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Why Fr Leonard Chiti is Wrong on Homosexuality
President Obama made news recently when he called on Africans countries to respect human rights for all their citizens, including gays. Obama’s statement followed the long awaited U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the status of same-sex couples in America. After the court ruled that same-sex couples have equal rights like heterosexual couples, the President praised the move, claiming it was a “proud day for America.” But Obama did not end there – he pressed African countries to recognize gay rights as human rights. “When it comes to how the state treats people, how the law treats people, I believe that everybody has to be treated equally.”
Senegalese President Macky Sall responded by telling Obama that while his country is “very tolerant to gays,” it was “still not ready to decriminalize homosexuality.”
Both Western and African media jumped on this exchange. Many saw Sall’s statement as an open rebuke of Obama’s support of homosexuality. Others, however, viewed the encounter as a clash of cultures – Western liberal and African primitive. While African media empathized the former, Western media generally projected the latter.
As expected, the Zambian media carried story. The reported response of Fr. Leonard Chiti, the Director of the Catholic Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection forced me to respond. Fr. Chiti claimed that Obama’s call to decriminalize homosexuality is a non-starter in Zambia. The question is why? “When you look at the draft constitution, you will see that Zambians have been categorical about their rejection of clauses that seem to allow rights for people of such orientations and I don’t see any change in that regard.”
Fr. Chiti is entitled to his own judgment but the basis of his claim is highly flawed. To start, Fr. Chiti agrees that they are “people of such [same-sex] orientations who are Zambians, yet justifies their harassment based on popular opinion, which I find unjust. As a priest, he should have suggested how best we should approach the gay issue. Second, Obama’s remarks followed the ruling of the Supreme Court on the issue of human sexuality.
That ruling rendered California’s Proposition 8, which outlawed same-sex marriages through the referendum (which won popular vote in 2008) invalid. In other words, human rights are not based on majority votes but on the conviction that every human being is endowed with inherent rights to be respected and protected. The court ruled in favor of equality – all citizens have equal rights in America. So what is wrong with treating all citizens equally?
Third, Obama’s statement should be understood within the context of the rule of law as opposed to votes. It is the court that interpreted the U.S. Constitution to mean that all Americans are entitled to equal treatment under the law. For me, Obama’s call for African nations to decriminalize homosexuality is not a non-starter but an opportunity for Zambians to discuss the issue with an open mind.
Finally, Obama called on African nations to treat all Africans regardless of their sexual orientation equally, which I believe is the duty of every State. Are gays citizens of our nations equally entitled to State protection as heterosexuals? That millions of Zambians are opposed to gay rights does not justify state sanction of their persecution.
The holocaust in Nazi German and the Rwandan genocide were based on this kind of thinking. Dietrich Bonheoffer, who refused to side with the Nazis and was killed as a result once said: “It is the nature, and the advantage, of strong people that they can bring out the crucial questions and form a clear opinion about them.
The weak always have to decide between alternatives that are not their own.” Fr. Chiti had an opportunity to direct the nation on the complex issue of homosexuality, but chose the popular route – thereby repeating a myth we all know – homosexuality is a Western import to Africa.
Before you insult me, let me help Fr. Chiti on this issue.
The clash between Presidents Sall and Obama is due to what I term conflict of human rights. Who counts? – “the local people” or “the global community?” Is the claim that “our culture and religions do not accept homosexuality” enough to deny human rights to gays?
These questions are crucial to the issue at hand. Many Africans oppose gay rights on the basis that they are protecting cultural authenticity. Yet, our nations are part of the global community in which gay rights are now human rights. Since global rights are viewed as “universal and timeless,” the Western nations want Africa to respect them.
On the other hand, African nations reject gay rights as a way of preserving Africa traditional and religious identity. But as Amy Guttmann argues, “Cultural survival in and of itself is … not a human right, since the ultimate beneficiaries and claimants of human rights must be persons, and the price of enabling some cultures to survive may be violating human rights”
Gay rights defenders are convinced that gay rights are human rights, while African governments’ rebut such claims with ultimate impunity.
The encounter between the two heads of States should be understood from this perspective.
Regardless of how we feel, the missing voice in that encounter is the African gay person. Rather than give gays a voice, politicians spoke for them. But as Bonheoffer once said, “We must learn to regard people less in light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.” When will Africa accept that gays have suffered enough and should be allowed to live peacefully in their nations? In 1868, Hogoza was executed in Natal, South Africa.
His crime – he was gay. Across Africa, lesbians and gays have been sexually abused and in some cases killed. As I am writing some young boys are in jail – their crime, they are gays. Had Fr. Chiti reflected on the suffering of our fellow beings – the beatings, arrests, torture, and ridicule of, his response would have been somehow different.
