Vatican cardinal criticises Uganda’s anti-gay laws
By Josh Haggis
A Vatican cardinal has condemned Uganda’s new anti-gay laws, saying “homosexuals are not criminals”.
Last week (February 24), Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni signed off on legislation including life imprisonment for gay people who repeatedly break the laws and custodial sentences for those who reach out to the gay community.
Now Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana has spoken out against the laws, the Associated Press reports, and called for the life imprisonment legislation to be repealed.
Cardinal Turkson shared his views while talking to reporters at conference on the Catholic Church and human rights in Bratislava, Slovakia earlier today (March 4).
Turkson also said that the Vatican urges the international community not to cut off aid to Uganda in the wake of the anti-gay laws. Since Museveni signed off on the legislation, The World Bank and countries such as Norway, the Netherlands and Denmark have suspended financial aid to the nation.
The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has shown a noticeably more positive stance towards the gay community recently, famously saying: “Who am I to judge?”
> William Hague “deeply saddened” by Uganda anti-gay bill
> Uganda health minister: ‘Gays can still access healthcare’
> Uganda gay activists: ‘Cutting aid will hurt LGBTI community’