Discrimination

E. Specific Issues - Homosexuality

Introduction
Some preliminary facts
The weight of Christian opposition to homosexuality
Some quotations which illustrate the range of Christian views of homosexuality

E2 a) Introduction

It is clear that many homosexuals, male or female, are on the receiving end of weighty social disapproval, which sometimes even takes a violent form. It is no less evident that the ambivalent attitudes towards homosexuality from within the Christian Churches may on occasion look very much like negative discrimination, warranting the use of the term 'homophobia'.

E2 b) Some preliminary facts

the prefix 'homo' contrasts with 'hetero' to mean like/same rather than different/other. This reflects an etymological derivation from Greek, rather than Latin where 'homo' means man
homosexuality is an attraction for members of the same sex, and the most common word for males is 'gays' and for females 'lesbians'
biologically all human beings possess both male and female genes, and for most there is a clear predisposition to be attracted to the opposite sex; for some however, this is not the case; there is evidence that the bias is set well before teenage years
a small minority of doctors regard homosexuality as a treatable condition, a psychological illness induced, for instance, by imbalanced parenting; generally, however, medical opinion takes the view that no illness is involved
appeals to nature to support the judgement that such sexual affection and related activity is 'unnatural' cannot be sustained, since there are multiple examples of all manner of sexual variability amongst animalkind
irrespective of biological predisposition men and women, who may be predominantly either heterosexual or homosexual, may still resolve to engage in sexual activity 'bisexually'
the laws in the UK and much of continental Europe have been changed in the course of the last fifty years so that homosexual practice in private between consenting adults is not judged as criminal behaviour
judgements as to what is right or wrong, sinful or wholesome in this, as in any other sexual sphere, depend on moral and religious perspectives and arguments.

E2 c) The weight of Christian opposition to homosexuality

Opposition from Christians towards homosexuality can be highly vituperative or deeply sad. In either respect its strength of feeling may be thought of as deriving from Biblical teaching. On every specific reference, however, scholarly comment warns against too simplistic an extrapolation to today. Thus:

the terms 'sod' and 'sodomy' used of male homosexuality derive from the Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19)
the condemnation in the Law of Holiness could not be more explicit (Leviticus 20:13 "If a man has intercourse with a man as with a woman, they both commit an abomination. They shall be put to death.")
Paul in his letters expresses a similar judgement against sexual perversion (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Romans 1:26-7).

But

the actual failing of Sodom as recorded in Genesis is that of inhospitality; to strangers (so Ezekiel 16:49-50). Less frequently quoted from the same story is the offer of daughters as sexual partners for what some would construe as a 'gang bang'
threats to cultic purity and successful procreation are major preoccupations of these Levitical warnings
wild promiscuity on the one hand and dehumanising lust on the other are at least as much the targets at which Paul is hitting.

These qualifications in no way reveal a positive Biblical stance towards homosexuality. Neither does the reportedly close friendship between David and Jonathan ("Saul…saw that Jonathan had given his heart to David and had grown to love him as himself. So Jonathan and David made a solemn compact because each loved the other as dearly as himself." I Samuel 18:1-2. Nor does the reference to Jesus and the 'beloved disciple' (John 19:26).

What is very clear is the Biblical warning against self-righteousness: 'judge not that you be not judged'. Accordingly, some Christians condemn homosexual activity, whilst having regard for the persons involved, who are seen as sinners like all the rest of human beings. Other Christians say that there should be acknowledgement that knowledge of God and scientific understanding of human behaviour is in process of continual development. The biological givenness of homosexual inclinations is now understood as never before. Similarly, the notion of lifelong partnerships between members of the same sex is very different from sexual perversion.

Accordingly, there is no place in the Christian gospel for prejudice against homosexuals or 'homophobia'. However, some Christians will still judge sexual expression and activity between members of the same sex as sinful, whilst others will come to a more accepting, even celebratory conclusion. Divisions amongst Christians over this issue were made painfully clear at the time of the 1998 Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops.

