Denial
We’ve been discussing why the leadership of Truro and the Falls Church, two Episcopal parishes across the river from us in northern Virginia seem unwilling to acknowledge that adding two plus two gives you four. They and a handful of anonymous blog posters don’t want to admit that the Church these parishes are rushing to join favors restrictions on freedom of religion and the institutionalization of anti-gay bigotry.
The bill which contains these restrictions is beneath the continue reading button. It has provoked an international outcry which the leaders of the two congregations have studiously ignored. Sixty members of the European Parliament have signed a letter decrying the provisions in the bill. Sixteen human rights organizations have written to the Nigerian government. Internal opposition is organizing within Nigeria.
Bishop Martyn Minns, the clerical leader of Truro, distanced himself from this legislation back in February when he was a priest in the Episcopal Church, but he hasn’t done so since becoming a bishop in the Church of Nigeria. Minns did, however offer an Orwellian clarification of Archbishop Peter J. Akninola of Nigeria’s feelings toward homosexuals on the Truro Web site. Akinola apparently believes that gay people should be treated with “respect.”
If you look here you will see the Nigerian Church showering respect on Davis Mac-Illaya, a gay Nigerian who is engaged in what may soon be the crime of organizing other gay Nigerians.
The unwillingness of the churches' leadership (whose feud with Bishop Peter Lee of Virginia is heating up) to disassociate themselves from this bill, and from Archbishop Akinola's support of the bill, raises an interesting question about their intentions toward their fellow Americans. As representatives of the Nigerian church in the United States, will they favor depriving the citizens of this country of their rights to speech, assembly and religion? Or is there some moral justification for confining the deprevation to citizens of Nigeria?
A BILL
FOR
AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THE PROHIBITION OF SEXUAL
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONS OF THE SAME SEX, CELEBRATION
OF MARRIAGE BY THEM AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED
THEREWITH
[ ]
BE IT ENACTED by the National Assembly of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria as follows-
1. Short Title
This Act may be cited as Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act
2006.
2. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“Marriage” means a legally binding union between a man and a
woman be it performed under the authority of the State, Islamic
Law or Customary Law;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for Internal Affairs”
“Same Sex Marriage” means the coming together of two persons of
the same gender or sex in a civil union, marriage, domestic
partnership or other form of same sex relationship for the
purposes of cohabitation as husband and wife.
3. Validity and Recognition of Marriage.
For the avoidance of doubt only marriage entered into between a
man and a woman under the marriage Act or under the Islamic and
Customary Laws are valid and recognized in Nigeria.
4. Prohibition of Same Sex Marriage, etc.
(1) Marriage between persons of the same sex and adoption of
children by them in or out of a same sex marriage or
relationship is prohibited in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(2) Any marriage entered into by persons of same sex pursuant
to a license issued by another state, country, foreign
jurisdiction or otherwise shall be void in the Federal
Republic of Nigeria,
(3) Marriages between persons of the same sex are invalid and
shall not be recognized as entitled to the benefits of a valid
marriage.
(4) Any contractual or other rights granted to persons involved
in same sex marriage or accruing to such persons by virtue
of a license shall be unenforceable in any Court of law in
Nigeria.
(5) The Courts in Nigeria shall have no jurisdiction to grant a
divorce, separation and maintenance orders with regard to
such same sex marriage, consider or rule on any of their
rights arising from or in connection with such marriage.
5. Non-Recognition of Same Sex Marriage
(1) Marriage between persons of same sex entered into in any
jurisdiction whether within or outside Nigeria, any other
state or country or otherwise or any other location or
relationships between persons of the same sex which are
treated as marriage in any jurisdiction, whether within or
out side Nigeria are not recognized in Nigeria.
(2) All arms of government and agencies in the Federal
Republic of Nigeria shall not give effect to any public act,
record or judicial proceeding within or outside Nigeria,
with regard to same sex marriage or relationship or a
claim arising from such marriage or relationship.
6. Prohibition of celebration of same sex marriage in a place of
worship
(1) Same sex marriage shall not be celebrated in any place
of worship by any recognized cleric of a Mosque,
Church, denomination or body to which such place of
worship belongs.
(2) No marriage license shall be issued to parties of the
same sex in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
7. Prohibition of Registration of Gay Clubs and Societies and
Publicity of same sex sexual relationship.
(1) Registration of Gay Clubs, Societies and organizations by
whatever name they are called in institutions from Secondary
to the tertiary level or other institutions in particular and, in
Nigeria generally, by government agencies is hereby
prohibited.
(2) Publicity, procession and public show of same sex
amorous relationship through the electronic or print media
physically, directly, indirectly or otherwise are prohibited in
Nigeria.
(3) Any person who is involved in the registration of gay
clubs, societies and organizations, sustenance, procession or
meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous
relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private is
guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 5
years imprisonment.
8. Offences and Penalties.
(1) Any person goes through the ceremony of marriage
with a person of the same sex is guilty of an offence and
liable on conviction to a term of 5 years imprisonment.
