The church: a symbol of oppression?

‘I am gay and I am catholic and I can not say it out because of fear of victimization. I realized that I was gay when I was 16. I was born like this and I know many of my friends who are gay. I can not go public because our society and church are against it but it is not my choice because I was born gay,’ said Tinarwo Mangwiro (not his real name) as he begged this reporter not to publish his name.

Tinarwo is not the only Christian who suffers discrimination and persecution on the basis of sexual identity and orientation in Zimbabwe’s predominantly Christian population.

It is possible that there are many Christian LGBTI people who live in slavery and bondage because of fear. They are not free and they are suppressed. Whilst certain churches might be tolerant and supportive of the human nature of homosexuality, the Zimbabwean legislative and political environment seems to be a major obstacle to over 60 percent of the Zimbabwean Christian population.
Though section 23(2) of the Zimbabwean constitution disallows discrimination but section 78(3) of the same constitution criminalizes same sex marriage: ‘People of the same sex are prohibited from marrying each other,’ reads part of the Act. Freedom of worship can easily be taken away if it is proved beyond any reasonable doubt that a particular church supports gay marriage. Section 78(3) could be used to justify closure of a particular church.

Considering the high level of poverty due to years of economic decay in Zimbabwe coupled with misrule and plunder by the elite, church leaders would not risk living in poverty merely because they stand for a minority gay group. Churches in Zimbabwe have become sources of income for many hence leaders have sacrificed principles for money. Very strong and bold leaders have however stood for the minority, otherwise the rest have been corrupted. They have viewed homosexuality as Satanism.

However Barnabas Muchanyerei,a Christian, lawyer and founding member of Godly Zimbabwe Project warns against misinterpreting Section 78(3) Zimbabwean constitution, claiming that the Act does not necessarily prohibit same sex marriage but that same sex partners can not register their relationships under the Marriage Act chapter 5;11 or the Africa Customary Marriages Act chapter 5;07. According to Muchayerei people of the same sex can marry under such arrangements as civil union and civil partnership among others.

TABOO SUBJECTS IN AFRICAN CULTURES

Whilst there has been significant improvement in some religious circles towards Gays, Lesbians, Bisexual, Transsexual and Intersexual (LGBTI) people, public attitude towards this vulnerable group is largely negative and intolerant. Homosexuality has remained a highly controversial and scary subject for the practice is considered an import, taboo, ungodly and an abomination by Zimbabwe’s largely Christian community.

Traditional African beliefs often stereotype homosexuality as the work of juju/muti which is practiced for personal enrichment and power. According to Inyanga Masuku a Bulawayo based traditional healer, homosexuality is done mostly by those who want to attain political power or seek riches.
‘Lokhu kwenjwaayekile esintwini sethu ikakhulu ebantwini abadinga inotho lokubusa,’ (Such practices are common in our culture often practiced by fortune seekers and those who want to rule) said Masuku in the local Ndebele language.
Could it be the reason why a number of high ranking government officials and business personalities have been implicated in homosexual scandals?

HIDDEN HOMOSEXUALS IN ZIMBABWEAN SOCIETY

The late Caanan Banaan the first ceremonial president of Zimbabwe was reported to be gay and so was the late vice President John Nkomo, a known presidential aspirant. Professor Jonathan Moyo was reportedly not immune from the blame. Next in the line was the late Ben Mataka a Mberengwa based ZANU PF, councilor and business man who at one time was charged for rape and homosexuality. The list is endless.

RECKLESS UTTERANCES BY POLITICIANS DESTROY LIVES

The level of resentment and intolerance against LGBTI people is further worsened by reckless utterances by politicians. Just recently President Robert Mugabe, a fanatic catholic believer castigated gays and lesbians as unholy and poisonous to the youths and threatened them with unspecified action during the wedding of his only daughter Bonna who married Simba Chikore .Zimbabweans were urged to emulate Simba and Bonna as perfect partners.

Mugabe’s utterances seem to resonate well with a number of independent apostolic and Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe. ‘Gay marriage is biblically, morally and socially wrong,’ voiced Reverend Katsande of Spoken Word Ministries. His sentiments were echoed by the Pastor Abel Matimbe of the End Time Message who likened it to Satanism. ‘Gay marriage is the worst kind of sin one can think of,’ said Matimbe as he supported Cardinal Obrien, a senior British Catholic who regards gay marriage as an aberration and a great wrong.
This position by the Catholic saint was welcomed in many catholic communities around the world including many parts of Africa.

The controversy over same sex marriage in Zimbabwe reached a breaking point in 2012 as Anglican Church Bishops Albert Kunonga and Chad Gandiya fought over what insiders claim to be matters of principle following the ordination of Gene Robinson, the Anglican Bishop, a known gay in the Episcopal Church of London in 2003.Albert Kunonga did not mince his words as he said, he had crossed swords with Gandiya over the church of Central Africa’s tolerance of same sex marriage.

The level of hate against LBTI people is so intense as if to say this group has no right to life.

WHO CREATED GAY PEOPLE?

It is unfortunate however that these saints of the Lord have failed entirely to tell who created gays and whether God’s creation can be considered illegal. Mathew 7 v1 is very explicit; telling its audience never to judge for it is a prerogative of God. ‘Do not judge so that you will not be judged and by your standard of measure it will be measured to you…’ (Mat 7v1). Are the seemly informed and well ready pastors not risking challenging God?

According to Genesis God created man with his own image. ‘So God created man in his own image…, male and female he created them,’ (Genesis 1v27) reads part of the scripture. If it is true that God created man using his own image, then where are our learned Pastors picking the hate stance on God’s image from? Is it that homosexuals were not created in the image of God? The world demand answers! The Holy Scripture clearly states that it is the duty of the church to defend the defenseless and fight injustice of any kind.

MISINTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE VILLIFIES

It is difficult to see how church fathers and all religions that subscribe to these principles live by it if they champion the persecution and discrimination of the weaker in society.

There is no doubt that the world suffer today because of the false and grossly misleading interpretation of the bible. The Christian world seems to fight the same doctrines they purport to stand for. Africa’s Christian community and its leaders must walk up and smell the coffee.

Reference to God’s anger over homosexuality in communities such as Thessalonica, Corinth and Rome among others is not enough to justify an anti-gay stance for all humanity have suffered at one point in the history of mankind and not only homosexuals.

JUSTIFYING MURDER VIA THE BIBLE

It is clear that the majority have abused the minority by making rules for all to follow. The powerful members of society have abused the holy book by using it as a tool to advance their parochial interests and often portray a distorted view of the world, deliberately omitting and wrongly interpreting sections that brings salvation to the oppressed. Is this not treacherous, unholy and criminal? It feels painful.

Africa must pay heed and see, the light and stop justifying murder. As racism and apartheid were evil and threat to the development of the African Child in the 18th and 20th century, homophobia is equally satanic and an impediment to the advancement of the African child today, decades after the attainment of independence in Africa.

The fight for gay rights is the fight for freedom and justice that all corners of the world must support just in the same way as the world fought colonialism and apartheid in Africa and other parts of the world. It was a job well done without which the attainment of independence could not have been possible.
In the same, manner collaborations of international nature would make the fight for the rights of minorities a reality. Equality for gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgender and intersexual is progress for all.

The world must reflect on the plight of LGBT people and contribute to the cause of humanity as was the case during the era of European imperialism when the whole world joined hands to fight the cancer of oppression and intolerance, the same cancer that has gripped the world today.

It is high time the world must realize the truth. The world today is challenged due to ignorance and misinformation coupled by abuse of office by those in power and refuses to accept the truth.

Christian leaders must pray for wisdom to avoid mass killings for they might risk judgement.Africa must not be driven by old and institutionalized beliefs based on nurture but on principles, logic, reason and conscience.

*Danmore Chuma is a Zimbabwean journalist and human rights defender who is a former teacher.

* THE VIEWS OF THE ABOVE ARTICLE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR/S AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PAMBAZUKA NEWS EDITORIAL TEAM

* BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* Please do not take Pambazuka for granted! Become a Friend of Pambazuka and make a donation NOW to help keep Pambazuka FREE and INDEPENDENT!

* Please send comments to editor[at]pambazuka[dot]org or comment online at Pambazuka News.