A law permitting the execution of gays who have HIV is a very important human rights issue that Christians should engage in united opposition. From the story:
The Ugandan legislation in its current form would mandate a death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. “Serial offenders” also could face capital punishment, but the legislation does not define the term. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act faces life imprisonment. Anyone who “aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage of acts of homosexuality” faces seven years in prison if convicted. Landlords who rent rooms or homes to homosexuals also could get seven years and anyone with “religious, political, economic or social authority” who fails to report anyone violating the act faces three years.
This gets into the heart of human exceptionalism, the unique value of human life. AIDS should not be used as an excuse for imposing such a profoundly inhumane public policy. To paraphrase a soundbite I have sometimes used in fighting euthanasia, people with AIDS need caring, not execution.
December 8th, 2009 | 9:54 pm
This draconian bill should not be passed. But note it doesn’t target “people with AIDS,” it targets homosexuals who put other homosexuals at risk of HIV infection and death.
Opposing that may just look foolish to many Ugandans.
Is there any reason to believe Ugandans will listen to U.S. Christians, considering the sorry state of our society and the compromised nature of many of our churches? Our moral authority is spent.
This bill has already become a tool in U.S. politics to beat on moral conservatives. I’m not sure any action on it would have beneficial effect, but focusing on it would distract from the task of restoring our culture to a point where Third Worlders would not feel threatened by its decadence.
December 9th, 2009 | 12:08 am
But, Kevin, might this very well be a miniature kristallnacht, a possible portent of horrific and senseless bloodshed in a partially Christian society?
At the end of the day, U. S. Christians do have a huge amount of influence around the world. Whatever the state of our own society, perhaps a “Manhattan Declaration”-style effort can do something to stop this madness. Our silence is more dangerous than action would be.
December 9th, 2009 | 12:24 am
The headline on this post seems inaccurate. According to the article, this bill would not punish “HIV+ Gays” at all. No one is being punished for being gay, or for being HIV+. The bill would punish those who are HIV+ and engage in homosexual acts. I certainly don’t think such people should get the death penalty. At the same time, tragic as the situation of HIV+ people is, in such cases HIV is an element that truly makes the action much worse. Indeed, in the case of same-sex rape by someone who is HIV+, which is also mentioned here, such an action seems akin to homicide, or at least attempted homicide.
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