(2) Any person performs, witnesses, aids or abets the
ceremony of same sex marriage is guilty of an offence
and liable on conviction to a term of 5 years
imprisonment.
9. Jurisdiction
The High Court in the States and the Federal Capital Territory shall
have jurisdiction to entertain all matters, causes and proceedings
arising from same sex marriages and relationships.
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
This Act shall prohibit in the Federal Republic of Nigeria the
relationship between persons of the same sex, celebration of
marriage by them and other matters connected therewith.
This information is as plain as day. But often what we do not wish to acknowledge or accept, we ignore or deny. The clinical term is avoidance disorder. In the service we sometimes refer to the sort of things Minns is saying, as "flogging a dead horse."
We know the Lord sees and knows all and hopefully the members of those churches are keeping this in mind as they proceed into this devil's bargain. We can observe and point out the reefs before them, but their receptivity may be clouded. In the end they will have to explain themselves before the Seat of Judgment.
Posted by The Admiral of Morality | December 8, 2006 12:11 PM
There is no moral justification for persecuting gays any more than there is for doing likewise to Jews, American Indians, blacks, asians, women, or whoever else comes to mind. I read one blog poster yesterday say that the proposed legislation in Nigeria was better treatment by the Christians than would be afforded to gays if there were an Islamic government. Neither is acceptable treatment - period. I keep having the feeling that some of the rhetoric and reasoning we hear bandied about today smacks of the same way the Jews, gypsys, homosexuals and other 'un-desireables' were treated in Germany in the 1930s. Anyone who claims to be a christian and thinks this kind of behavior follows anything out of the Gospels is delusional and should be ashamed of themselves. I feel sorry for the folks in Truro and Falls Church who think that following the likes of +PJA is the way to go. It would be interesting to see how they would feel if the shoe were on the other foot and they were the ones being persecuted.
Posted by Richard III | December 8, 2006 12:13 PM
First things first, I don't intend by this post to defend either Minns or Akinola.
But Jim's use of the word "denial" makes me wonder if it is not just the conservatives who are in denial right now. There are blog stories floating around about the Diocese of Olympia passing a resolution that completely removes any concern over sexual activity from the discernment process. So I guess those who continue to argue we are not on a slippery slope are floating down the same river with Minns, right?
Posted by Widening Gyre | December 8, 2006 1:02 PM
Skillful as this attempt to change the subject was, we won't be moving in that direction. If you want to discuss Brad Drell's fantasies, do it on Brad Drell's blog.
Posted by Jim Naughton | December 8, 2006 1:18 PM
The term "denial" is too charitable.
I may be out here in flyover land, but I know *spin* when I see or hear it. Spin, and as you just mentioned, quite a lot of trying to change the subject ("but look how great Big Pete is about the African AIDS crisis"!).
Posted by Jay | December 8, 2006 1:25 PM
The issue here is not not whether the Nigerian Church should start officiating same-sex marriages any time soon (I think we can safely assume that that's not going to happen), or whether TFC or Truro are justified in wanting to leave ECUSA, but whether those congregations know enough to feel comfortable leaving for a Province whose leader calls for one side of that debate over homosexuality to be gagged with a prison term. Unfortunately, +Minns has not been completely straightforward on this issue, and so it's no surprise that there remains confusion as to facts and potential outcomes.
Posted by matt | December 8, 2006 2:37 PM
You can rant on all you want about Akinola, Minns Truro, Falls Church and the rest but you are writing with a poison pen and condemning fellow Christians my friend. I ask you this. Who are you to judge anyone?-is this the liberal left now discussing morals to the righteous right? If so-you Lose. So stop preaching morals to us with ridiculous accusations "As representatives of the Nigerian church in the United States, will they favor depriving the citizens of this country of their rights to speech, assembly and religion? That is pure nonsense and you know it.
And while we are on that subject, we are very much aware of what gays are doing in the USA, attacking conservative speakers at universities, preventing free speech and exercise of their religious freedom to speak about the perils and the health consequences of homosexual conduct and classifying it as hate speech. Let's hear your Comment on that.
Posted by brad hutt | December 8, 2006 6:43 PM
Dear Brad Hutt,
Facts don't hurt. Do give us some!
Year, month, week, day, hour.
Who, when, where, what, how?
Posted by Göran Koch-Swahne | December 9, 2006 8:40 AM
Gore,
You are not denying these occurances are you? They are a matter of public record. Where do you want me to start? On second thought,you look them up.
Posted by brad hutt | December 9, 2006 9:21 AM
Gore,
In case you are interested, this took me 2 minutes to look up-
Date 1977, Des- Moines Iowa. It is a gay site reporting pie in the face attack on Anita Bryant at a news conference.
http://www.brumm.com/gaylib/anitabryant1977_1.html
Posted by brad hutt | December 9, 2006 11:35 AM
Well, at least Jim said my attempt was skillful. That was nice.
Posted by Widening Gyre | December 11, 2006 8:38 AM