Politics
Friday November 17, 2006
As South Africa Approves Homosexual 'Marriage' , Tanzania Reaffirms Stand for Traditional Marriage
TODAY'S HEADLINES
E-MAIL
PRINT
By Meg Jalsevac
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, November 17, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a highly controversial move, the government of South Africa voted on Tuesday to legalize homosexual civil unions and marriages. South Africa is the first African nation to legalize any form of homosexual union.
In direct response, the slightly northern African country of Tanzania has come out reaffirming the fact that its code of law deems homosexual acts illegal and will not change any time soon.
The South African bill passed 230 to 41 after the ruling African National Congress ordered all MPs to be present and vote in favor of the bill's passage. A movement to change the definition of marriage was initiated last year when the Constitutional Court ruled that the existing definition was discriminatory against homosexuals.
The official wording of the South African bill allows for "voluntary union of two persons, which is solemnised and registered by either a marriage or civil union." South Africa's previous Marriage Act defined marriage as "a union between one man and one woman."
Christian leaders across the country spoke out in opposition to the bill both prior to the vote and since it passed. African Christian Democratic Party leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe told MPs that, if they voted in favor of the bill, they would face divine wrath.
Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, president of the South African Catholic Bishops' Conference, said that, in reality, the majority of South Africa's population is opposed to homosexual unions and approval of the bill would denigrate the democratic system in Africa.
Napier addressed the members of a public hearing while the bill was being considered and explained that the Catholic Church viewed homosexuality as "intrinsically evil" but not the homosexual person himself. Napier warned that legalizing homosexual unions would eventually lead the public to look on homosexual acts as "morally neutral".
Mr Johnson Mwanyika, Attorney General of Tanzania, was quick to address the South African vote. He said that it is highly unlikely that Tanzanian law would be influenced by the South African vote any time soon. He said such a change would contradict the current laws, religious beliefs and cultural and social norms of Tanzania. He said, "It is not likely that such a thing could happen in our generation, maybe in future generations. Such a thing is simply not compatible with our culture and different faiths in the country."
The South African bill grants public and church officials a 'conscience clause', giving them the right not to perform same-sex ceremonies if it would contradict their "conscience, religion and belief".
Read Related LifeSite.com Coverage:
South Africa Cabinet Approves Same-Sex "Marriage" Bill
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/aug/06082402.html
Appeal for Amendment Banning Gay Marriage Rejected in South Africa
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/aug/06081703.html
South African Court Rules to Change Definition of Marriage
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/nov/04113008.html
South Africa: Homosexual Discrimination Against Heterosexuals and Women "Necessary" for Democracy
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jun/06062704.html
Tanzania Bishops Oppose Teaching of Condom Use
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jan/06011105.html
Back to TopLatest Headlines
- BREAKING: US Congress Passes Health Care Reform Bill 220 to 215
- Stupak Amendment to Health Care Bill Passes 240 - 194 Saturday Evening
- Major Health Care Development - Pro-Life Stupak Amendment Vote OK'd for Today
- NY Times: Dems Banking on Later Squeezing Pro-Life Language Out of Bill in Committee
- USCCB Spokesman: "Definitely Not True" that Bishops Support Bill As it Stands
- TIME Got it Wrong - Prof. George Opposed Grandiose Kennedy Funeral
- USCCB Condemnation Tears Facade off "Phony" Abortion Compromise for Health Bill
- Health Care Bill Includes Monthly Abortion Premium: House Minority Leader Boehner
- TIME Article Setting Burke Against O'Malley Called "Tactical strike" on Behalf of Catholic Left
- Dirty Fighting on Abortion Funding: Word-Games and Health-Care Theatrics Boggle the Mind
- Commentary on November 6 News
- Note to LifeSiteNews Subscribers with Rogers email addresses
- New York Gov. Declares Nov. 10 Extraordinary Legislative Session for Same-Sex "Marriage"
- Washington's Pro-Family Amendment Effort Defeated - R-71 Almost Certain to Pass
- Vote Pushed Back on Canadian Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Bill to Dec. 2
- Elderly U.K. Couple in Good Health Commit Suicide, Complain of Assisted Suicide Law
- Texas Late-Term Abortionist and Baptist Minister Admits: "Am I killing? Yes, I am"
- New Evidence Contradicts CCHD's Findings on Accused Pro-Abortion Partner
- Quebec Priest Denies Possibility of Sexual Reorientation Therapy on TV
- New Hampshire Same-Sex "Marriage" Law in Crosshairs after Maine's Law Crumbles
- Brooklyn Bishop Criticized for Recorded Message Praising Pro-Abortion Politician
- First Group of "Traditionalist" Anglicans in Britain Votes to Enter Catholic Church
Most Read this Week
- Planned Parenthood Director Resigns after Watching Ultrasound of Abortion Procedure
- Nun Defiant Following Rebuke, but Stops Abortion Escorting
- Breaking: Dominican Community Apologizes for Nun Caught Acting as Abortion Escort
- TIME Article Setting Burke Against O'Malley Called "Tactical strike" on Behalf of Catholics Left
- Over 200 Christendom College Students Protest Abortion at Planned Parenthood Clinic
- Scottish Gay Rights Activists Found Guilty of Pedophilia Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
- Newly Identified Corporate Supporters of Planned Parenthood Named
- US Congress Passes Health Care Reform Bill 218 to 215
- Major Health Care Bill Development - Stupak Hyde Amendment Vote OK'd
- Health Care Bill Includes Monthly Abortion Premium: House Minority Leader Boehner
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.