Wabukala differs with Church of England on gays

By ABIGAEL SUM

Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala has criticised last week’s statement by the archbishops of Canterbury and York calling  for pastoral care and friendship to all, regardless of sexual orientation.

Wabukala said the archbishops’ intervention had served to encourage those who want to normalise homosexual lifestyles in Africa and fuelled prejudice against African Anglicans. 

“Christians should always show particular care for those who are vulnerable, but this cannot be separated from the whole fabric of biblical moral teaching in which the nature of marriage and family occupy a central place,” he said.

He added: “The good advice of the archbishops of Canterbury and York would carry much more weight if they were able to affirm that they hold, personally, as well as in virtue of their office, to the collegial mind of the Anglican Communion. At the moment I fear that we cannot be sure.”

Nigeria enacted a law outlawing homosexuality this month, while Uganda’s parliament passed an anti-homosexuality Bill that still awaits endorsement by the President.

The letter the Archbishops sent last week to Primates in the Anglican Communion as well as the Presidents of Nigeria and Uganda quoted the Dromantine Communiqué of 2005 ruling out any victimisation or diminishment of people on the grounds of their sexual orientation.

“We assure homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by Him and deserving the best we can give – pastoral care and friendship,” the letter said.

Last week, Church of England bishops agreed to hold mediated dialogue to reflect on biblical passages on gays in a way that could make Anglican churches more welcoming to them.

Wabukala, however, said debating that which God has already revealed in Scripture would be a waste of time, adding that such dialogue only spreads confusion and opens the door to a false gospel.