Peter Akinola Behind Anti-Gay Violence?

It appears that homophobe and falsely pious Archbishop Peter Akinola of the Anglican Church in Nigeria may be behind more violence. I previously posted about Akinola’s possible involvement in the massacre of approximately 600 Muslims. It seems violence is one of his preferred methods. Why the weak kneed and spineless Archbishop of Canterbury doesn’t call Akinola out on these issues is baffling. If Gene Robinson is unfit to attend the Lambeth Conference, then what the Hell is Akinola? Increasingly, it seems that Akinola is nothing more than a brutish thug who is using the Church for power and his own hate-driven agenda. Here are some highlights from a press release by Changing Attitude Nigeria (http://akinolarepent.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/gay-man-attacked-at-mac-%20iyalla-funeral/):

A shocking story of mob violence has emerged which almost culminated in thedeath of one of the leaders of the Changing Attitude Nigeria (CAN) group inPort Harcourt. The violent attack occurred in the context of the funeralceremony being held for the sister of Davis Mac-Iyalla, attended by sixmembers of the Port Harcourt group on Thursday, 20 March 2008. While hymn singing was going on a muscular man walked up to meand asked me for a word outside the compound.

“The next thing I saw was a mob group who were there to attack me. Theystarted slapping and punching me, kicked me on the ground and spat on me. Ihave never known fear like I knew when they were brutalizing me. I thoughtthey were going to kill me there and then. While beating me they wereshouting: ‘You notorious homosexual, you think can run away from us for yournotorious group to cause more abomination in our land?’ Those who attacked mewere well informed about us so I suspect an insider or one of the leaders ofour Anglican church have hands in this attack.”

Violence against LGBT people has been encouraged by Archbishop Peter Akinola and the leaders of the Church of Nigeria. They have attacked the presence of LGBTs in church and society, and supported a bill which would reinforce prejudice against LGBT people. “Changing Attitude calls on the Church of Nigeria to denounce violence against LGBT people. We challenge the leaders of the global south coalition to repent of their un-Biblical views which fuel prejudice against LGBT people in our Communion.”

As for Akinola’s involvement in the 2004massacre, fortunately someone is asking this important question which should be on the lips of the leadership of the Anglican Communion, not to mention break away Episcopalians who are placing themselves under Akinola’s leadership (http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-violence-in-nigeria.html):

Regarding Abp. Akinola's involvement in violent acts, it has been almost a month since he was implicated in the 2004 massacre in Yelwa, yet to date there has been no response to our questions regarding those implications, other than a weak attempt to sidestep the issue by his communication staff. His silence is cause for me to wonder why he is so hesitant to issue a clear denial, unless he was somehow involved, and is simply hoping the questions will just go away. Well, they're not going away this week, Archbishop.