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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNigerian Cardinal backs gay oppresion laws
Ok Pope Francis, time to see if your actions match your rhetoric.
Either remove this bigot from office, or be exposed as a fraud. Your choice.
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has commended Nigeria’s Federal Government for its uncompromising stand on the anti-gay law in spite of criticisms from a section of the international community.
Onaiyekan, briefing newsmen on activities to mark his 70th birthday in Abuja on Friday, said Nigeria, being an independent country, should stand firm on its culture, tradition and morals.
“The church accepts people as they are, we condemn homosexuality, Nigeria is an independent country and we do not beg for food.
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2014/01/17/cardinal-onaiyekan-backs-anti-gay-law/
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Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Look at how our government is so obsequious to countries on the Arabian peninsula. That's what oil will do for you -- when it comes to black gold, our government can overlook all manner of outrageous human rights violations. LGBTs are being persecuted, arrested, imprisoned, tortured, even executed in countries around the globe, from Nigeria to Iran to Russia. Only a very few countries even have equal rights for its LGBT citizens and ours is NOT included on that list. Yet even here on DU we have to defend the magnitude of this problem because, as we know, asking for human rights and dignity should garner responses such as, "What do you want? A pony?"
It is no coincidence that where you find institutional homophobia, you will also find misogyny. The battle for gay rights and women's rights is fought on a common front.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)I'm afraid someone will have to explain the rationale behind this. In order to protest the persecution of LGBTs in Nigeria, our government is threatening to withhold monies for anti-malarial and AIDS/HIV programs? What the hell???
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/america-threatens-nigeria-sanctions-over-anti-gay-laws
America threatens Nigeria sanctions over anti-gay laws
US foreign policy strategists consider action options against West African state's clampdown on gay relationships
Written by Juliana Lucas
21/01/2014 01:04 PM
(excerpt)
The bill (the Same Sex Prohibition Act) has gained the support of leading religious officials such as Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, but has received widespread criticism from leaders in the western world.
In a speech given yesterday (Jan 20) to reporters in Abuja, Entwistle suggested that the American government might look into scaling down the support it gives to Nigeria in fighting against HIV/AIDS and anti-malaria.
"As you know, we put millions of dollars in the fight against HIV/AID,” the US envoy reportedly said.
"And again, I am not a lawyer; I read the law and it seems to me that it may put some restrictions on what we can do to help fight HIV/AIDS in this country. These are the issues we are looking at as we look at the law."
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)streaming from the Church of Francis Superstar.
Francis calls this bigoted hate monger a 'Prince of the Church' and others are told to call him 'His Eminence'. Pardon me while I puke violently.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Plenty of folks here (including me) who are outraged at the slaughter of whales and dolphins in Japan. As for the arrest, imprisonment, torture and genocide being committed against gay people... eh, not so much. Threads such as this barely get a rec. A handful of us will barely be able to keep this thread afloat.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)get the Cardinal Law retirement plan. And if he retires, some will try to claim Francis is 'tolerant.'
He was named for Francis Xavier, Not Francis of Asissi.
warrant46
(2,205 posts)The latest Front Man for this Misogynistic Cabal of Pedophile Criminals.
Just a velvet glove hiding an Iron Fist
MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)vs. Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry.
A force for good, indeed!!! 
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)I posted links to these two articles yesterday in response to a DUer who had the unmitigated gall to tell us that the RCC considers being gay to be a sin just like it's a sin to "eat too much".
http://allafrica.com/stories/201401200239.html
Nigeria: Catholic Church Condemns Gay Marriage
By Levinus Nwabughiogu, 17 January 2014
In what appears like some support to the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill passed and singed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on January 7, 2014, the Catholic Church in Nigeria on Friday totally condemned the Gay practice, saying it defiled every moral and Biblical principle...
...The position of the church was copiously advanced by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria's Cardinal John Olurenfemi Onaiyekan who addressed the press on sundry issues as part of the activities marking his 70th Birthday in Abuja...
...He said: "The position of the Catholic Church has always been clear that the designs of God are very clear to us. God created man; male and female He created them and told them to go and multiply and the church has stood by that natural plan of God.
