'Kill the Gays Bill' revived in Uganda, with some changes. Many fear damage is done, think law is passed

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
1/4/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Bill would criminalize and condemn homosexuals to life in prison.

Homosexuals in Uganda are worried again after a bill that would criminalize and severely punish homosexual activity was revived in Parliament. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill is notoriously known as the "kill the gays bill" because of its previous inclusion of the death penalty.

A supporter of the bill provides his opinion on the matter during a public demonstration.

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KAMPALA, UGANDA (Catholic Online) - The bill had been tabled for some time, after international condemnation, but it was revived late last year as a "Christmas present" from the Speaker of the Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga.

Ugandans who self-identify as gays are now fearing for their lives once again, and facing more threats and discrimination than ever before.

David Bahati, a Member of Parliament, proposed the The Anti-Homosexuality Bill in 2009. The bill contained language which mandated the death penalty for anyone who engaged in intercourse with same-sex persons, disabled persons, or children. The bill also made a point of affording HIV positive convicts who engaged in same-sex activity the death penalty too.

Life sentences were mandated for anyone who simply touched another person with the intent of "committing an act of homosexuality."

The bill was popular in the conservative African nation, but condemned around the world. Several countries, including the United States, vowed to cut aid funding if the bill was passed.

Challenges from human rights groups also helped push the law back to the shelf to die.

Following developments including the murder of a prominent homosexual activist, the bill was allowed to expire in May, 2011.

However, Speaker Kadaga revived the bill last November, saying the country's culture has "no room for gays."

The bill has been softened, but only a bit. The death penalty has been removed, now affording a few years in prison to life sentences for those duly convicted.

Same sex intercourse will result in a life sentence.

The bill is set for debate before the Parliament soon.

Homosexual activists are speaking out against the bill, which they say is cruel and harsh. Activists and others who identify as having same-sex attraction say they are fearful, even to speak out because they often receive threats. Even if the bill does not pass, there is concern that its mere discussion in government will somehow legitimize vigilante attacks against homosexuals.

Already some Ugandans say they believe the bill is already law and have acted accordingly, accusing people they think are homosexual and even attacking them.

If not for the Western world exercising extreme pressure on the Ugandan government, the bill would almost certainly pass. However, Uganda is dependent on the West for some 25 percent of its annual budget.
Homosexual activists vow to challenge the bill in court if it becomes law, however they fear that much of the damage will have already been done, even if the law is defeated.

Tragically, while the sin of homosexual behavior is just that, sinful, Uganda's sharp reaction to it is also out of step with the modern era and Church teaching. Today, theologians and moral philosophers, along with nearly all legal scholars condemn the notion of a death penalty for most acts of sexual deviance, particularly between consenting adults.

In the modern era, homosexuality is seen as a mental health question, although its status as a mental issue is still hotly debated.

It is unknown if Uganda will pass the bill, however if Western opposition remains strong, which it probably will, then those wishing to address the issue of homosexuality in Ugandan society would be better served taking an alternative, and possibly more Christian approach to the issue.

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Gays, homosexual, anti-homosexuality bill, Uganda, death penalty

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1 - 6 of 6 Comments

Robert Burford
3 months ago
God help us all. To be a homosexual is not a sin. However, to actively participate in a homosexual relationship of any kind is a sin. Lets face it their are homosexuals in the world. We would not put a hetero sexual couple to death for their relationship. Why gays? It does not warrant the death penalty in any country. But any relationship that is outside holy matrimony between a man and a women is sin.
Eric Tarin
3 months ago
"In the modern era, homosexuality is seen as a mental health question, although its status as a mental issue is still hotly debated. " This statement was true in 1950. Today, homosexuality (GLBT) is not seen as a mental health issue. No one is currently debating that. Being Gay is also not viewed as a sin by the Catholic Church. Having sex with a partner of the same sex, I believe is the current sin. The Catholic Church teaches that gay individuals should be treated with respect and God's love. Let us not ignite persons prejudice by misquoting the Catholic Church. And let us look at out own plank in our own eyes before we try to take the sliver out of someone else's eyes. A Christian approach is to love the people and not to harass them, and to make it completely legal without punishment in every nation. Go and learn what this means "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."
Liz
3 months ago
Dear GOD, please forgive those who have committed the sin of homosexuality and please let everything be okay for them. No one deserves to die LORD. Not even the worst sinners. Please allow them to change there ways by the only thing stronger than a prison. Your Word.
Amen.
Peter Mikolajczyk
4 months ago
In this very sick times, culture of the death reminding about Uganda Saints and this country opposition against homosexual trend, very popular in western societies is such IMPORTANT.
God Bless Uganda, God Bless all believers standing against perversions, deviations and... simply the SIN.
God bless Uganda!!!
Peter Mikolajczyk
4 months ago
In this very sick times, culture of the death reminding about Uganda Saints and this country opposition against homosexual trend, very popular in western societies is such IMPORTANT.
God Bless Uganda, God Bless all believers standing against perversions, deviations and... simply the SIN.
God bless Uganda!!!
Mrs. Julie Jacob
4 months ago
"Tragically, while the sin of homosexual behavior is just that, sinful, Uganda's sharp reaction to it is also out of step with the modern era and Church teaching. Today, theologians and moral philosophers, along with nearly all legal scholars condemn the notion of a death penalty for most acts of sexual deviance, particularly between consenting adults.

In the modern era, homosexuality is seen as a mental health question, although its status as a mental issue is still hotly debated." ~ Your words in the article.

"Out of step with the modern era and Church teaching"...first of all Church teaching has always been taught with a Capital T Tradition that the act of sodomy and other homosexual acts are a SIN, not a mental issue!!! Where in Scripture is this called a mental issue?!?! The old Testament condemns the sin of Onan (Genesis 38:9-10), & Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis Ch 19). Other old Testament versos include Deu. 22:5 (which speaks against cross-dressing...hum, no blaming that on a mental issue there! They are considered an abomination before the Lord!)) Lev. 18:22-23, Lev. 20:13 It is St. Paul likewise in the new Testament condemns men lying with men, and women lying with women...for instance 1Cor. 6:10, Romans 1:24-27. And don't forget the epistle of Jude v4 and v6-7.
Do you know that the 24 Ugandan Martyrs (Charles Luwanga and companions) were executed (PUT TO DEATH) because the king, a homosexual, wanted them to have perverted homosexual sex with him and they refused! Is there any wonder why Uganda, probably the only sane country left in the world is so against this abomination before God!!!
In the second place regarding the modern era and the Church, TRUTH does not change with the times!!! Pope Saint Pius X condemned modernism as the synthesis of all heresies! You people here at "Catholic" (and I use the term suspiciously here).org are modernist to the max. Please do your homework, and use the great treasury of the Fathers and Doctors which Holy Mother Church has put at our disposal from which to learn The Truth which does not change with the era or the wind.

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