Feb 26 2014: Catholic Agency for Overseas Development Condemns anti-LGBT Law in Uganda

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has condemned a new law approved on Monday in Uganda,  which will allow those convicted of homosexuality to be imprisoned for life.

In a statement today (Feb 26, 14) CAFOD said:

“Every human person has a fundamental dignity, as created by God, and each person is precious in God’s eyes. CAFOD therefore opposes all forms of discrimination, whether based on race, religion, gender or sexuality.

"As was made clear by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in their 1986 letter to Bishops all over the world:

‘It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church's pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.’.”

A spokesperson said parts of Ugandan society was already very hostile to homosexuality and she feared the new law will lead to increased violent attacks on people who are gay, or even suspected of being gay.

Gratuitous attacks on LGBT Ugandans are beginning, already. In a screaming front page headline, with photos alongside, a Ugandan tabloid shouted:

"EXPOSED! Uganda's 200 Top Homos Named"

Can physical attacks be far behind?

Governments and NGO's with ties to Ugandan counterparts and rapport with Ugandan government representatives are urged to tell everyone: the new, inhumane law must be rescinded.

Source:

CAFOD condemns Uganda's anti-homsexuality law - ICN, Feb 26 2014

Ugandan tabloid prints list of 'homosexuals' - CNN Feb 25 14

Newspaper Outs 200 ‘Top’ Gays in Uganda After law enacted outlawing homosexuality | TIME WORLD 2/15/2014

HERESY, SCHISM, PEDOPHILIA, THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN - ALL GRAVE OFFENSES

On July 16, 2010, the Vatican announced new rules directing how dioceses around the world are to respond to priestly sex abuse of children. The statute of limitations of the Catholic Church was extended from 10 to 20 years, from the 18th birthday of the victim. 


Possession of child pornography and the abuse of disabled adults were added to the list of offenses that could get a priest reported to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.


At the same time,  an attempt to ordain a woman to the priesthood was elevated in seriousness to the same category as heresy, schism, pedophilia - a most grave crime.

The new rules do not hold bishops accountable for pedophilia among priests under their charge, nor do the revised rules require reporting of sex abuse accusations to civil authorities. 

Here is a link to the new internal rules:

 http://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_norme_en.html

Here is a link to an organization that tracks sex abuse cases by priests, worldwide.

Bishopaccountability.org 

BishopAccountability.org is not impressed with the revisions in the Church's rules, stating that the rules “amount to administrative tinkering of a secretive internal process.” 


Pope Benedict, the group said, "could direct bishops to report every allegation of child sexual abuse to the police, regardless of whether civil law requires them to do so. He could threaten punishment of any bishop or church official who enables or fails to stop a child-molesting priest.” 


“It’s disturbing that the new rules merely will extend the statutes of limitations rather than eliminate them altogether.” 


(See New York Times, Vatican Sets New Rules on Responding to Sex Abuse by Rachel Donadio, July 15 2010)