The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, speaking on an LBC phone-in program suggested that African Christians will be killed if the Church of England accepts gay marriage. According to the Freethinker, he claimed he had stood by a mass grave in Nigeria of 330 Christians who had been massacred by neighbours who had justified the atrocity by saying: “If we leave a Christian community here we will all be made to become homosexual and so we will kill all the Christians.”
He was also quoted in the Guardian as saying:
I have stood by gravesides in Africa of a group of Christians who had been attacked because of something that had happened in America. We have to listen to that. We have to be aware of the fact. If the Church of England celebrated gay marriages the impact of that on Christians far from here, in South Sudan, Pakistan, Nigeria and other places would be absolutely catastrophic. Everything we say here goes round the world.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s assertion that Christians in Africa are being massacred because of growing acceptance of gay unions in the West is indeed a load of bullshit and irresponsible lies. The Archbishop seems to be talking from his ass; however that wouldn’t be much of a concern to me but for the fact that as usual, when those religious leaders spew their nonsense in public, it always has a negative impact on those of us that don’t share their delusions.
Claiming that the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram, killed 330 Christians in Nigeria because of USA’s acceptance of same-sex marriage is utter nonsense and a blatant lie. What exactly is the archbishop trying to achieve with this irresponsible lie? Does he not understand that his irresponsible utterances could give members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, the impetus to start considering killing Nigerian LGBTs because of their sexual orientation? Such irresponsible remarks and blatant lie from this supposedly ‘Holy’ man should be totally condemned.
Did the Archbishop not read the news stories of the bombings that led to the death of these people before he visited the mass grave? Many of Boko Haram victims were school children who were murdered in their dormitories and not all of these victims were Christians. Boko Haram means ‘No to western Education”, it does not mean ‘No to Gay Marriage’.
Suggesting that a segment of the society be deprived of their inalienable human rights because of the ridiculous and sometimes violent beliefs of another is not justifiable. It is the same silly excuse I hear people spew when they blame the growing legalisation of homophobia in many African countries on the acceptance of LGBT Rights in some western countries. If some African leaders are so stupid as to criminalize a segment of their society because of the actions of some foreign governments, they should be called out on their stupidity, not try to justify it for them. Blaming the government that is respecting the equality of their citizens for the atrocities other governments are committing in reaction to this equality, is indeed ridiculous.
Boko Haram has stated that they are against western education and they have made this point in some cases by burning schools and setting sleeping students alight in their dormitories. Should we then ban western education in Nigeria and everywhere to prevent those fanatics who feel threatened by western education from killing innocent children?
Why talk about same-sex marriage as if it is some kind of special rights or privileges that lesbians, gays, bisexuals and Trans are claiming and therefore subject to negotiation?
We don’t propose outlawing the right to education or the right to freedom from discrimination because some fanatics somewhere might harm innocent people if we practice democracy and respect equality. So why do people like Justin Welby think the inalienable human rights of LGBTS should be subject to negotiation? Lgbt rights are not some sorts of special rights or privileges that can be negotiated away because some religious fanatics, be they Islam terrorists or Christian fanatics, are intolerant and won’t accept LGBT rights.
Christianity as practiced by many is one of the major reasons gays are loathed in many African countries, maybe the Archbishop of Canterbury should start a campaign for Christianity to be outlawed everywhere. Going by his logic, we should ban Christianity so that there won’t be Christians for the likes of Boko Haram to murder. Simples, problem solved.
As a Nigerian, who is an atheist, openly bisexual and LGBT rights advocate, I am more likely to be stoned to death on the streets of Lagos, Abuja or Imo state by self-righteous Christians than by members of the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram.
Christians, not Boko Haram members, are responsible for most of the threat messages I receive daily.
Christians, mainly Anglicans and Catholics were the ones who openly supported the ‘Jail the gays’ bill in Nigeria.
Christians were the ones who mobilized their members, including vulnerable children, to the public hearing to support the same-sex marriage prohibition bill.
Christians were the ones who threatened to beat up my comrades and me at the floor of the National Assembly during the hearing of the bill.
