Archbishop Williams Slammed by Gay Activist Tatchell at Christian Gathering
CHELTENHAM, August 30, 2010 – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, was putting the unity of the world-wide Anglican Church before gay and lesbian human rights, Peter Tatchell told an enthusiastic audience at the annual Greenbelt Festival in Cheltenham at the weekend.
“Archbishop Rowan Williams and the Anglican Church have a lot to answer for, because they have put church unity before human rights,” he said.
And he urged the audience for his hour-long talk on the plight of gay men and women in Africa to write to the Archbishop and tell him that human rights are more important than unity.
Mr. Tatchell also attacked other religious leaders who were effectively condoning homophobia by being silent on the African issue.
But he praised two senior African clerics for their supportive and outspoken stand – former Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and retired Ugandan Bishop Christoper Senjyonjo.
Mr. Tatchell told a shocked audience of 550 that as a result of his support for LGBT rights in Uganda, Bishop Senjyonjo has been stripped of his retirement pension by the Church of Uganda.
“He is now living in poverty,” Mr. Tatchell pointed out.
His talk started with laughter. He thanked Anglican Mainstream for their publicity when they called for a boycott. “Their attacks on me and on Greenbelt have boosted ticket sales and ensured a successful Greenbelt,” he said.
But it was then down to the serious issues.
“No human rights convention anywhere in the world includes sexuality,” he said, adding that in recent years interpretation by the European Court of Human Rights has included sexuality.
Then, turning to Africa, he pointed out that the constitution of South Africa included outlawing discrimination based on sexuality. “South Africa is a beacon to the world,” he said.
Mr. Tatchell pointed out that 46 of the 54 countries that made up the Commonwealth had laws criminalising homosexuality.
So far, the Commonwealth Secretary-General has refused to meet LGBT rights groups – and has been silent on the proposed ‘Anti Homosexuality Bill now going through the Ugandan Parliament.
“We might as well tear-up the Commonwealth constitution,” he suggested.
“Christian groups in Uganda, including the Anglican Church, have openly supported the Homosexuality Bill. And there is considerable influence from Christian evangelical groups in the United States.
“Some had even travelled to Uganda to preach that homosexuality was the country’s biggest problem – not hunger, not poverty, not health, not corruption, nor rigged elections.”
Mr. Tatchell admitted that persecution of gay men and women had got worse in the past few years, greatly encouraged by religious leaders.
And answering the rallying cries from many throughout the continent that homosexuality was un-Africa, Mr. Tatchell pointed out that “the laws brought-in by British colonialism in the 19the century are not African laws”.
“Homophobia was primarily imposed by colonialism,” he insisted.
But there is hope, he suggested.
“There are open and underground LGBT groups in Africa, often operating at great risks. Also, there are a small number of Christians who are supporting these groups,, again at great person risk.”
Mr. Tatchell concluded: “For all of those, gay and straight, who do take a stand, I salute you, I thank you.”
In a ‘questions and answer’ session following his address, Mr. Tatchell was asked about the possibility of legal action against Anglican Mainstream and Dr. Lisa Nolland, the Oxfordshire-based group’s Website consultant. In calling for a boycott of Greenbelt, she had suggested that children would be put at risk by including Mr. Tatchell in its programme.
“I am a great believer in free speech; that includes people criticising me,” he replied, adding that he had been quoted “selectively – and out of context”. He accused Anglican Mainstream of “bearing false witness” and urged them to “re-read their Ten Commandments”.
SEE ALSOTatchell Given Standing Ovation at Christian Festival. The gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has received a standing ovation at the Greenbelt Christian festival. (Ekklesia, August 30, 2010)