Anti-Homosexuality Bill Creates Rift Between American and Ugandan Christians

As American Christian leaders come out against a bill in Uganda that would institute the death penalty for certain homosexual activity, a rift is growing with their African brethren. Ugandan Christians overwhelmingly support the law and, as Christianity Today reports, are questioning the integrity of the American Christians trying to stop it.

Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but the proposed act would mandate a seven-year prison term for anyone who has gay sex or "attempts to commit the offense" of homosexuality, and anyone who fails to report homosexuals within 24 hours of discovering their behavior can be punished by up to three years in prison. Those who commit what is called "aggravated homosexuality" -- defined as having gay sex with disabled people or anyone under 18, or when the accused is HIV-positive -- could be executed.

American Christian leaders ranging from Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, to evangelical pastor Rick Warren have joined leaders from the United Kingdom and Canada in condemning the bill. After Warren issued his statement last week, Republican Senators Tom Coburn and Chuck Grassley quickly followed.

But now, Christian leaders in Uganda are fighting back, accusing American Christians of enabling and promoting a secularist agenda and interfering in matters they do not understand.

"You see there's a kind of imperialism and a kind of relativism from the West," said the Rev. Dr. Christopher Byaruhanga, professor of historical theology at Uganda Christian University. "They don't understand our ethics in the country of Uganda and they are trying to impose what they believe."

"If the head of the Episcopal Church says anything on the bill in Uganda, you think anybody would listen to her? She is already in consecration with someone who is openly homosexual," Byaruhanga said. "Anything that comes from this end has no credibility because of what is going on in the Episcopal Church [which consecrated an openly gay bishop in 2003] and what is going on in the American society as far as homosexuality is concerned."