"As a catholic, obviously I am against homosexuality therefore against same-sex marriage. My position all along has been that strictly speaking there is no such thing as same-sex marriage because marriage by definition is between a man and a woman. Anything else, you can call it whatever you like. Don't call it marriage because marriage is between a husband and a wife... MORE
http://allafrica.com/stories/201401150307.html?aa_source=useful-column
Nigeria: Anti-Gay Law Could Endanger HIV-Aids Programme, Warns Counselor
By Nduka Nwosu,Zachaeus Somorin and Paul Obi with Agency Report, 15 January 2014
Following the signing into law the Bill Prohibiting Same-sex Marriage and Gay Practices, the police are said to be working on a list of 168 suspects purportedly obtained through torture, after arresting dozens of gay men in Bauchi State, human rights activists alleged Tuesday.
However, the new law has received the firm backing of the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Ndi-Igbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN), as well as elder statesman and veteran politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, who have commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the nation's lawmakers for resisting the pressure to kill the bill.
But the Executive Director of Nigeria's International Center for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights, Dorothy Aken'Ova, feared that the wave of arrests could endanger programmes meant to combat HIV-AIDS in the gay community, reported the Associated Press (AP) Tuesday...
...It said Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic globally with an estimated 3.4 million people living with HIV. The disease affects many more gay men than heterosexuals, with 2010 statistics estimating national HIV prevalence at 4 per cent compared to 17 per cent among gay men, according to UNAIDS...
...One of such Nigerians pleased with the new anti-gay law is Cardinal Onaiyekan, who yesterday in Abuja, commended Jonathan and members of the National Assembly for putting a stop to what he termed the West's attempt to erode the moral fabric of the Nigerian society..... MORE
Hey, Cardinal... this is called GENOCIDE. I expect Francis will be calling you any moment now to tell you that you're not fit to serve the church. Yep.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Nigeria gay arrests: Dozens arrested, and 'we are on the hunt for others'
Nigeria gay arrests: Nigerian officials say they have arrested 11 gay men, but human rights activists say at least 38 have already been arrested and the government is hunting down 168 others.
By Michelle Faul, Associated Press / January 14, 2014
First the police targeted the gay men, then they tortured them into naming dozens of others who now are being hunted down, human rights activists said Tuesday, warning that such persecution will rise under a new Nigerian law.
The men's alleged crime? Belonging to a gay organization. The punishment? Up to 10 years in jail under the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which has elicited international condemnation for criminalizing gay marriage, gay organizations and anyone working with or promoting them...
...Aken'Ova said police detained four gay men over the Christmas holidays and tortured them until they named others allegedly belonging to a gay organization. She gave no details of what she called torture, but the AIDS counselor said the four men were brutally beaten until they gave up names.
The police have now arrested 38 men and are looking for 168 others, according to Aken'Ova, whose organization is helping provide legal services to the men. The AIDS counselor said he has helped secure bail for some of the 38 detainees. They both said dozens of homosexuals have fled Bauchi in recent days....
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Which is the goal, right?
Hitler would be proud
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Because clapping your hands over your eyes and ears won't make this go away.
Behind the Aegis
(53,956 posts)The true nature of this needs to be seen by all. Some want to ignore it, others want to tell us how we should and shouldn't confront this type of homophobia....well, only when it is some Western country, say Russia.
FreeState
(10,572 posts)theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)The lack of concern and/or interest is not just about the arrest/torture of gays in countries like Nigeria, Uganda and Cameroon, and what's going on with the respect to that horror. There's very little discussion about African news, period. I usually visit the BBC site because they provide regular news pertinent to Africa.
Behind the Aegis
(53,956 posts)Stewart does a great job mocking the countries mentioned (as well as the US) in what he calls the "Homophobe Olympics." It is alarming to me that some countries (like India and Russia) are regressing which why they tend to get more attention than other places. Also, like you said, Africa isn't much discussed here unless there is a war or some alleged US-born conspiracy afoot.
