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Chirstian Leaders Broadly Oppose Uganda's Proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill

By Howard M. Friedman

In the wake of a report issued last month by Political Research Associates charging U.S. conservatives with using churches in Africa to promote homophobia on that continent (see prior posting), USA Today reports that last week 75 Christian leaders from a variety of backgrounds signed a Statement (originally released 12/7) denouncing the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2009 (full text) currently under consideration by the Parliament of Uganda. (Release by Faith in Life.) The Statement said in part:

Regardless of the diverse theological views of our religious traditions regarding the morality of homosexuality, in our churches, communities and families, we seek to embrace our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters as God's children worthy of respect and love.

Subsequently two other influential leaders came out with statements against the legislation-- Pastor Rick Warren (USA Today report; Warren' statement (12/10)) and Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams (Ekklesia 12/12.)

Bloomberg News (12/9) reports that a revised version of the bill will drop the death penalty (imposed for "Aggravated Homosexuality") and life imprisonment for gays-- provisions that had particularly generated religious opposition. The revised bill reportedly will also encourage counseling to encourage changes in sexual orientation.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on December 13, 2009 (boomark / email).