Obama or no Obama, gay communities across Africa are determined to fight for their rights. Our draft and national constitutions may criminalize homosexuality but they are determined to win this fight for there freedoms. After all, we are not the first nations to resist gay rights – Europeans and American once did the same. But no system can continuously deny the oppressed their rights forever. Gays know their rights and no law will deny them what they believe are their fundamental human rights.
The challenge is, to use Ian Douglas words, “How can the global live with the local and the local live with the global, without either one or the other seeking to superimpose itself on the other with a destructive and life denying result?” Our arrogance to gay rights is life denying, and only Christian love and humility will make us see God’s image in all God’s people – even in our Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian and Transgendered brothers and sisters.Rev. Canon Dr. Kapya John Kaoma
Posted by Kunda
on July 3, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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ba medza
July 3, 2013 at 7:50 pm
But kwena iwe chikala! Ati niwe reverend wa mu church isa kanshi? Wileka nkutuke,bushe bawiso na banoko ngabali ma gay dogs like you do you think you would have seen the face of this world? You read your bible,quran or whatever you call it & see why God destroyed sodom & gomorah…katwishi ngama correct spellings!! Anyway nawishiba efyo ndelandapo.
Rev kapya kaoma
July 4, 2013 at 7:15 am
If you fear God, your language says it all.
paulsal
July 3, 2013 at 8:37 pm
The trio should find the own world in conjunction with the so called world best ideologist BARACK OBAMA, we as Zambians won’t tolarent those ethical and unfounded, UN Godly dogmas, Zambian is an absolute Christian nation guided by bible as the supreme doctrine.Actually I think that clegg man, that doc and that gentle man are freemasons, the need thouly investigations using the holy spirit!!!!!!!!!
MK
July 3, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Kapya, you are liar! Sall never said anything about tolerance for homos, he talked about Senegal as a sovereign country and how it abolished death sentence on its own, but it would not decriminalise homosexuality because of pressure from outside.
Peter
July 3, 2013 at 9:57 pm
human rongs indeed not rights
one me
July 3, 2013 at 10:19 pm
Satan always opposes God
MK
July 3, 2013 at 10:22 pm
fr chiti is right, the author is a dog and he is gay. gays in zambia should be slaghtered
Black Buda
July 3, 2013 at 11:25 pm
Iwe ci mudala it seems tawakwata amano. For u2 support ifya cisenshi means kinship naiwe ulaficita,UKULYA UMWAUME MUNOBE PA MATAKO. Wat r u teling us about rights? Mulebelengako na bible mwaumfwa ifyo ilanda pa fya bushilu ifyo mucita. We muntu fye wakwata five senses kuti ulesapota ifya pamatako?
Black Buda
July 3, 2013 at 11:34 pm
Time will come when Jesus Christ will disown you, because u are. were not doing Gods will. Honestly speaking( the so called Dr,wonder how you got that doctorate), do you think by supporting homosexuality you are doing Gods will?
Rev kapya kaoma
July 4, 2013 at 7:17 am
You can google me up and you will know.
kakolwe
July 3, 2013 at 11:58 pm
rev. doc. canon. Why is it that today you are mute? Just been following majority responses. I cant comment on your rubish any more. Tawakomfwe! You are itterly UNTEACHABLE!!
CALLED WISE
July 4, 2013 at 2:03 am
PEOPLE WHY EVEN KEEP ON COMMENTING ON THIS ISSUE?
IT’S NOT A MATTER TO DEBATE OR TO GO TWO WAYS ABOUT.
HOMO-LESBIANISM ARE JUST A LOST SICK STATE OF MIND.
I WISH THOSE WHO ARE IN IT SHOULD JUST OPEN WIDELY THEIR EYES AND COME BACK TO THEIR SENSES.
WHY DISTURB A WELL ESTABLISHED, SACRED, BLESSED,
CO-ORDINATED AND ARRANGED COURSE OF NATURE?
MAN – WOMAN NOT MAN – MAN OR WOMAN – WOMAN
FRENCH PEOPLE WILL SAY:”C’EST TRES DEGOUTANT!”
= IT’S VERY DISGUSTING!
mpho
July 4, 2013 at 5:45 am
Ba fikamba why do you sensor smart and reasonable comments?
mpho
July 4, 2013 at 5:46 am
Those are back street men its not a secret.
Rev kapya kaoma
July 4, 2013 at 7:02 am
Dear Bloggers
I may go to hell but I will never diminish your humanity because you are a precious child of God. If your opposition to gay rights is based on your Christian convictions, then your comments say much about your spirituality.
MOSSAD
July 4, 2013 at 8:56 am
LISTEN BROTHER,GOD TEACHES US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER,AND TO HATE EVIL DOINGS,AM I RIGHT?