MineralMan
(146,307 posts)remove this Archbishop? Yesterday would be good.
Kicking and reccing this thread, because people need to know the truth about the RCC's positions. They are not good ones.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)But aggressively pushing those beliefs by political lobbying around the globe. LGBTs and women are suffering, being persecuted and dying for it. This must stop!!!
MineralMan
(146,307 posts)millions in an attempt to pass an amendment blocking marriage equality. When that failed, and the state legislature was working on a marriage equality law, which passed and was signed by our Governor, the Archdiocese continued to work against marriage equality.
The Roman Catholic Church consistently fights against LGBT rights, against equality for women in its own organization, and against reproductive choice. And they do this not just for members of their church but attempt to control the lives of everyone through laws. This continuing behavior, along with the consistent and persistent covering up of sexual abuse of children, is vile and should not be allowed to continue.
Until Pope Francis calls for an end to all of these vile activities, his window-dressing of supporting economic issues is hollow and vain. The Roman Catholic Church, overall, is an organization of repression, not equality, and I reject their attempts to influence our laws.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)I think this would be an eye-opener for many folks, if they will take a few moments to read it.
MineralMan
(146,307 posts)and agree that people should know how the RCC interacts with the UN with regard to a wide range of equality issues. The record is dismal and their insistence on forcing people to accept their religious doctrine is alarming.
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)
sibelian
(7,804 posts)...:-/
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)But not unexpected.
Laughing Mirror
(4,185 posts)Is surely a benevolent papal action matching papal rhetoric, isn't it?
Sure it is.
He and Obama will have a lot to talk about when they meet in March to talk about equality. He can tell Obama about how he's already donated the proceeds of the sale of his Harley to his favorite charity. Wonder which one it is.I doubt if it is one helping gays being persecuted so brutally in Nigeria.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)none of them commented at all. They don't seem bothered at all.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)ex-communicated.
But, speaking out in favor of killing/imprisoning GLBT people for being who they were born as isn't a problem as far as the Vatican is concerned.
Laughing Mirror
(4,185 posts)BAUCHI, Nigeria (AP) — Thousands of protesters threw stones into the Shariah court in a north Nigerian city Wednesday, urging the speedy convictions and executions of 11 men arrested for belonging to gay organizations.
Security officials fired into the air to disperse protesters in Bauchi city so the accused men could be safely returned to the prison. Judge El-Yakubu Aliyu closed the court abruptly.
"No one can be sentenced to death until confirmed without a reasonable doubt," Aliyu said in response to calls for the men's execution.
...
Bauchi state has both a Western-style penal code and Shariah, or Islamic law, in which sodomy can carry the death sentence with a judge deciding whether it should be done by a public stoning or by lethal injection. Shariah law is implemented to different degrees in nine of Nigeria's 36 states. About half of the country's more than 160 million people are Muslims, the other half Christians.
http://news.yahoo.com/protesters-throw-stones-disrupt-nigeria-gay-trial-160617779.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Does the Cardinal back the consequences of those laws too?
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Privately, he wants to throw stones
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)And yet today Francis said nothing about this, while he did 'Tweet' his warm support to those marching in DC against a woman's right to reproductive choice.
"Despite the labels of “progressive” and “liberal” the pope have been given by some, his tweet reflects his past position on abortion, and is in line with the teachings of the Catholic church. Last year, the pope criticized those who saw abortion as “progressive” and, earlier this month, Francis compared abortion to the discarding of “dispensible objects.”
http://www.msnbc.com/hardball/pope-tweets-march-life-support
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Bishop: Lawmakers 'morally complicit' in sins of same-sex couples
Clout Street
7:01 a.m. CST, November 21, 2013
A Catholic bishop offered prayers of exorcism Wednesday in response to Gov. Pat Quinn's approval of an Illinois gay marriage law, and he suggested politicians are "morally complicit" in assisting the sins of same-sex couples.
Bishop Thomas Paprocki spoke Latin to send the message, "Be gone, Satan, father of lies, enemy of human salvation. Give way to Christ."
