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Gay, Clergy Clash At People's Space
23 Nov 2007- Kampala, Uganda- People
advocating for the rights of homosexuals and those against the practice are
using the People's Space at Hotel Africana in Kampala to air out their views.
Drama ensued on Thursday when the Catholic and Anglican clergymen, who were
condemning gays, sat next to pro-gay people who were watching a film on
homosexuality.
The film, which attracted several youth,
showcased the various countries which have embraced gays, particularly Egypt.
As homosexuals and lesbians gave
testimonies on how they were attracted to each other in the movie, the clergy
were addressing a press conference to express their disappointment at
Commonwealth member-states that were advocating for gay rights.
Whereas the youth mischievously cheered at
the gays' testimonies in the film, the clergy were defending the Church's stand
on what they referred to as 'evil and unnatural behaviour.'
The Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese,
Zac Niringiye, said: "As Church leaders, we want to speak out very clearly what
we believe in from the perspectives of culture and religion. We love homosexuals
as we love thieves and any person who is not honourable. But promoting the gays'
agenda is evil and it is counter to God's design to humanity, to productivity
and it is unnatural."
The Rev. Fr. Silvester Arinaitwe, the
deputy executive secretary for the finance and administration for the Uganda
Joint Christian Council, said homosexuality is illegal in Uganda.
The Rev. Canon Aaron Mwesigye, the
Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, told journalists that they were
aware that many people were at the People's Space and the Commonwealth People's
Forum to lobby for gay recognition.
"We hate the evil practice. Imagine section
96 of a report from the People's Forum pleads to the Commonwealth to include
issues of gays in the people's rights."
Mwesigye noted that the inclusion of gays
in the same category with people with disabilities and refugees "is evil and
breaks up the society."
He said churches would continue preaching
the gospel and involve the youth in activities that would protect them from evil
practices.
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