Church Of England Ask Goodluck To Reverse Anti Gay Law

The Church of England has written to President Goodluck Jonathan, urging him to reverse the law banning same-sex marriage in Nigeria.
It also wrote to the Primates of the Anglican churches worldwide, protesting against the anti-gay law in Nigeria and Uganda.
The Church of England urged the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) to safeguard the interest of gays and lesbians.
The letter was written jointly by Archbishops of Canterbury and York and addressed to President Jonathan and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu said the letter was a response to questions about the Church of England’s attitude to new legislation in several countries prohibiting same-sex unions.
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York recalled the commitment by the Primates of the Anglican Communion to the pastoral support and care of everyone worldwide, regardless of their sexual orientation.
They recalled the words in the communiqué issued in 2005 after a meeting of Primates from across the Communion in Dromantine.
The text of the joint letter is as follows: “Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“In recent days, questions have been asked about the Church of England’s attitude to new legislation in several countries that penalises people with same-sex attraction. In answer to these questions, we have recalled the common mind of the Primates of the Anglican Communion, as expressed in the Dromantine Communiqué of 2005.
“The communiqué said:
‘…We wish to make it quite clear that in our discussion and assessment of moral appropriateness of specific human behaviours, we continue unreservedly to be committed to the pastoral support and care of homosexual people.
“’The victimisation or diminishment of human beings, whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex, is anathema to us. We assure homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by Him and deserving the best we can give – pastoral care and friendship’.
“We hope that the pastoral care and friendship that the Communiqué described is accepted and acted upon in the name of the Lord Jesus.
“We call upon the leaders of churches in such places to demonstrate the love of Christ and the affirmation of which the Dromantine communiqué speaks.”