African culture
July 4, 2013 at 7:43 am
U shal knw dem by their fruits. This is the rule of a beast (revlatio chapter 13). Children of God, its time to lift the name of Jehova higher than b4.
WAZANGA
July 4, 2013 at 8:48 am
the devil at work it does not matter if president of america say yes or no to hommo.
MOSSAD
July 4, 2013 at 8:52 am
OHHHHHHHHHHHH HE IS ANGLICAN
Abaswango
July 4, 2013 at 8:55 am
iwe if you are really a child of God you should be guided by what is written down in his word the Bible. There is no room for compromise and it is straight on such matters. We are grateful Christ warned about people like you.
Africa Twasebana
July 4, 2013 at 9:53 am
Thank Jesus you warned us our eyes should be open because in the last days there shall be false prophets and we shall know them by their fruits of promoting evil – the anti-Christ! Indeed our eyes are open and we are able to differentiate them.
MOSSAD
July 4, 2013 at 9:03 am
ANGLICANS, BLOGGERS DO U KNOW THEY HAVE A ARCHIBESHOP IN ENGLAND WHO IS GAY
MOSSAD
July 4, 2013 at 9:07 am
PAPER CHASE
LUCIFER
July 4, 2013 at 9:17 am
Zambians, Rev Kaoma is my son l commissioned him as a priest in the anglican church with the assigment of bring stubborn zambians to accept homosexuality. We succeded in america, ordained gay priests conduct masses. I love Canon, back in the days at mwense secondary school he sodomised a grade 8 pupils and l knew he was ripe to be recruited in my anti christ crude. I’ve showered him with all earthly riches and titles.
MAFUPA YOKOYOKO
July 4, 2013 at 11:16 am
Very interesting but i would like Rev Kaoma and his minions like Obama n o pro gay activists 2 give me answers to the following questions:
1. there are pipo who r attracted 2 children/minors, shud we grant them pedophile rights and encourage them to go on and have sex with minors?
2. There r pipo who r attracted to animals, shud we grant them beastiality rights and encourage dem 2 go ahead & have sex with animals?
3. There are pipo who are attracted to their close relatives, shud we grant them incest rights n encourage them to go on & marry their own relatives?
4.There are pipo who find pleasure in rape, shud we grant them rape rights n let them continue raping others?
The list is endless but i rest my case here… Answer bafikala, mwaba amabolo ba mutomba panputi!
Full of Shit
July 4, 2013 at 6:18 pm
The arguments are mostly stoopid. perhaps only one can stand
1 People attracted to kids cant be granted those rights because kids are not consenting adults
2 Same with animals. They are not consenting. They are forced into the act
3 Perhaps you may have an argument here
4 Rape means there has been no consent. That is why it is illegal.
The list isn’t endless.
jamoka
July 4, 2013 at 11:41 am
those who surport the gay is againest God.
i know only one person who is againest God is satan.and if you ,you surport the gays,then you’re not the body of christ…
The Engineer
July 4, 2013 at 12:51 pm
@ Mafupa Yokoyoko, you are a very clever man. you put up serious questions that needs answers. however lets just deliberate without insults otherwise it may paint an odd image about you.
kakolwe
July 4, 2013 at 2:36 pm
@Mafupa yokoyoko, Ala mune tacakomfwe ici ci rev canon dr. I have asked him same qns a myriad times but he keeps on burging on like the obstinate, headstrong bear he is. Futility
ANTENA.ZM
July 4, 2013 at 5:43 pm
Whatever the “good” reasons you are putting across Rev. to support your gay rights, you are just cheating yourself and your fellow gays.THE Bible is very clear on same sex orientation. Leviticus 18Vs22, 20Vs13 & Romans 1Vs 26,27. Let him/her who has spiritual eyes SEE!!!!!!!!!!
steven
July 4, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Gay rights on Africa I do not agree, its even bout religion or culture none of that. What you jus need to understand is man was given a women, it was adam en eve not adam en steve. it quite ****** of you even trying to think in those lines you must one of them gay suckers
bigbuttman
July 6, 2013 at 12:00 am
Vatican views
That church is Catholic, the only church which has come out in open to support the rights of gays and lesbians. For instance, in 2011 the then Vatican City ambassador Archbishop Nicola Girasoli had stated that though homosexuality was wrong, according to the church doctrine, homosexuals were people and for that reason they deserved respect and consideration. He said, “The fact that the Catholic Church makes a distinction between the homosexual act and homosexual orientation or inclination is not promoting homosexuality.
Homosexuals are human beings with their problems and their joys, that as human beings they deserve respect, even though they have this inclination, and must not be discriminated against because of it.”
Again, according to National Catholic Reporter, December,2009 entitled, Gays deserve respect, compassion, Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman said homosexuals “must be welcomed with respect and sensitivity, and ‘every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided,’” he wrote, quoting the catechism.