First, the Guardian’s blogsite, comment is free published Partners in prejudice by Peter Tatchell. This is described by Jim Naughton as a “searing attack” on the Archbishop of Canterbury. Tatchell is not polite about the Archbishop of Abuja either.
Second, Changing Attitude has issued a press release entitled IDAHO - the International Day Against Homophobia. This notes that the proposed Nigerian legislation will:
Posted by Simon Sarmiento on Saturday, 20 May 2006 at 8:32pm BST | TrackBackAny Nigerian bishop who tries to listen to homosexual experience in accordance with commitments made by the Anglican Communion will be labelled a supporter of homosexual people and be at risk of prosecution under the terms of the new bill, subject to a maximum prison sentence of 5 years.
The bill will make it impossible for any Nigerian bishop fulfil the commitment of the Anglican Church expressed in the Windsor report to listen to the experience of lesbian and gay people.
Changing Attitude Nigeria thanks the Canadian bishops who have spoken their mind robustly in criticising the Nigerian bill and disassociating from it.
CA Notes that. "The bill will make it impossible for any Nigerian bishop fulfil the commitment of the Anglican Church expressed in the Windsor report to listen to the experience of lesbian and gay people"
As I repeatedly say, I do not support the Nigerian legislation, despite being in favour of the part of resolution 1998 1.10 that states apart from "listening" that: "in view of the teaching of Scripture, [This Conference] upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage:"
Now people in Canada and Sweden who even express this view are being prosecuted... and the UK Government is about to enact regulations which will 'force' all churches and groups to act as if they believed that same-sex sex is good and equivalent to marriage!
Yet I haven't heard one 'liberal' ever denounce any such legal enforcement of their views as oppresive!
Posted by: Dave on Monday, 22 May 2006 at 8:20pm BSTPossibly because we who live in these lands haven't heard of such a thing...
Dear Dave!
Posted by: Göran Koch-Swahne on Wednesday, 24 May 2006 at 4:40pm BSTOn 22 May Dave wrote: ..."I haven't heard one 'liberal' ever denounce ... legal enforcement of their views as oppressive!"
As I feared; for a week no liberal contributor has been willing to post anything against the legal suppression of conservative's views in Canada, Sweden or [potentially] the UK ! I must therefore assume that they are themselves "Human Rights deniers" -- denying me my freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of association" !
Posted by: Dave on Monday, 29 May 2006 at 6:31pm BSTDave
Could you explain to us fairly exactly how the proposed UK legislation will do what you claim? I take it you are referring to the proposal for new Sexual Orientation Regulations; the consultation document is at
http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/publications/sexo_consult_paper.pdf
Dear Simon Here are some examples that show how "Gay Hate" speech is being defined not just as violent or threatening speech (or direct incitement to violence) but rather any negative comment or teaching - which includes stating on grounds of religious teaching, or reasoned arguement, that same-sex sex is wrong:
From Sweden: http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=862&date=20050119 and http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=889&date=20050125 the case against the Pastor was eventually thrown out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4477502.stm
From Canada: http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/06/08/christ050608.html and comments from "Dignity Canada" that demand that the law should not allow anyone to say that sexual conduct between people of the same sex is morally wrong: http://dignitycanada.org/Canadian-Bishops-Defend-Faith-based-Hatred.html
Some expected effects of the UK Governement's proposed Sexual Orientation regulations are reported here: http://www.churchnewspaper.com/news.php?read=on&number_key=5821&title=Lawyers%20warn%20of%20new%20Bill More details available here: http://www.christianconcernforournation.co.uk/sor/index.php
And here are some general comments on the subject from a website that I expect would be illegal under hate crime laws, rather than just sometimes a bit OTT: http://www.traditionalvalues.org/urban/four.php
I would appreciate it if any liberal commentators would start their comments by stating that, although they disagree with what conservatives think, they deplore attempts to gag us and make us act against our beliefs... rather than just attacking the weaker points in the above links !!!
Posted by: Dave on Tuesday, 30 May 2006 at 1:53am BST