Monday, August 20, 2012

Cameroon Catholic Archbishop Says Gays are Enemy of Creation

In yet another move that in my mind signifies that the Catholic Church hierarchy needs to be designated as an anti-gay hate group, a Catholic Archbishop has stated that gays are "the enemy of creation."  Can we whip up any more hate and justification for anti-gay violence in the minds of the ignorant?  One irony is that the statement came from the Archbishop of Cameroon, an African country that is in many ways an utter basket case and that has far more serious concerns than worrying about gays and gay relationships.  In my view the African countries that are the most shrill in their attacks on gays are seeking to distract the ignorant and gullible populace from the fact that the governments need to be thrown out on a whole sale basis.  The other irony is that while the Church hierarchy continues to attack normal, well adjusted gays, it continues to protect the child rapist among the Catholic clergy.  Gay Star News has details, and here are some highlights:

The Catholic Archbishop of Yaoundé stated last week that he believes homosexuality is opposed to the ideal of human reproduction and is a danger to the family unit, 'an affront to the family, enemy of women and creation.'

He argued that the Catholic Church preaches the virtues of tolerance towards gay people, paedophiles, bestiality and other perversions, which he lumps together.   But he says: 'This does not mean that Catholic morality endorse homosexual behaviour and the life style that it inspires.'

Archbishop Tonyé Bakot’s anti-gay statement comes ahead of tomorrow ‘celebration’ of Cameroon’s national gay hate day, organised by The Rassemblement de la Jeunesse Camerounaise association (Cameroonian Youth Rally, or RJC).

The existence and combat of the alleged ‘gay mafia’ is one of the principal concerns of the RJC which proudly announces its homophobia publicly. The association promises that 21 August, will be ‘celebrated’ yearly, stating it aims to glorify homophobia with a parade to take place through the Yaoundé.

During a recent televised debate, Sismondi Barlev Bidjocka, spokesperson for the RJC, stated that ‘homosexuality is a crime against humanity.’  There are no official association to help LGBT people in Cameroon, which has one of Africa’s most severe anti-gay laws.

Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender carries huge risks in Cameroon; same-sex sexual acts are illegal under section 347 of the penal code with a penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 Cameroon Francs (about €300 $375). If the offender is under the age of 21 a more severe punishment is likely.

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