Christians were the ones who stripped naked and almost lynched 7 men in Imo state, suspected of homosexual behaviours.
Christians made up majority of the mob who recently attempted to lynch 14 men and succeeded in driving them out of their homes in Girishi, Abuja.
Christians are the ones who gleefully quote Leviticus 18:22 and are quick to use the myth of Sodom and Gomorrah as an excuse to persecute gays, lesbians, bisexual and Trans.
Christian foreign evangelicals like the despicable Scott Lively are the ones who got African Christians to loathe gays with such vengeance. These Christians evangelicals not Boko Haram, are the ones who helped draft Nigeria’s and Uganda’s ‘Jail the gays’ bills.
So, what propaganda is the Archbishop of Canterbury spewing out of his ass, trying to paint Christians as the victims of same-sex marriage equality? If the Archbishop of Canterbury is against same-sex marriage, he should just come right out and say so. Why try to hide under this irresponsible statement to cover his homophobia?
He stated during the phone-in program that although he continued to uphold what he called the historic position of the church, of “sex only within marriage and marriage only between a man and a woman”, he agreed with the presenter, James O’Brien, that it was “completely unacceptable” for the church to condemn homosexual people more than adulterous heterosexual people.”
I am baffled as to why it is their duty to condemn homosexuals or adulterous heterosexuals. Why even compare homosexuality with adultery? What has my sexual orientation got to do with the lifestyle choice of another? Why make it out as if sexual orientation is a thing to be condemned and weighed on the scale of iniquities to see which ones are the most condemnable atrocities? The privileges those so called ‘Men of God’ ascribe to themselves is ludicrous in this time and age.
Foreign religion is the cancer that has poisoned the fabrics of most African societies. Gay marriage has nothing to do with the warped reasoning of Boko Haram.
Religion is a major reason groups like Boko Haram exist, not same-sex marriage.
Religion is a major reason people like the Archbishop of Canterbury are taken seriously.
Religion is a major reason I am not safe in my own country.
Religion is a major reason many have been killed by Boko Haram.
Religion is a major reason I receive death threats from Christians and Muslims alike. And come to think of it, I have never received threat messages from traditional religion practitioners. So to be more specific, foreign religions like Christianity and Islam are the reasons many African lgbts are now legally persecuted.
Christianity and Islam are the reasons many of us fear for our lives in our native homes and are now turned into refugees and asylum seekers in hostile environments.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Weby, insults us with his bullshit utterance. Boko Haram has committed many atrocities and if not stopped, this dastardly terrorist group will continue to commit atrocities. Justin Welby should not give the deadly group ideas regarding gays. LGBTs are persecuted enough by Christians in Nigeria without soliciting the help of Boko Haram.
This kind of irresponsible propaganda by the Archbishop of Canterbury just to gain cheap points in the fight against same-sex marriage could actually prove deadly for Nigerian LGBTs and the Nigerian populace in general. Boko Haram has not come out to start a separate war against Nigerian LGBTs. Nigerian Christians are already leading the war against LGBTs rights. The Archbishop should keep his propaganda out of Nigeria. All those foreign religions have caused us enough harm as it is.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, seems to be clutching at straws in an attempt to find just one reason why same-sex marriage should not be lagalised in England and Wales or anywhere for that matter. Methinks he should understand that same-sex marriage is now a reality in England and Wales, he should get over it. And most importantly, he should get his ass out of Nigeria. His likes have done enough damage in Africa; we don’t need more of their lies.
Crip Dyke, Right Reverend, Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden says
@Yemisi:
Thanks for this awesome post.
I just want to add one thing. I think you caught the most important bit when you dove into the heart of what Welby is saying:
and then later
Refusing to do good things like educate children simply because violent thugs exist only creates more violent thugs. Argh.
And if Africans feel Christianity dictates imperially to them, the right thing to do is be careful what you dictate? WTF?
Thanks so much for your writing.
Ophelia Benson says
Wow, this is appalling. Thanks for writing about it, Yemi.
