News24 | Finance24 | Food24 | Health24 | Property24 | Wheels24 | Women24
The people's pope
Pope John Paul II gave the role a higher profile than it had ever had, seeking contact with ordinary people.
A life in pictures
The first Polish pope, John Paul II was a popular and accessible man of peace.
Search  News24 Web by  My home page
     Africa : News Terms & conditions 
  Homepage
  Africa
News
Features
Zimbabwe
  South Africa
  Sport
  World
  Sci-Tech
  Entertainment
  Finance
  Health
  Backpage
 
Galleries
Traffic
Letters
Columnists
Horoscopes
TV Guides
Lottery
Travel
Cartoon
Weather
 
Zim Elections
Aids Focus
Shaik Trial
Iraqi Dossier
Tsunami Disaster
More...
 
 
Lotto:
10 17 24 37 45 46 28
Lotto Plus:
12 20 24 26 31 39 21
UK Lottery:
18 26 27 29 34 42 36
Lottery Page
 
Beeld
Die Burger
Volksblad
Rapport
Sake
Finansies & Tegniek
Landbou
Litnet
Jip
Streekkoerante
 
Natal Witness
City Press
Finance Week
Carte Blanche
SASI
SA Gateway
Moneymax
Keo
Community
 
Mens Health
FHM
SASI
Golf Digest
Shape
Fairlady
YOU
Heat
 
Die Burger
Beeld
Volksblad
Weg
Huisgenoot

Nigeria leads anti-gay protest
14/10/2003 09:27  - (SA)  

Related Articles
  • Opposition to gays like slavery
  • Ndungane has mandate for summit
  • SA bishops hold 'gay summit'
  • Tutu shocks Kenyan churches
  • Churchgoers embrace gay priest
  • Anglican church in turmoil
  • Primates to discuss gay bishop
  • 'I ordained gay bishops'

  • Lagos, Nigeria - Members of Nigeria's Anglican Church - the world's second-largest Anglican congregation - fasted and prayed to protest against the confirmation of homosexual priests and bishops in the United States and Britain ahead of an emergency meeting of the world's Anglican leaders.

    "We are not happy that the Archbishop of Canterbury is being soft on this issue of homosexuals in the church," Reverend Obi Ulonna, a cleric at St. Stephens parish in Lagos said on Monday.

    "We are praying that God will guide and protect our Bishop and all who are against the gay movement," added Ulonna.

    The protest in Nigeria, where the 17 million-member congregation is second in size only to Britain's, comes ahead of an emergency meeting of the 38 primates, or leaders, of the world's Anglican churches.

    The gathering, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday in London, has been called by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who is looking for a way to bridge differences that many regard as irreconcilable.

    "We are praying for our primates, particularly those from Africa and Asia, to speak up" against homosexual ordination at the meeting, said Ulonna.

    Many African Christian churches have retained the moral conservatism favoured by the European missionaries who introduced the religion to the African continent in the 19th century.

    First in failures

    "The problem with the West is that it wants to be the first in success, and it also wants to be the first in failures - the first to elect a homosexual bishop," Ernest Ezenwe, 43, a parishioner at St. Stephens, said.

    The primate of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Peter Akinola, has described the appointment of gay bishops and the blessing of same-sex marriage as "a Satanic attack" on the church.

    In May, the Anglican Church of Nigeria severed all relations with the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada for sanctioning the blessing of same-sex unions. Akinola has issued a written warning to Nigerians to be prepared for a potential split, no matter the financial cost to churches in the impoverished West African nation.

    Crisis in the church

    The US Episcopal Church's decision in August to confirm the Reverend Gene Robinson - who has a long-time male partner - as bishop of New Hampshire provoked a crisis within Anglicanism and focused attention on homosexual clerics.

    Conservative opponents of Robinson in the United States warned at a rally last week that a break with the Episcopal Church is a strong possibility, and their protests were emphatically backed by the leaders of other Anglican national churches, particularly in Africa. celibate.


     Discussion Forums |  Newsletters |  Photo Galleries |  Earlier stories 



      Breaking News
  • Mbeki leads mourning for Pope
  • Scorpions probe 'may be biased'
  • Proteas lose vital wicket
  • Mugabe plans sweeping changes
  • Cheap imports kill SA textiles
  • Meyer tells Bulls to shape up
      Find
  • Travel
  • Car Rental
  • Flights
  • Accommodation
  • Gamble Online
  • Online Insurance
  • UK Lottery
  • Who's Who
  • Tickets
  • Books & DVD's
  • Online Shopping
  • Mobile Services
  • Send Me Sport
  • News24 Toolbar
  • News24 on DStv
  • PropertySPI
  • Auctions Online
  •   Services
    MWEB:
    Automotive:
  • New cars
  • Used cars
  • Prices and Specs

    Property:
  • Homes for sale
  • Homeloan
  • Agent

    Maintenance:

    Expert advice:
  •   Quick links
    Picture galleries
    Discussion forums
    Newsletters
    My home page
    Terms&conditions;
    About News24
    Advertise here
    E-mail us

    About News24 | Advertise on News24 | Contact us | Job opportunities
    Back to top