Earlier today, Dr. Warren Throckmorton and Pastor Martin Ssempa were able to discuss the Anti-Homosexuality Bill currently being debated in Uganda. Both appeared on Premier Radio, part of the Christian media in the UK. While the exchange is short, it offers a revealing look into the mindset that would promote such widespread criminalization of homosexuals.
One of the more surprising disclosures was made by Dr. Throckmorton when he read a new statement from Exodus International concerning the issue. Exodus has come under great pressure for dragging their feet to respond to a dire situation so germane to their own work. This short statement appears so far only on the radio broadcast and takes another small step toward a definitive stand against these proposed laws.
Exodus International opposes this legislation as we believe that the Christian Church must be a safe, compassionate place for those who are confused and conflicted by their sexuality. Such legislation would inhibit church and ministry leader’s ability to assist hurting individuals struggling with this issue.
We would like to see language more appropriate to the confronting of such a heinous proposal as this dreadful bill, but better late to the table than never.
A Facebook group on this issue has been set up and has nearly 4000 members at last count.
[audio:throckmorton-ssempa.mp3]
Great interview. Thanks to Warren for explaining it so well.
If child abuse and sexual assualt are such big problems in Uganda, why not strengthen and enforce those laws? Why single out homosexuality, Mr. Ssempa?
Regarding the Exodus statement — is this posted on their website?
Sadly, Martin Seempa has become obsessed beyond all reason with the anti-lgbt legislation pending at the Ugandan Parliament…I firmly agree that if there is rampant sexual abuse at ¨boarding schools¨ in Uganda that LAWS ought be created against both heterosexual or Lgbt people who perpetrate such predatory abuse. However, adult LGBT people ought be ¨judged¨ by the very same laws that impact the lives of heterosexuals in Uganda…Martin Seempa doesn´t know right from wrong in a clear way…Martin Seempa damages the integrity of his fellow UGANDANS/others without knowing the heart, or actual sexual behavior, of anyone…besides, Pastor Seempa has recently accused a Catholic Priest of sexual abuse/rape that has been PROVEN to be lies by the Kampala Police…what is the REAL driving force behind Martin Seempas loathing and hate campaign? Words of slander directed accross the board toward LGBT Christians/others are despicable witness that is nothing more than GOSSIP and fear/hate-mongering at Church and beyond.
Talk about begrudging. I guess those gays who aren’t willing to play the hurting, confused and conflicted role can just go take a hike, eh?
Another matter that disturbs me…why in the name of a loving God would Martin Seempa and Archbishop Henry Orombi join in the persecution of Ugandans ¨to cleanse Uganda¨and believe in their warped grandstanding minds that they are ¨setting a standard¨ of Christian honorability for the world to follow? Repeatedly demonstrating ones ignorance and prejudice is hardly a worthy banner that sets a STANDARD of integrity to other human beings (of course there is still a element amongst ¨abominators of others¨ worldwide that ¨selfrighteously¨ enjoys that kind of deceitfilled bigot-like supremacy…such is the murder-mongering, demonizing/excluding foundation of their religious conviction who thinks they KNOW the personal character of all other human beings? Hogwash. Martin Seempa ought best stop the murdering of childwitches and the human sacrifices that are present in everyday Uganda…best to legislate those atrosities away (if he can).
This could very well lead to a form of ethnic cleansing. The draconian law will institute the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” and criminalize human rights work.
Sadly, the roots of this hate bill can be traced back to the US radicals who visited Uganda in March.
Ya think?
Sorry friends, Archbishop Orombi has been organizing anti-LGBT activities in Uganda and The United States for years…he´s even lost legal battles in California and Georgia while attempting to poach on Episcopal Church properties with local bigots he whips into his version of excluding Church…The California Supreme Court has denied him his quest to exclude at St. James, Newport Beach (and the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear the case)…Orombi has been in league with ¨haters¨ for a very long time and even excommunicate at retired Ugandan bishop who was ministering to LGBT Ugandans in distress…you think of a appropriate name for Orombi.
Mindless Martin Ssempa. One who thinks “boy child” sexual abuse, sodomy, “sexual violence”, etc. are ONLY, ULTIMATELY EXCLUSIVE to homosexuals. I can tolerate ignorance, not stupidity. To me, he sank to that level of unnatural idiocy when he claims homosexuals “attack”. I really appreciate Dr. Throckmorton’s responses. Many thanks for his thoughts.
The Anglican church in Uganda is not a homogeneous entity. Even members in the same local church are not homogeneous. The local language service congregation tends to be fiercely conservative. A girl/woman would risk the ire of the old ladies attending the service wearing jeans/trousers, but would have no such problems attending the english service, but the same vicar presides over both services, and the message delivered and the style of delivery differs. Reason, there’s a generational/class divide and no marks for guessing where the prelate and the top hierachy belong to
If homosexuality is a choice, then does that mean that those against it are attracted to both sexes, and merely choose to be ‘straight’? If it’s a choice, then that must be the case.
So those bigots are actually fighting their own repressed desire for the opposite sex!
Let those without sin cast the first stone. Jesus would not condone violence against anyone. A hundred years from now, we will have evolved into a society where people are free to love who they wish. And we will look back and see this as no different than when the Jews were persecuted.
Shame on those who are so un-evolved to want to crawl into the bedrooms of others!! Shame on you!
If they can give a statement to Dr. Throckmorton to be read on UK radio, why not make it a press release and post it on the Exodus webpage — as Exodus has done many times on other issues?
Dr. Ssempa wasn’t listening. I was intrigued that he’s called an AIDS activist.
The most homo hating people I know usually don’t posit fighting AIDS through funding and support of medical research towards a cure or vaccination.
And they especially don’t want support of PWA to come by way of free association and tax supported charities and preventive education and information policies.
Their response is to quarantine (by way of imprisonment) ALL people with AIDS and forcing fear mongering and religious discipline on them.
I can see Dr. Ssempa is of the latter school of addressing HIV.
Dr. Throckmorton was correct in that this legislation isn’t about protecting children so much as draconian standards of law that deny adults their civil liberties for adult activity.
And everyone is in danger for that reason. He’s right too, that this can require citizens to turn on each other, possibly for the most casual of gestures and association.
I think the Lawrence vs. TX was such incident that prompted calling the police for which two men, in the privacy of their home, were arrested. And in a country this size, having all states let adults be protected in that matter took too long.
Dr. Ssempa didn’t listen to Dr. Throckmorton, nor does he agree, even though Dr. T is a Christian. And although Dr. T got a forum in which to express his views and explain the danger of this legislation, I think it all fell on deaf ears.
We are not so far removed from such laws in America. And there are plenty of people who would rather we were more like Uganda.
He tried. But I didn’t have much faith that anyone cared about what he had to say.
BTW, hearing the very words “lifestyle” when a gay person is described is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.