Thinking Anglicans

debate in Uganda

Updated again Friday evening

GayUganda reports Dialogue?

The Makerere University Human Rights and Peace Center

present a public dialogue on The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009

Date: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009
Time: 1pm-5 pm
Venue: Faculty of Law Auditorium

SPEAKERS:

  • Hon. David Bahati, MP Ndorwa East and Sponsor of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill
  • Assoc. Prof. Sylvia Tamale, Coordinator, Law, Gender & Sexuality Research Project, Faculty of Law.
  • Rev. Canon. Aaron Mwesigye, Provincial Secretary of the Anglican Church of Uganda
  • Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS Activist

Update

Warren Throckmorton has Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill discussed on Premier Christian Radio.

Friday evening update

Ekklesia reports Archbishop of York intends to say silent on Ugandan anti-gay bill.

The Archbishop of York, who grew up in rural Uganda, has said that he intends to stay silent about proposed legislation in the country which would introduce the death penalty for certain consensual homosexual acts.

The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) attempted to contact both Archbishop John Sentamu and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, hoping they would speak out unequivocally against the proposed laws.

The Archbishop of York’s office told LGCM that Archbishop Sentamu “will not be making a statement on this issue”. The Archbishop of Canterbury has not responded…

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Father Ron Smith
Father Ron Smith
14 years ago

“During the interview (on Christian Radio in Uganda), Ssempa was arguing that this Bill was needed to establish equal penalties for the molesters of ‘the boy child’ since there were already protections for girls. He didn’t seem to understand (or want to admit) that this bill goes WAY beyond that. If child abuse is the main problem, why not just enact and enforce tougher problems for that?” – Commentator on Throckmorton site – This commentator reveals, in the radio talk with Pastor Ssempa (trained in the US by Pastor Rick Warren), that Ssempa’s support of the Bill is out of… Read more »

Laurence C.
Laurence C.
14 years ago

“Rowan Williams has been accused of being silent and of not caring. I am pleased to tell you all that I have received a letter on this subject from him in response to mine. The contents of the letter are not for publication, but I was encouraged. Posted by: Jeremy Pemberton on Friday, 13 November 2009 at 1:28pm GMT” I was pleased to note Jeremy Pemberton’s post on a Uganda thread further down. From it, one might deduce that activity of some sort may be taking place in order for Jeremy to be encouraged. It is unfortunate that Rowan Williams… Read more »

drdanfee
drdanfee
14 years ago

Hmm, don’t know where Dr. Ssempa got his doctorate, but Ssempa apparently cannot even read the plain meanings of his own new and stronger criminalization of queer folks in Uganda. The trope about protecting boys from sexual assault has high folk and symbolic values; it repeats the old accusation that gay men in particular are pedofiles completely, ignoring mountains of clear evidence of course to the contrary. Ssempa does not even admit the civil worst of this bill, i.e., those wider sanctions about criminalizing associations, housing, promoting homosexuality, and such are completely neglected by Ssempa. Did he get his doctorate… Read more »

drdanfee
drdanfee
14 years ago

I appreciate the broad range of protests / questions that this Uganda legislation has occasioned. Yes, Dr. T and Exodus are still preaching flat earth stuff about gays and change. Evangelicals are brave to protest. Evangelicals risk folk guilt by association, just for speaking up about fair play for Uganda gay folks. My strong spontaneous sense of such positives is leavened with having to hear, yet again, the customary sad-mouthed, faux-caring Exodus rhetoric. You know what I mean, all those presupposed mentions of how queer folks suffer confusions, pain, and vexations innate to their not being straight. This Exodus rhetoric… Read more »

JCF
JCF
14 years ago

“The Archbishop of York, who grew up in rural Uganda, has said that he intends to stay silent about proposed legislation in the country which would introduce the death penalty for certain consensual homosexual acts.”

Disgraceful.

Lord have mercy!

karen macqueen+
14 years ago

“Rowan Williams has been accused of being silent and of not caring. I am pleased to tell you all that I have received a letter on this subject from him in response to mine. The contents of the letter are not for publication, but I was encouraged. Posted by: Jeremy Pemberton on Friday, 13 November 2009 at 1:28pm GMT” To put the matter as mildly as I possibly can, I am not encouraged. I am not impressed. I continue to be disgusted. This ploy of the learned cleric working behind the scenes did not work for Pius XII vis a… Read more »

MarkBrunson
MarkBrunson
14 years ago

Not for publication?!

Doing and saying one thing in private and another in public. Isn’t there a word for that? What the devil passes for integrity in a British churchman that I can be told this is an encouraging sign.

I with Karen Macqueen – definitively *not* encouraged!

Outraged, yes.

Laurence C.
Laurence C.
14 years ago

“Not for publication?!” It could be that the letter contains details of actions by the ABC which, if publicised, might reduce their efficacy and be counter-productive. However, I must repeat that for there to be NO public statement from Rowan Williams, even in the most general terms, (“I’m doing something, but I can’t tell you what it is at present”) is indicative of a terrible lack of judgement. Is there nobody at Lambeth Palace to brief him on what is being said on blogs such as this? It strikes me that he regards the role of ABC as being one… Read more »

Commentator
Commentator
14 years ago

The Archbishop of York is prepared to remove his clerical collar until the government of a foreign country falls. What a surprise that he is unable to remove anything so that another foreign government may be held to account. This is proof positive that the Archbishop of York does not have the views that many attribute to him. He does not hold up the light oF reason and tolerance to a divided church. He should refuse to make statements on anything at all in future – as he has no credibility left. Silence, Your Grace, is your position now and… Read more »

Leonardo Ricardo
Leonardo Ricardo
14 years ago

The Archbishop of York, is blood brother to: Pastor Robert Kayanja (who has many friends including the President and First Lady of Uganda and the Police) Uganda: Kayanja Survives Sodomy Charges Chris Kiwawulo and Roderick Ahimbazwa 25 September 2009 Kampala — THE first half of this year left its mark in the history of Uganda’s Born-again church. Renowned pastor, Robert Kayanja, was accused of sodomy. A group of five pastors and their colleagues pinned the Rubaga Miracle Centre cleric but Kayanja denied the allegations, calling them mudslinging. The accusers were pastors Michael Kyazze, Martin Ssempa, Solomon Male, Kayiira and Semujju.¨… Read more »

MarkBrunson
MarkBrunson
14 years ago

One thing in public, another in private.

Hypocrisy.

If you can’t say it publicly, don’t say it privately.

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