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Malawi Church Leaders Discuss Gay Rights


Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza X390 (SOUTHER4LIFE.BLOGSPOT.COM) | ADVOCATE.COM

Church leaders in Malawi met Wednesday to discuss the taboo subject of homosexuality in advance of a court ruling in the case of two men arrested for holding a public engagement ceremony in December. A verdict will be delivered for Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga (pictured) on Monday.

According to the Associated Press, church leaders in the conservative African nation met in an attempt to “understand the phenomenon” of homosexuality.

“Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe, head of the Malawi Council of Churches, says the leaders gathered Wednesday in the southern town of Mangochi to discuss homosexuality as an issue ‘most Malawians do not understand.’”

Homosexual acts are illegal in Malawi and most sub-Saharan African countries.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Andrew
    Date posted: 3/18/2010 6:02:02 AM
    Hometown: Sacramento, CA

    Comment:

    Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the highly (IM)moral Catholic Church has 2 NEW sex scandals erupting in Ireland & Germany. SHOCKER, RIGHT? And the German one may involve the Pope. I'm not Catholic, but I wonder how the Vatican can dictate to ALL its diocese and churches, because the Vatican is in charge, BUT then avoid responsibility when it comes time to pay the victims of the child abuse THEY allowed? AND how can this church avoid paying taxes while taking government money (to run social programs), BUT feel they have the right to tell the government what to do? AND how can they ignore anti-discrimnination laws because they're "not a business," BUT then use bankruptcy laws to avoid paying the children they victimized? Were these bankruptcy laws even written to protect churches or just businesses? Just wondering.

  • Name: Raphael
    Date posted: 3/17/2010 10:02:38 PM
    Hometown: World

    Comment:

    Prior to their religion being forced on them, homosexuality was not taboo to the African tribes. These priests who are hypocrits, drive German made cars and live in large houses and never go without a meal while the rest of their country is either starving or dying from AIDS because these supposed Christians don't think they should be treated for because it is supposed to be a "gay" disease. They claim that homosexuality is wrong but as a Christian I think that when you eat your dinner that costs the same as the average person makes in a month, and you do it every night, then you are what is wrong in your country. These supposed religous leaders are destroying a continent with their messages of hate and are preaching the message of hate mongers here in North America as if it was gospel. The continent was raped of its resources by theft and now genocide is being committed in the name of the Lord by the same opressors pretending to be friends.

  • Name: melvin
    Date posted: 3/17/2010 8:15:16 PM
    Hometown: South Dakota

    Comment:

    Africa seems to be where England was during the time of Henry VIII and Thomas Moore. Moore would burn folks at the stake to purify their souls for heaven. He would stand there torturing these poor people believing he was saving them. Africa would do the same and feel righteous about it.

  • Name: Nina
    Date posted: 3/17/2010 1:28:24 PM
    Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN

    Comment:

    This is all the more reason to send up a red flag when it comes to religion of any form. Does the church advocate love and peace or not? These 2 men want to express themselves peacefully and in a loving manner yet the church has a problem with it? Would the church rather these men beat each other to a deadly pulp? My prerogative is that had these 2 men killed each other they would have much less to say, let alone a "discussion" amongst church elders. What hypocrites! Gandhi's old saying rings true: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." The religious freaks have taken things to a new level of hatred.

  • Name: Darren
    Date posted: 3/17/2010 1:08:16 PM
    Hometown: Minneapolis

    Comment:

    Depending on what the spiritual leaders "discuss" as far as homosexuality is concerned, I suppose this is a step in the right direction. It is difficult to reconcile being Gay with being Christian, especially in places where Gay people are harshly persecuted. I never understood why so many religious institutions make such broad distinctions in what sin is better or worse than any other. When these spiritual leaders discuss homosexuality, I hope they also discuss some of the fundamental elements of Christianity - like compassion, forgiveness, and charity.



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