Uganda Pastor Wants "Forced Therapy"

LGBT people in Uganda continue to be in peril as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is being considered.  One pastor's thoughts are not encouraging.  From Box Turtle Bulletin, a site that is staying on top of this developing situation.

Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa, who had met several times with Saddleback pastor Rick Warren, is positively livid over Warren’s statement calling on Ugandan pastors to oppose the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. In a letter addressed to Warren (PDF: 88KB/4 pages) and obtained by Christianity Today, Ssempa acknowledges receiving a letter from Warren asking Ugandan pastors to speak out against the bill, and counters with a deliberately misleading and convoluted defense of it.


After nearly three pages of ranting, Ssempa says that two amendments will be proposed for the bill:


At a special sitting of the Uganda Joint Christian Council taskforce sat and reviewed the bill to make comments. We resolved to support the bill with some amendments which included the following:


a. We suggested a less harsher sentence of 20 years instead of the death penalty for pedophilia or aggravated homosexuality.


b. We suggested the inclusion of counseling and rehabilitation being offered to offenders and victims. The churches are willing to provide the necessary help for those who are willing to undergo counseling and rehabilitation.


his revives the forced therapy proposal brought up last March during a three-day anti-gay conference in Kampala. That conference, organized by Stephen Langa of Kampala-based Family Life Network featured Holocaust revisionist Scott Lively, Exodus International board member Don Schmierer, and International Healing Foundation’s Caleb Brundidge.


The Ugandan Parliament will reportedly bring the Anti-Homosexuality Bill up for a second reading and debate on Friday. It’s unknown whether these proposals will be brought up during debate.

There is much more of the story at Box Turtle Bulletin, including more on Rick Warren's influence.  Click here to read it.