Christ First Forum

Joyce Meyer Joins Critics of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill
By Eric Young|Christian Post Reporter

Charismatic preacher Joyce Meyer has added herself to the list of prominent U.S. ministry leaders who have spoken out against Uganda’s highly contentious Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

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In a statement released Monday, Meyer said it is “increasingly evident” that the bill introduced in the Ugandan parliament is a “profoundly offensive, dangerous and disturbing attack on the very foundation of individual liberties and human rights afforded not only to the good citizens of Uganda, but on the at-large global community.”

“If enacted, this hostile legislation will also further, and adversely, serve as a major setback in the global health efforts to combat Uganda's AIDS epidemic and reduce the record-high infection rates among the country's HIV population, an already at-risk community that could be further ostracized, threatened, and targeted as potential criminals,” she added, echoing comments from groups such as World Vision.

Proposed last October, Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill seeks to strengthen the criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda by introducing the death penalty for people who are considered serial offenders, are suspected of "aggravated homosexuality" and are HIV-positive, or who engage in sexual acts with those under 18 years of age.

Though Member of Parliament David Bahati, who proposed the bill, said the legislation is necessary to protect Uganda’s children from being “recruited” into homosexuality, the bill has provoked criticism and protests internationally, including in the United States, where both liberal and conservative church leaders have expressed their opposition.

Among those who have spoken out against the legislation are Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson, popular megachurch pastor Rick Warren, and leaders of Exodus International – which claims to be the world's largest Christian referral and information network dealing with homosexual issues.

In her statement Monday, Meyer stressed that her motivation and intent is not to interfere with Uganda's political agenda or internal affairs but that, as a believer, she has a moral and ethical duty that compels her to speak out against injustice wherever it may be in the world.

“As a global society, we do not have to agree, endorse or condone the lifestyle choices of others. However, history has taught us that we equally cannot and should not excuse those who would hide behind religion or misuse God's word to justify bigotry and persecution,” she insisted.

Despite criticisms, bill sponsor Bahati and those supporting the legislation insist that it is based on the foundations of "strengthening the nation’s capacity to deal with emerging internal and external threats to the traditional heterosexual family" and "protect[ing] the cherished culture of the people of Uganda, legal, religious, and traditional family values of the people of Uganda against the attempts of sexual rights activists seeking to impose their values of sexual promiscuity on the people of Uganda."

Notably, however, some supporters – including Uganda's Catholic leadership – say they do not back the death penalty provision and instead recommend that the death penalty sentence be replaced with 20 years imprisonment.

Some, including the Anglican Church of Uganda, have also expressed support for amendments to the legislation that call for exemption from punishment for health care professionals, pastors and counselors who may minister to homosexuals or care for HIV patients.

On Friday, a Ugandan parliamentary panel reported that a timetable has not yet been set for debate on the bill.

Furthermore, Stephen Tashyoba, chairman of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee tasked with reviewing the bill before it can be presented to the House, said the legislation is not a priority.

"As far as I am concerned, we really have more urgent matters to discuss like electoral reforms, which are already behind schedule," he told Agence France-Presse.

Presently, homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda - as it is in many sub-Saharan African countries - punishable by incarceration in prison for up to 14 years.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the government of South Africa is the only official entity to acknowledge gay rights.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20 ... index.html

What are your thoughts on this Frank? I might protest Uganda's "punishment" of homosexuals but I certainly wouldn't protest their right to make their own laws.

Joyce Meyer said,

“As a global society, we do not have to agree, endorse or condone the lifestyle choices of others. However, history has taught us that we equally cannot and should not excuse those who would hide behind religion or misuse God's word to justify bigotry and persecution,”

What she says sounds right, on the surface, but if there are laws against homosexual behavior, isn't the result always going to bring about "bigotry" and "persecution" by those who agree with the law (or any other law that is broken)? Does this mean there should be no "law" against homosexual behavior? Is that what Joyce Meyer, and others, are saying?

Should there be laws against homosexual behavior? Would that be like having laws against gluttony, greed, covetousness, etc? What do you think?

Carmela wrote:.. you cannot accept homosexual behavior as a normal lifestyle but you cannot be executing them either.

Very true, so what should the "middle ground" be?

Just curious what you think because I don't have an answer.

Thanks for your replies Frank and Carmela.

Another point I take issue with is "gay rights".

In sub-Saharan Africa, the government of South Africa is the only official entity to acknowledge gay rights.

There should only be "human rights", if there be any rights at all, which is a whole 'nother subject.

The 'middle ground' is what the Bible says...

If you want the answer, what does the Bible say about the lifestyle of homosexuality...

What was the consequences of homosexuality...

I don't mean to upset anyone,but Joyce Meyer, to me, is a Charismatic preacher.

What does the Bible say about 'Charismatic preachers?'

Human Rights don't seem to protect the innocent ones who come down with AIDS.... such as the children..... Actually, a bold move on Uganda's part to educate those who insist on infecting their society with more and more statistics. I don't see anything wrong with a punnishment aimed at people who practice homosexuality since all of Africa's population is on the rush to become extinct if simple education won't change the downward spiral. Since it has been recently proven that there is no "gay gene", it's about time that severe measures are taken to give the perpetrators a "way of escaping" the temptations. Suppose my Country was infested with a terminal Malaria, and all standing water was outlawed, and anyone found responsible of having stagnant water on their property, and refusing to correct it, would be fined, or imprisoned... Human rights for the ones who wish to survive from extinction.
I say that punnishment by death is too severe... hard labor in a prison for a few years with education would most likely re-arrange the brain cells.

Carmela wrote:

hard labor in a prison for a few years with education would most likely re-arrange the brain cells.

Only Jesus can heal the brain trauma of a homosexual.

I agree! It is a proven fact that pedophilia and sexual deviants and child molesters and rapist are hardly ever rehabilitated in prison. The only way is through a changed heart and a changed mind that comes when one is born again.

We know that Jesus is the answer, but we also know that murders, rapist, prostitudes etc. still have to be kept in check and the only way sometimes to do that is through the judiscial and penal system.

You might like to check out what Joyce Meyers believes in:

Jesus Was Tormented and Paid the Price For Our Sins In Hell and Was Born-Again

You Cannot Go to Heaven Unless You Believe Jesus Went to Hell.

Generational Spirits

Angels Tell Joyce What to Say

Holy Laughter

http://web.archive.org/web/200409180406 ... meyer.html

Plus she's a 'woman preacher'??????