Posted at New Vision.
Statement by the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali on the recent decisions to change the definition of marriage by the United States’ Supreme Court and the Episcopal Church in the USA
The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States of America to change the definition of marriage is grievous. There is a saying, “When America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold.” As a religious leader in Uganda, I want to assure all Ugandans that we will do everything we can to promote the good moral health of our people and resist such immoral viruses that may try to infiltrate our people.
Likewise, the most recent decision of the Episcopal Church USA (TEC) to change the definition of marriage is even more grievous. At best, it sprang from a desire to extend pastoral care to members of its church who experience same-sex attraction. Pastoral care, however, that is contrary to the Bible’s message is, ultimately, cruel and misleading.
The Church of Uganda broke communion with the Episcopal Church USA (TEC) in 2003 when they unilaterally changed the received Biblical and moral teaching of the Anglican Communion on ordination. The Primates of the Anglican Communion unanimously agreed – including the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church – that, should TEC proceed with the consecration as Bishop of a divorced father of two living in a same-sex relationship, it would tear the fabric of the Communion at its deepest level, which is exactly what has happened over the past twelve years.
In spite of TEC’s 2006 resolution that expressed their “regret” at “straining” the bonds of affection in the Anglican Communion, they have, nonetheless, continued their march toward dismantling the Christian faith and morals, culminating in their recent decision to change the definition of marriage – something that was “given by God in creation.”
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Don’t you just love when someone from a country with a horrific record of human rights violations and a policy of persecution of homosexuals tell other people what they should or should not do.why try to remove a piece of ash out of someone’s eye when you have a redwood tree in your own.
Of what human rights violations are you accusing Rev. Ntagali? Do you have an actual charge to make against him personally, or are you alleging that he is guilty of the crimes of his country’s government, of which he is not an official? Or are you alleging that just by speaking out against the US sanctioning the sin of homosexuality, he is thereby guilty of persecuting homosexuals? Would you then say the same thing about Moses and Paul?
So be careful, lest the Lord look upon your heart and find you guilty of bearing false witness against Rev. Ntagali.
Mr Scarborough is right to call out this man on his blatant anti gay animus. Paul and Moses lived in times where a LOT of things we do not allow/put up with now were sanctioned by society, from slavery to stoning to openly second rate status for women in society. that they were also homophobic millennia ago is no excuse for anyone, especially anyone claiming to speak for a church, to do so now than it would be to accept those other things listed (and sometimes given directions on how to do them) in the Bible.
Uganda is a human rights disaster on so many levels and in so many ways it is crying shame. Of course, when societies like Russia or Uganda or the Arab nations are ruled by corrupt governments and hierarchies, an “other” must be chosen to attack and divert attention from the real problems. sometimes its jews. sometimes its “witches” (women accused of “witchcraft”…a literal reading of the Bible implies its real, and such women are often killed in Uganda) and sometimes.. its GLBT people, who are raped, killed, beaten, robbed, and imprisoned for being Gay in Uganda. Is this so called “man of God” working to stop any of this? No. the Anglican hierarchy in Uganda has supported draconian laws against GLBT people, and done nothing real at all to stop the violence, the discrimination, torture and denigration of GLBT people. He has, by his pronouncements, only added fuel to the flame. the Anglican, and all other churches in Uganda could work 24/7 to address the heinous problems in Ugandan society…but, they choose to take the easy route, appeal to peoples prejudices, fears and hatred fed by misinformation and falsehood about GLBT people, often spread by Americans such as Scott Lively and others. Its easy. Its popular. it confronts no one in power.
it’s pathetic.
If anything Mr. Golden, Mr. Scarborough was cooing like a dove, and had the facts, and the best understanding of scripture, and of what the church can do to make the world a better place, on his side. He has bourn no false witness whatsoever.
If the only people who could provide moral guidance in this life were those who were flawless…and whose countries were sinless…we would be entirely bereft of moral guidance.
I prefer not to judge the Bishop’s nation, or his ability to influence what his national leaders do or do not do. I think clergy in this country have not done a very good job of influencing our political leaders, so let’s not cast stones at the good Bishop’s lack of effectiveness is a situation that is obviously much more difficult than what the average American bishop / clergy have to face.
Bishop Ntagali has spoken forcefully in favor of laws making homosexuality punishable by life in prison, among other things. Far from merely failing to influence national leaders in a positive way, Bishop Ntagali is an active agent of oppression, persecution, and the denial of the most basic human rights.