Clergy and Civil Partnership Registration

As the General Synod of the Church of England Church (meeting in York this week) answers questions on how it might react to its clergy who will enter Civil Partnerships [1] , the Ugandan Parliament has voted to criminalise those who contract same sex marriages [2] .

Civil Partnerships will begin on the 21 of December 2005 in the United Kingdom and LGCM has said it expects some 1500 clergy and partners will formalise their unions in the UK soon after.

The dispute over homosexual clergy has seen the Anglican Communion begin the process of expelling its American and Canadian members. However the leading bishops of the 38 Provinces of the Anglican Communion (including Uganda) recently declared that homophobia was “anathema” to them [3]. Paragraph 6 of the Dromantine Communiqué says: “The victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to us. We assure homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by him, and deserving of the best we can give of pastoral care and friendship “

Speaking in London today LGCM’s General Secretary the Revd Richard Kirker said: “There are strident voices in the UK who would wish to see Anglican clergy punished for entering Civil Partnerships [4] just as gay and lesbian people will now be imprisoned in Uganda.

”We consistently argue that the actions of the Church of England gives succour to those who murder imprison and torture homosexual people [5] . The sweet words of the Anglican Communion become meaningless. Anglican Primates from many countries put their names to joint statements then return home to gleefully encourage ever more homophobic legislation in the name of their God and Church while others just ignore it happening.”

“In the pursuit of a false unity the Church of England leadership finds itself bound up to evil forces determined to increase our persecution. They are playing a very dangerous game with our lives.”

Mr Kirker said he will also be calling on the government to review their policy on lesbian and gay asylum seekers from Uganda in the light of the new legislation. “Ugandans who contract Civil Partnerships here in the UK will face imprisonment if they are forced to return.” He said.

Supplement to Press Release from Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement issued 7th July 2005

Uganda Criminalises Same Sex Unions

International lawyers advising LGCM have been instructed to establish how the new legislation will affect foreign nationals living and visiting Uganda.

A preliminary report received at 11:45am today (9 July 2005) suggests there could be serious consequences to the liberty of European Union and other foreign nationals in Uganda if they have formalised a same sex union elsewhere.

“We are very concerned at this new development,” said Mr Kirker, “it may prove that lesbian and gay people in unions are effectively banned from entering Uganda and those there are in peril.”

“If other countries adopt this position we may find ourselves excluded as individuals and couples from travelling to many places in the world. If preliminary reports prove correct we will be working with our partner organisations, in the EU an beyond, to protect our freedoms.

“Perhaps now the Church will see how its policies are having very harmful international repercussion on human freedoms”, he said.

ENDS

[1] http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/001244.html
[2] http://www.gaycom/news/article.html?2005/07/07/2
[3] http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/39/00/acns3948.cfm
[4] http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/news05061301.asp
[5] http://www.lgcm.org.uk/html/OpenLetter.html

For more information please contact: Press Officer Martin Reynolds 01633 215841 07795 162781 martin.reynolds1@virgin.net