What absolute bullshit, as you say. The idea of women’s rights inspires Islamists to kill women and girls -- should we all therefore give up on women’s rights?
Maybe the archbish would say yes.
Maddie says
Yemisi, consider this. Why on Earth would this man blame the killing of children on homosexuality? Not because of homosexuality, but to appear righteous by appealing to bigotry, being evil in a way that appears benign, to hide some other monstrous evil. His face says it all.
hrh lizzie says
Dont mind Justin Welby and the other legalistic Christians,( they subscribe to the Law of Moses rather than the Law of Christ which only advocates to Love your neighbour as yourself COMMANDEMENT) they dont have Faith in whom they say they believe in, ie Jesus .
Jesus died for LGBTS to be who we are and to make Heaven, that is Gods Truth.
The Anglican Church is responsible for the anti gay laws and sentiments that we had and that has spilled over to the colonies thanks to Henry 8th who bought in the Buggery Act of 1533 and the Divorce and remarriage Act. Both were not in the original bibles but are in the bibles and doctrines he printed and promoted in his newly created Anglican Church .They were political moves against Rome and the Catholic Church who he tried to break away from…
Justin would find it difficult to fully accept LGBTS ( perform same sex marriages for Anglican Christians etc) as the church he is part earthly head over has always been homophobic and still is .. that also is the Truth.
Tony! The Fucking Queer Shoop! says
hrh lizzie:
This is dangerously close to the No True Scotsman fallacy. “Legalistic Christians” may practice their faith differently than you, but they’ve just as much right to interpret the bible as you do. Christians of many flavors have used the bible as justification for all manner of actions, from the horrific to the altruistic.
I am a gay man who does not believe in any deities. I do not believe in the Jesus myth (historical figure he may be, but supernatural he was not). I don’t believe human beings are born sinners--heck, I don’t believe in the concept of ‘sin’.
leila joy says
He appears to be ignorant and lack the true meaning of love.
Then again his statements allow all to see what is truly in his heart and mind.
Keep up the good work of exposing such comments and pointing out how they make no sense.
Anymore poems?
meggamat says
Even if his ludicrous assertion were true, it would not make it moral to change the law as a consequence. If I threatened to blow up a hospital every time somebody made a boiled egg, would egg-boiling become immoral? Of course not. To declare that terrorist threats impose a moral obligation to inaction upon those who are threatened is to deny the terrorists their humanity, to deny the existence of their agency.
Yemisi Ilesanmi says
Thanks everyone. I am furious that the Archbishop of Canterbury lied so blatantly about the cause of the murders just to justify his homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. And to do so with such weak reasoning is outrageous.
One thing his stupid remark brought to the fore is that even though he and his colleagues occasionally pay lip service to equality, this recent comment exposes his homophobia to the public.
Yemisi Ilesanmi says
@hrh lizzie- Lizzie dear, as you know, I am an atheist and therefore do not believe in the concept of sin or a deity dying for my ‘sins’. Most importantly, my sexuality is not a sin. Sin connotes something ‘morally wrong. Sin is a concept designed to sell us a cure. My sexuality is not wrong, my sexuality does not need to be cured, my sexuality does not need someone to die for it to make it right.
Your comment actually implies that bisexuality or homosexuality is wrong but it is ok cos Jesus died for our sins. This might be your belief but it is insulting to my atheism as well as my sexual orientation. I have no qualms with Christian LGBT rights advocates trying to justify why Jesus would love everyone, but I do have a problem with people, be they religious or otherwise, stating that my sexuality is wrong or that I needed a deity to die to save me from my sexuality. I think I should do a blog post on this subject matter. 🙂
Yemisi Ilesanmi says
@leila joy, yeah more poems are coming. In fact I will be publishing a collection of my poems soon, watch this space! In the meantime, I just posted a poem just for you, enjoy.
Tony! The Fucking Queer Shoop!-Thanks for that response, you captured my thoughts on hrh lizzie’s comment.
Martin Waddington says
Bravo, an awesome post. I am so sad for Nigeria and all its troubles. And that includes the Archbish.