Africans: Pro-Gay U.S. Church Follows New Religion
Fri Oct 29,11:22 AM ET Top Stories - Reuters By Dino Mahtani LAGOS (Reuters) - African bishops representing a majority of the world's Anglicans said on Friday North American sections that embrace homosexuality should be seen as following a different religion. The statement by top Anglican clerics at a landmark conference in Nigeria to determine their future marked a growing separation between conservatives and liberals in the 70-million strong church. The bishops told their North American counterparts to repent and ask for forgiveness for approving same-sex marriages and consecrating Gene Robinson, a divorced homosexual and father of two, as a bishop. "Failure to do so would indicate that they have chosen to 'walk alone' and follow another religion," said the statement issued by the senior clerics from across the continent. A report earlier this month by senior Anglican clergy urged North American congregations to ban same-sex marriages and the ordination of gay clergy, but stepped back from an outright condemnation of gays in a bid to reconcile the divisions. But African church leaders said it did not go far enough and accused the North American communions of subverting the faith and imposing a false doctrine. African bishops want their continent to become the new heartland of Anglicanism and Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola, Africa's top cleric, has said the Church of Nigeria aims to set up branches in the United States. Church leaders in Africa fear if Anglicanism fails to take a firm stance on homosexuality, its parishioners -- many of whom are traditionalists who cannot stomach the idea of gay bishops -- will desert it for evangelical churches or Islam. Earlier this week Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo -- a born-again Christian -- backed African bishops in rejecting homosexuality and called gay tendencies "unbiblical, unnatural and definitely un-African." The bishops gathered in Nigeria have said they would not be swayed in their rejection of ordaining gays by the lure of church funds from the liberal West, despite Africa receiving 70 percent of its funds mainly from America. But church leaders say the split between African bishops and their American counterparts is not so much a geographical division as a split between the liberal and conservative wings of the church. Already, conservatives in the same U.S. Episcopal Church that ordained Robinson have called his appointment "schismatic." Many of the more liberal bishops in Africa, particularly from South Africa, have taken a softer approach to gays and have snubbed the conference in Nigeria. Tangkisan Letug <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: SOLIDARITAS ITU Oleh Tangkisan Letug Solidaritas itu Tak cukup diteriakkan Ketika kita membutakan diri Terhadap derita dan korban saudara sendiri Di negeri yang kita pijaki ini Di Aceh masih bergelimangan Di Papua telah berguguran Di Ambon dan Poso terus dicekam ketakutan Teriak apa telah dibawa bagi mereka? Solidaritas itu Terlahir bukan kerna dia sekomplotanku Terbangun bukan kerna dia seagamaku Tergerakkan bukan kerna dia sesukuku Solidaritas yang bukan munafik itu Mesti dibangun di atas kemanusiaan Mesti dilahirkan dalam jiwa pembebas Mesti digerakkan mengatasi semangat sempit. Apa artinya hari ini Kau mengecam pembantaian Tetapi di lain hari kau teriakkan kebencian? Apa artinya hari ini Kau mengecam perang Tetapi di lain hari kau sokong bom-pembunuhan? Apa artinya hari ini Kau bawa slogan keprihatinan Tetapi di lain hari kau girang akan penindasan? Apa artinya hari ini Kau tuntut keadilan bagi minoritas Tetapi di negeri sendiri kau tindas minoritas? Solidaritas itu Hanyalah topeng bagi perjuangan palsu Ketika tidak sungguh dibangun atas hormat pada manusianya. Solidaritas itu Hanyalah kuda tunggangan komplotan seteru Kalau hanya sekedar menutupi penindasan baru. Solidaritas itu Mesti diciumi dengan sepenuh diri Sebab setiap manusia itu seperti kekasih Yang hanya pantas dikasihi bukan dibenci Yang hanya pantas dihormati bukan dimusuhi. Solidaritas itu Hanya minta satu ini Menjadi kawan sejati tanpa sekat di bumi. 30 Oktober 2004 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. 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