Reactions from an accompanying prayer group to Lambeth Conference final debate and voting on homosexuality:
http://www.btinternet.com/~crosswinds/6th.htm
http://www.btinternet.com/~crosswinds/7th.htm

Distressed reactions to 1998 Lambeth Conference from a subsequent gathering of Gay and Lesbian Christians
http://www.changingattitude.org/lambeth_conf_derby_conf4.html

That the strength of feeling on the issue within the Anglican Church is not diminishing is evident from two events in 2003. Firstly, there were explosive reactions to the proposal to institute Canon Jeffrey John (much revered as a priest and pastor, but identified as living in a celibate partnership with another man) as Bishop of Reading. Secondly, the American Episcopal Church gave approval to the election of Canon Gene Robinson as Bishop (he also is widely revered by many within the church, irrespective of his living in sexually active partnership with another man). Opposition comes principally from individuals and groups who see this as a threat to fundamental Bible and Church teaching. This direct opposition is from a minority in the Anglican churches of the UK and N America, by contrast with the leadership of the Anglican churches of Africa and Asia where it is much stronger.

Press statement by Archbishop of Canterbury on Canon Jeffrey John
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/34/75/acns3498.html

Christianity Today review of press stories about Jeffrey John's standing down
http://www.ctlibrary.com/10606

Statement from the Presiding Bishop and Primate of the US Episcopal Church on the consents of the bishops to the ordination of Canon V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/presiding-bishop/1275_18879_ENG_HTML.htm?menu=undefined

African Bishops opposition to homosexuality
http://www.ugandamission.org/news/AfricaBishops.htm

Australian text of interview with Nigerian Bishop against homosexuality
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/relrpt/stories/s928254.htm

The principles under debate remain the same throughout. However, as in other spheres where negative discrimination can flourish, the ways in which the principles are perceived and applied is undoubtedly affected by cultural context. Tribal loyalties and gender-based role specifications remain more dominant in some settings than in others. Tender-heartedness towards homosexuals may actually be a more difficult challenge for Christians in a setting in which there is strong traditional antipathy. It may be even moreso in that same setting when Islam, in the guise of competitor not sibling religion, is resolute in its repudiation of such tenderness.

E2 d) Some quotations which illustrate the range of Christian views of homosexuality

Roman Catholic
Catechism:2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved. Catechism of the Catholic Church Geoffrey Chapman 1994

Papal Letter on pastoral care of homosexual persons
http://www.newadvent.org/docs/df86ho.htm

A priest's plea: "The first priest in Spanish history to acknowledge His homosexuality has vowed to fight to make the Catholic Church abandon its "caveman mentality" concerning gay people. "Being gay not only is not a sin, it's a gift from God," said the Rev. Jose Mantero, who came out in an interview with the Spanish gay magazine Zero. "If he created you gay, he wants you to be gay. At no point does he want you to regret being so." In response to Mantero's candor, his bishop has prohibited him from hearing confession, and fellow clerics have called him "sick" and "abnormal." The 39-year-old Mantero said the church's response reflects its centuries-old policy of oppression against gay people. And though he remains hopeful of change, he doesn't expect it to happen overnight. "The church moves not by years but by millennia," he said. "The change will happen. When? I don't know, but this will help bring it about." The Advocate March 19, 2002 Issue

World Council of Churches
Sensitivity regarding discrimination against gays and also about different of perspectives amongst the churches themselves
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/assembly/pr-sex.html

Churches and homosexuality: an overview of recent official church statements on sexual orientation by Wolfgang Lienemann Ecumenical Review Issue: Jan, 1998
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m2065/n1_v50/20344098/p1/article.jhtml?term=%2BHomosexuality+%2Band+%2BChristianity+%2BAnalysis

Orthodox
Coptic: Homosexuality and the church: a Coptic Orthodox perspective by Bishop Serapion Ecumenical Review Issue: Jan, 1998
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m2065/n1_v50/20344106/p1/article.jhtml

Russian: Being Orthodox and Gay
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_russi.htm

Rumanian: Orthodox Patriarch against legislation to recognise homosexual rights
http://biserica.org/Publicatii/2001/NoX/XII_index.html

Ang symp
Group working for gay and lesbian affirmation within the Anglican church
http://www.changingattitude.org/index.html

Gay Xians and Lesbians
Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement: http://www.lgcm.org.uk/