Executive Council to meet on Ugandan legislation
Episcopal Life reports:
A teleconference meeting of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council will take place on Dec. 7 to discuss a possible statement on Ugandan legislation that would imprison for life or execute people who violate that country's anti-homosexuality laws.Sixteen members of the council requested the meeting with a handwritten petition that said a motion would be offered at the meeting "regarding the urgent human rights situation in Uganda."
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The 16 members circulated the petition amongst themselves at a Nov. 17-20 gathering in Chicago of the Episcopal Church's so-called interim bodies, the Committees, Commissions, Agencies and Boards (commonly know as CCABs). The members were at the meeting in their roles as council liaisons to the church's standing commissions. All council members who were approached to sign the petition, agreed to do so, according to Sarah Dylan Breuer, council member from Massachusetts and one of the signers.
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The 16 members who signed the petition are the Rev. Canon Tim Anderson, Hisako Beasely, Sarah Dylan Breuer, Jane Cosby, Martha Gardner, the Rev. Floyd "Butch" Gamarra, Bruce Garner, Anita George, the Ven. Joyce Hardy, Stephen Hutchinson, the Rev. Cristobal Leon, Katie Sherrod, the Rev. Terry Starr, Deborah Stokes, Anne Watkins, the Rev. Sandye Wilson.In an interview, while visiting Atlanta, November 7, the Presiding Bishop was asked about a statement:
On a proposed law in Uganda making homosexuality a criminal act punished by prison or the death penalty: “It’s an horrific law promulgated for political purposes. We’re working behind the scenes to do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t pass. But it appears not to be helpful, at the moment, for the Episcopal Church to publicly issue official statements about it.”UPDATE: From Ugandan gays and lesbians
GAYUGANDA blog and Changing AttitudeStay tuned for information on arrangements for public attendance at the meeting. No legislation can be passed in executive session.
The Presiding Bishop: "But it appears not to be helpful, at the moment, for the Episcopal Church to publicly issue official statements about it.”
What does she mean by that?
And yet, the Canadians have spoken!
I wrote the PB last week and got a cursory acknowledgment from her assistant, nothing further, not even a "we're working on this important issue and will get back to you." Institutional bureaucracy sucks. - Jay Vos
Posted by dutchfox![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 24, 2009 7:24 AM
It's possible that public condemnations from Western churches and leaders will make the situation worse, not better. We should continue to pressure our church leaders to act, but for now we should let them decide how and where to act.
Posted by Weiwen Ng![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 24, 2009 8:57 AM
The fear that commentary or condemnation will hurt the situation certainly seems reasonable, but I recall that similar claims were made as reasons that Pius XII did not speak out against the Nazi Holocaust of the Jews in WW II. One wonders if this "reverse psychology" really works with despotism. I would tend to favor open condemnation in clear terms. The Vatican's silence in WWII did nothing for the Jews.
Posted by Jeffrey L. Shy, M.D.![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 24, 2009 4:47 PM