FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
contact: Rebecca Wilson, 330-524-2067, rebeccaswilson@sbcglobal.net
CHICAGO CONSULTATION CALLS ON ANGLICAN LEADERS
TO OPPOSE UGANDAN ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION
Group Sends Letters to Presiding Bishop, House of Deputies President,
Archbishop of Canterbury, and Archbishop of Uganda
Archbishop of Canterbury, and Archbishop of Uganda
CHICAGO,
IL, November 20, 2009—The Chicago Consultation today asked the Most
Rev. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury; the Most Rev.
Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church;
President of the House of Deputies Dr. Bonnie Anderson; and the Most
Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, Primate of the Anglican Church of Uganda, to
speak out against draconian anti-gay legislation introduced in the
Ugandan Parliament last month.
“The
Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and Jesus teaches us to care for
the vulnerable and the marginalized. The proposed Ugandan legislation
is as far from those commandments as it could be,” said the Rev. Lowell
Grisham, co-convener of the Chicago Consultation. “The Anglican
Communion has committed itself to the pastoral care of gay and lesbian
people. At a time like this, we implore its leaders to speak out.”
Uganda’s
so-called “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” proposes the death penalty for
“aggravated homosexuality” and life imprisonment for touching another
individual with homosexual intent. Belonging to a gay organization,
advocating gay rights and providing condoms or safe-sex advice to gays
and lesbians could result in a seven-year prison sentence. Failing to
report violations of the law within 24 hours would be punishable by a
three-year prison term. In contravention of international law, the new
legislation would also apply to Ugandans living in other countries.
In
1998, the Lambeth Conference, a worldwide gathering of Anglican bishops
passed Resolution 1.10, committing themselves to the pastoral care of
gays and lesbians. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church
passed legislation (D005) in 2006 opposing the criminalization of
homosexuality.
Seventeen
human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty
International have pointed out that the bill would criminalize their
work and significantly diminish the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS
prevention efforts. Even Exodus International, which promotes
controversial therapies to change a person’s sexual identity, opposes
this bill because it is so harsh.
“Across
North America, Europe and Africa, people of goodwill oppose this
draconian legislation,” Grisham said. “But within the Anglican
Communion, only the Church of Canada has found its voice. We are eager
to hear our leaders speak out on behalf of frightened, isolated and
persecuted gays and lesbians in Uganda, and on behalf of all Anglicans
who believe in the dignity of every human being.” Grisham said.
Spokesmen
for the Church of Uganda initially supported the bill, but advocated
that the death penalty provision and extradition provisions be removed.
As the international backlash against the bill has intensified, the
Church has retreated from its original position and now says it has no
position on the bill.
American
evangelist Rick Warren, who has close ties to Archbishop Orombi and the
Ugandan church, has refused to condemn the bill, saying he has no
position on it.
The
Chicago Consultation, a group of Episcopal and Anglican bishops, clergy
and lay people, supports the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender Christians in the Episcopal Church and the worldwide
Anglican Communion. To learn more about the Chicago Consultation, visit
www.chicagoconsultation.org.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment