Homosexuality Against Biblical Teachings
The
New Paper, July 14, 2004
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,67776,00.html?
LOVE the sinner but not the
sin—this seems to be the official stand of the Christian community on
homosexuality.
The New Paper yesterday approached the mainstream
National Council of Churches of Singapore to comment on the Free Community
Church.
Its response was to fax across a statement issued last
year which said that homosexual acts are clearly against the teachings of the
Bible.
But the council—which represents Anglicans, Methodists
and Presbyterians, among others—added that Christians shouldn’t reject gay
people or be homophobic and despise them.
Gays should be treated ‘no less as persons of worth and
dignity’.
The council, however, remained firmly against any action
that might promote a gay lifestyle.
It urged the Government to continue to outlaw homosexual
acts, and to retain the policy of not allowing the registration of gay
societies and clubs, and the policy of not allowing the promotion of a
homosexual lifestyle.
This statement was issued following some unhappiness in
the community after Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong revealed last year that the
Government no longer had qualms about recruiting gays into the civil service.
For Catholics, the Vatican website says the Bible
condemns homosexual acts as a ‘serious depravity’. But it adds gays
‘must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity’.
Dr John Hui, Master of the Catholic Medical Guild, told
The New Paper in an e-mail reply yesterday: ‘...while homosexual acts are
intrinsically wrong and not to be condoned, those with homosexual tendencies
must be treated with respect, love, compassion and sensitivity, like any other
human being.’
He added that as far as he knew no-one has been expelled
from the Catholic Church for being gay.
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