The head of the Springfield Diocese delivered his remarks to a large crowd of worshippers in the cavernous Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception only blocks from the Capitol, where lawmakers approved the same-sex marriage legislation two weeks ago.
"I exorcise you, every unclean sprit, every power of darkness, every incursion of the infernal enemy, every diabolical legion, cohort and faction, in the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ," Paprocki said during the hourlong ceremony 200 miles from the bill-signing celebration in Chicago....
William769
(55,147 posts)
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)If Francis had the inclination and time to send well wishes to anti-choice demonstrators on the anniversary of Roe V. Wade, he might have a public word for Bishops who are complicit in genocide.
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)It seems these two things are not at all related.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)That the government is saying they do not need aid from the U.S. (or the West) so they cannot be swayed by sanctions or the withholding of said aid. Conversely, Nigeria has oil, so the government probably knows any threats of sanctioning are hollow, anyway.
What I don't understand is how threatening to withhold support for programs that combat HIV/AIDS and malaria is in ANY way a rational response to the persecution of LGBTs.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)right wing marchers in DC protesting Roe v Wade but maybe today he'll find time between his support of the Republican Platform to Tweet his dismissal of this monster Francis calls 'A Prince of the Church'.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)'scale down' funding for that government, it should be stopped right now. Also those Christian Fundies who are behind the pushing of that law should have their Tax Free status REMOVED.
It is shameful that those who started this are still operating in this country as non profits. The US has had years to put an end to this, or at least not to be complicit by funding these bigots.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Church. Francis has not said a word about any of these hate laws in any of these countries. Yesterday he did Tweet his support to the anti choice rally in DC. But not a word against this, his very own Cardinal. This man speaks with the authority given him by the Vatican, endorsed by Francis.
The religious right is to blame, that includes the RCC, it does not exclude the others, it includes them all. You can not see the wrong here and claim it does not belong to this Cardinal. The words are his.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)What we CAN do in this country is charge these charlatans with crimes against humanity. Drag every stinking one of them to court.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/01/no_trial_date_set_in_scott_liv.html
Lawsuit against Scott Lively, Springfield evangelist and gubernatorial candidate, claiming crimes against humanity, has no trial date yet
SPRINGFIELD - A federal judge set deadlines in the crimes against humanity lawsuit filed by a human rights group against local evangelist Scott Lively, however no trial date has been set and the next pretrial conference is not scheduled until 2015.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael A. Ponsor set a deadline late last year for lawyers to exchange discovery but put off deadlines to file final motions and disclose information about witnesses until next year. The next pretrial hearing is set for May 6, 2015.
Lively was in 2012 sued by Sexual Minorities Uganda. He is accused of fanning anti-gay flames in the East African country during an address to parliament members in 2009. The complaint alleges Lively encouraged government-backed acts of violence against gays as a result of his rhetoric.
Lively has denied this, and has contended chiefly that his First Amendment rights protect free speech. The founder of "Abiding Truth Ministries," Lively is a Springfield resident, lawyer and author who late last year announced a run for governor.... MORE
With regard to those religious leaders outside the legal reach of our country, such as the Bishop, the UN should haul them to the Hague. The alternative is that Francis could sack them now.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)They inciting murder and doing it in another country. Perhaps it's time for outsiders to intervent, the Court of Human Rights eg since our government seems immune to pleas to stop supporting Dictators.
I hope Catholics will urge the Pope to recall that Bishop. He has begun the process of recalling some Bishops so hopefully this one will be at the top of his list.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Our government turns a deaf ear. Pat Robertson and Charles Taylor come to mind when it comes to homegrown hatemongers in league with African dictatorships. Robertson is another who belongs in jail. There are plenty of clergy of all stripes who have descended upon many African nations like a flock of vile buzzards. It's a twisted type of colonial racism at its very worst. it's time for the UN to step forward.
Lay Catholics can help by urging the Pope and the American Council of Catholic Bishops to STOP with the condemnation of LGBTs and Francis MUST make it clear that any Bishop in collusion with the genocide, torture and imprisonment of GLBTs will be defrocked.
