannot advise the legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions.
Ntagali noted that it was the Episcopal Church of USA and the Anglican Church of Canada’s violations of Lambeth 1.10 resolution which caused the Church of Uganda to break communion with those Provinces more than ten years ago.
He hoped that the Archbishops and governing bodies of the Church of England will step back from the path they have set themselves on so the Church of Uganda will be able to maintain communion with its own Mother Church.
