African bishops denounce homosexuality
AFP
| 23 Aug 2010
Print This
TEXT
Top News...
- Latest
- Most commented
-
Bishops gather for the second meeting of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa in Entebbe. Photo: Stephen Wandera/AP
African Anglican bishops voiced their strong disapproval of homosexuality at a meeting in Enbtebbe, Uganda, on Tuesday attended by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
"Homosexuality is incompatible with the word of God," said conference host and Ugandan Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi.
"It is good Archbishop Rowan is here. We are going to express to him where we stand," he added.
Head of the Anglican church worldwide, Dr Williams is struggling to keep the Communion together amid disagreements over the ordination of female bishops in Britain, and of openly gay bishops in the United States.
"There is already a break. It doesn't need to be announced," said Archbishop Orombi.
Dr Williams delivered a sermon on Tuesday at the opening of the six-day meeting, the first of its kind since 2004.
While he did not mention homosexuality, he said it was the duty of all bishops to be open-minded on contentious issues.
"We must learn to listen to those we lead and serve to find out what their hopes and needs and confusions are. We must love them and attend to their humanity in all its diversity," Dr Williams said.
However, the head of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa left little doubt that his position on the matter is settled.
"Today, the West is lacking obedience to the word of God," Rev Ian Ernest of Mauritius told journalists on the sidelines of the conference.
"It is for us (Africans) to redress the situation," he said, adding that he has severed all ties to the Episcopal churches in Canada and the United States that have allowed gays to enter the clergy.
Homosexuality is illegal in many African countries and is punishable by a prison sentence.
In Uganda, a drastic anti-gay bill has been met with criticism from Western states and rights group, notably for imposing the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" in cases of rape of a minor by a person of the same sex, or where one partner has HIV.
Editors' Picks
Healing comes to Taranaki
Archbishop David Moxon's last sermon in Taranaki coincides with a poignant ceremony involving...
Savouring the Salt and Light
Ever tried herding cats? Spanky Moore has – and he reports considerable success. Here's his ac...
Archbishop Welby takes the oath
The office of Archbishop of Canterbury is conferred on the Most Rev Justin Welby under the dom...
Biblical models of marriage
The Gospels are not obsessed with sexual relations, says Bishop Victoria Matthews in a pa...
How our prayer book came to fruition
Bishop Brian Carrell explores the inside story of the globally acclaimed A New Zealand...
Dr Williams fields the hard questions
In an exclusive interview, the retiring Archbishop of Canterbury tells how he weathered the st...
© Anglican Taonga
ANGLICAN TAONGA is the communications arm of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia / Te Haahi Mihanare ki Niu Tireni, ki Nga Moutere o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. TAONGA magazine is published three times a year and distributed to all Anglican ministry units and agencies. TAONGA also publishes occasional booklets on church, ministry and sacraments. The General Editor of TAONGA is accountable to the Communications Commission of General Synod / te Hinota Whanui, 200 St Johns Road, Meadowbank, Auckland 1742.
Comments on this story
Jeremy Goodman
Saturday 04 September 2010 9:22:28 pm
Ronnie Smith
Tuesday 31 August 2010 5:32:16 pm
Log in or create a user account to comment.