January 8, 2010

CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is "gravely concerned" about a proposed anti-homosexuality bill under discussion in Uganda, wrote the Rev. Mark S. Hanson in a January 8 letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, thanked Clinton for her recent statements and follow-up actions by the U.S. Department of State regarding the proposed law.

In his letter, Hanson said the law was introduced in 2009 by David Bahati, member of the Ugandan parliament. The law "would, in certain cases, impose the death penalty for persons convicted of ‘aggravated homosexuality,'" Hanson wrote.

"Enactment of this kind of legislation would be an abhorrent injustice and outside the norms and standards of internationally recognized human rights," the ELCA presiding bishop wrote.

The proposed law has drawn considerable criticism and concern from human rights groups, religious organizations, various governments and others.

For the ELCA, such an action would be inconsistent with aspects of the church's social policy including ELCA social statements on the death penalty, peace and human sexuality, Hanson wrote. He also cited inconsistencies with ELCA Church Council action related to "harassment, assault and discrimination due to sexual orientation."

All of these ELCA policy statements "affirm the foundational human dignity of each person created in the image of God," he wrote.

"We are particularly grateful for your comments at Georgetown University last month in which you stated that our government saw the proposed legislation as ‘a very serious potential violation of human rights' and that our government had ‘expressed our concerns directly, indirectly and we will continue to do so' about this matter," Hanson wrote to Clinton.

Hanson added the ELCA wants to join those who support ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to raise the matter with Ugandan government officials "at every opportunity." Further, the presiding bishop noted media reports that the Ugandan parliament will reconvene in mid-February, and that the ELCA is encouraged that a spokesperson for Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni indicated that Uganda "should not have an extreme position" such as in the proposed legislation.

The ELCA will continue to monitor developments about the proposed legislation and speak against its enactment, Hanson added.

Hanson sent copies of his letter to Jerry P. Lanier, U.S. ambassador to Uganda, Johnnie Carson, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, and Michael H. Posner, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.

The text of the Presiding Bishop Hanson's letter to U.S. Sec. of State Clinton is at http://www.ELCA.org/bishopstatement/, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service