Join The Revolution

No, I'm not talking about Egypt or Tunisia. I'm talking about the growing call for more forceful and broader cries for justice from religious leaders for Uganda's LGBT population in the wake of David Kato's murder. Several people have spoken out, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Presiding Bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church. And while the Archbishop correctly condemned the beating death of this LGBT rights activist in Africa, he backed away from calling out the head of the Anglican Church in Uganda, Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi. Orombi continues to carry on about how LGBT people are not part of God's creation. The Anglican Church in Uganda refused to send a priest to preside at David Kato's funeral because of Kato's sexual orientation. And the lay reader who did attend launched into yet-another attack on LGBT people.

I appreciate that the Archbishop denounced the killing of David Kato, and that he pointed to the offensive headlines in the Ugandan rag "Rolling Stone" as contributing to the degradation of LGBT people, something the ABC says is wrong... and has been condemned in the Anglican Communion (well, that was a bit of hyperbole on his part...) However, the Archbishop then defended Bishop Orombi (who has told us he knows why the 'great creator' made men's parts and women's parts different from one another). He said that Orombi has objected to homosexuals in the roles of ministry "on grounds of behaviour, not orientation." I don't know how ++Rowan can condemn a newspaper for inflammatory language, and NOT recognize how his own language contributes to the demonization of LGBT people. Our "behaviour" is no different than what may or may not occur between heterosexual people. So you can't separate "behaviour" from "orientation". I do give him credit, though, for using "orientation" and not "preferance" which is a word I despise hearing in reference to my innermost being. Still, c'mon ++Rowan! Go the next step toward recognizing the complicity of the Church in creating the hostile environment that kept David Kato constantly looking over his shoulder.

The Archbishop of Canterbury wields no real control over anyone else in the Anglican Communion. He can't "do anything" to Orombi. But given that the ABC has been so quick to criticize the Episcopal Church in this country for our inclusion of gay people... he could condemn the Church of Uganda for refusing to send a priest to an Anglican funeral. And he could consider whether or not the so-called "listening process" established during the Windsor Report is even possible in a place like Uganda and what is Orombi doing to live up to that pledge anyway?

You can, of course, join the revolution by writing to the Archbishop at contact@lambethpalace.org.uk. Tell him (again) why he must connect the dots and see that all is not well in the Anglican Communion.

This is important... especially with the National Prayer Breakfast hosted by "The Family" in Washington, DC happening today. "The Family" is a business and political machine that has helped funnel money and homophobia to Africa. Florida's Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, is among the members of "The Family" which owns a house on C Street in Washington. Bishop Gene Robinson is calling on those attending the National Prayer Breakfast to remember David Kato, a victim of "The Family's" agenda in Uganda, during their prayers (to read more about "The Family", check out Eruptions at the Foot of the Volcano ) LGBT activists are planning to greet the attendees outside the doors of the Hilton Hotel with their "Breakfast Against Bigotry". Other activists will be assembling outside the United Nations in New York.

Where will you be assembling? If you have no place to go, then I ask you to grab a cup of tea or coffee, and pray with me:

The Lord be with you.
Gracious and merciful God, who gave your servant David the courage to stand up to intolerance and hatred; let his light be the fire in all our hearts as we carry forth his desire to see a world modeled after your kingdom, where all people are treated with dignity and fairness. And lead us all to a new understanding, us and our enemies. Deliver us from prejudice, hatred and cruelty, so that we may all know true love of neighbor and be reconciled before you. Amen.