Members of U.S. Congress Invoke their Faith to Oppose Ugandan anti-Gay law

Mark Leon Goldberg - December 22, 2009 - 12:28 pm

Five Republican members of Congress penned a letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Mouseveni urging him to do everything within his constitutional authority to stop legislation that would criminalize homosexuality, sometimes under the penalty of death, from being enacted in Uganda.  The signatories, Representatives Chris Smith, Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts, Trent Franks and Anh "Joseph" Cao are conservative, members of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and self-proclaimed "men of faith."  

What is striking is that the letter invokes the Manhattan Declaration, which is a statement of religious principles by three prominent Christian leaders, Charles Colson, Robert George, and Timothy George. Among other things, the Declaration calls homosexuality immoral and includes a long explanation of why homosexuals should be denied the right to marry.

The letter to Mouseveni states, "As Members of Congress and as men of faith, we support the principles set forth in the declaration and are thankful for the principled postion of these faith leaders on a host of issues, from the sanctity of lide for the unborn and others, to religious freedom, to human dignity, to the belief that marriage is an institution between one man and one woman."  However, they say that their faith also compels them to oppose this legislation, which is antithetical to a "foundational Christian belief in the inherent dignity and worth of all men and women." 

Given the utter depravity of the proposed Ugandan legislation these members of congress should be applauded for taking a stand. I also don't doubt the sincerity of the beliefs of these members of Congress.  Still, I can't help but notice incongruity of invoking a document that calls homosexuality immoral to oppose an action that could be considered a manifestation (albeit an extreme one) of that attitude.  

 

Here is the full text of the letter:

 



 

uganda

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5) Subscribe to these comments

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Jean-Paul Bentham @ Dec 30th 2009 1:37AM

*UGANDA GAY RIGHTS * UGANDA GAY RIGHTS * UGANDA GAY RIGHTS *
HUMAN RIGHTS WILL PREVAIL * HUMAN RIGHTS WILL PREVAIL*
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
LONG LIVE THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
************************************************************************
RELIGION IS A MENTAL ILLNESS * RELIGION IS A MENTAL ILLNESS
*************************************************************************
UGANDA GAY RIGHTS * UGANDA GAY RIGHTS * UGANDA GAY RIGHTS

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Diathyky @ Dec 29th 2009 10:46PM

The homosexual movement has a long history of perpetrating oppression and violence while at the same time crying "victim". Let us pray that Uganda has the sense to put righteous laws in place so that that same violence and oppression which is perpetrated by homosexuals in Western countries can have no foothold in Uganda.

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Jean-Paul Bentham @ Dec 30th 2009 1:27AM

You are not answering my question at all.

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Diathyky @ Dec 29th 2009 10:35PM

I see that you have at last descended to the strategy of "name calling". The strategy is this: when you do not understand the argument or cannot answer it intelligently then simply call the person making the argument by a derogatory name. It is a common strategy, not logical or legitimate, but common.
It is, no doubt, a more refined species of violence than bashing people in the street, but the principle behind both actions is the same: that "fundamental lack of ordinary humanity" which you mentioned before.

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Jean-Paul Bentham @ Dec 30th 2009 1:25AM

Why are you avoiding my question?

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Diathyky @ Dec 29th 2009 10:25PM

So basically, in a way, you do justify that violence then. Something like: many years of oppression makes it alright. And following this principle it will be alright for others when they are oppressed by homosexuals to respond with a similar violence, because ...well ....its "complicated". This is where this thinking leads to.

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Jean-Paul Bentham @ Dec 30th 2009 1:24AM

Why don't you answer my question?

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the.kitty.channel @ Dec 29th 2009 1:51PM

You two, diathyky and Dr Smyth - really - you are a pair of clowns!

What lost you all credibility was this: "what homosexuals and normal people DESERVE is the torment of the fires of Hell forever. That is what EVERYONE DESERVES. [...] Where did you ever get the idea that people deserve to be happy?"

I can't tell you how ludicrous you've made your so-called "arguments"!

Case closed!

Next!!!!

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