29th November 2023 7:38:15 AM
2 mins readThe Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has issued a clarification regarding its stance on Ghana's proposed anti-gay legislation, which aims to criminalize and impose severe penalties on the practice and promotion of homosexuality.In a letter addressed to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs of Parliament, Most Rev.
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Philip Naameh, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale and President of the Conference, conveyed the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference's support for the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill in principle.Portions of the letter said, "We, the Catholic Bishops of Ghana, write in support of the draft Bill presented to Parliament to make homosexual practices illegal in Ghana.
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Our voice needs to be heard on this matter not only because, in our view, it is morally unacceptable but also because according to the 2010 population census, the Catholic Church in Ghana constitutes a sizable percentage of the population, i.e., about 13.1 percent of the population of Ghana.
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"The Bishops substantiated their position by referencing the teachings of the Bible regarding homosexuality and emphasizing the perspective on the act as perceived by God."The Bible, which is foundational to Christian beliefs and practices, condemns the practice," the letter noted.
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Despite supporting the passage of the anti-gay bill, the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference acknowledged concerns about the potential physical harm that homosexual individuals might face if the legislation is enacted. The bishops, aligning with others who have spoken out against the bill, expressed apprehension about the risk of harassment and harm to individuals based on their sexual orientation.
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The Church emphasized that it is not condoning any form of mistreatment or harassment directed at homosexuals."The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law. Homosexuals must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity.
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According to Pope Francis, the homosexual person needs to be “respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, and ‘every sign of unjust discrimination’ is to be carefully avoided, particularly any form of aggression or violence” (Amoris Laetitia 250).
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Families with LGBT members need “respectful pastoral guidance” from the church and its pastors so that gays and lesbians can fully carry out God’s will in their lives (Amoris Laetitia 250)" the letter concluded.
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The controversial bill came under renewed scrutiny following a warning from the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, who cautioned that the country might face significant economic challenges if the legislation, aimed at banning LGBTQ+ activities, is enacted.A recent survey conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) indicates that a majority of Ghanaians support the bill.
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