The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council will convene in a special conference call on Dec. 7 to discuss a proposed anti-homosexuality law in Uganda.
 
The proposed law [PDF] would impose life imprisonment for engaging in same-sex sexual activity. For people found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor or a disabled person of the same sex, the proposed law calls for capital punishment.
 
Several members of Executive Council signed a petition for the special meeting when nearly 300 Episcopalians gathered in Chicago for a meeting of all committees, councils, agencies and boards of the Episcopal Church.
 
The Anglican Church of Canada’s Council of General Synod passed a resolution Nov. 15 condemning the proposed law.
 
“The proposed bill would severely impede the human rights of Ugandan citizens both at home and abroad by infringing freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, freedom of organization, and legitimate advocacy of civil rights,” the council said. “It would impose excessive and cruel penalties on persons who experience same-sex attraction as well as those who counsel, support, and advise them, including family members and clergy.”
 
Exodus International also has questioned the legislation.
 
“While we do not believe that homosexual behavior is what God intended for individuals, we believe that deprivation of life and liberty is not an appropriate or helpful response to this issue,” four Exodus leaders wrote in a letter to Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, president of Uganda. “Furthermore, the Christian church must be a safe, compassionate place for gay-identified people as well as those who are confused about and conflicted by their sexuality.”
 
To date, the Episcopal Church has addressed the proposed law through its Office of Government Relations, which has “encouraged Episcopalians who have contacted us on this issue to be in touch with their own elected officials,” said Alexander Baumgarten in an interview with Episcopal News Service. “As of the present moment, we are very encouraged by the engagement of the U.S. State Department, which has called the law a ‘significant step backwards for human rights,’ and has given public assurances that it is addressing the matter with the Ugandan government.”
 
The Church of Uganda has said it is studying the law and has reasserted its teachings against homosexuality. The church also said it “upholds the sanctity of life and cannot support the death penalty.”
 
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