By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
NEW DELHI, July 24, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Religious leaders in India passed a resolution yesterday denouncing the recent Delhi High Court ruling which decriminalized homosexual sex between consenting adults. The resolution, which states that homosexuality is a deviation from normal laws of nature and is not accepted in any religion, will be sent to the president, vice president and prime minister and request them to “protect our rich heritage and culture.”
Acharya Sadhvi Sadhna, chairman of World Fellowship of Religions, told reporters at a press conference, “The judgement passed by the high court is against Indian culture. Homosexuality is not allowed by Indian culture. Foreigners want their children to follow our culture and traditions, and now we are deviating away from our rich culture. India is a leader of religions and we should not allow this to happen.”
Jain religious leader Acharya Lokesh Muniji said, “We urge the union and Delhi governments to keep in mind the views of various religious committees while taking a stand on the judgement of the Delhi High Court.”
“It's not that we don't support independence of individuals but this judgment challenges the will of god. As a representative of a religious body, one of my greatest fears is that this judgement may act like a first step towards legalising homosexual marriages in India. This would be completely unacceptable by us,” he said.
The president of Jamaat-e-Islaami Hind, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, said, “Such behaviour is against the moral values of our nation that is based on cultural and ethical traditions. The government should take our views seriously.”
“The family is the most important unit of the society and legalisation of such acts would completely distort the foundation of relationships in the country,” he added.
Father Dominic Emmanuel, the founder of Sarvadharma Sadbhav (Communal Harmony and Peace), said: “We have no objection or opposition to de-criminalisation of homosexuality because we never considered them (homosexuals) as criminals.”
“However, we are also clear that we are against legalising ità because what they do is unnatural and against the design and will of god.”
The religious leaders were unanimous in their belief that advocacy for the legalization of homosexual sex is due to the influence of Western culture.
Other religious leaders that signed the resolution seeking review of the court order include Kamal Farooqui, chairman of the Minorities Commission, Swami Raghuanandji (Hindu), Mahendir Singh (Sikh), Lama Lob Jang (Buddhist), and Maha Mantra Das (Hare Krishna).
In related news, Thaindian News reports that India's armed forces have criticized the Delhi High Court's judgment decriminalizing homosexuality.
“No armed force in the world has legalised homosexuality, as in an institution like this it can have adverse consequences. Soldiers are posted in the remotest of areas and have to live in close proximity for long. Any legalisation of homosexuality would adversely impact inter-personnel relations,” a senior official of the Indian Army told the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), requesting anonymity.
“Moreover, our jawans come from a rural background and they do not consider homosexuality normal behaviour,” he added.
Though India's Armed Forces Act does not mention homosexuality specifically, it is illegal under sections 45 and 46 (a) of the Army Act, 1950, the Air Force Act, 1950, and the Navy Act, 1957, which deal with “unbecoming conduct” and “any disgraceful conduct of a cruel, indecent or unnatural kind.”
Offenders are liable to face court martial. They may also be cashiered or suffer other punishment.
See previous LSN coverage:
Indian Supreme Court Declines to Stay High Court Judgment on Homosexuality
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09072107.html
India Supreme Court Accepts Challenge to Legalization of Homosexual Sex
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09071005.html
Indian High Court Decriminalizes Homosexual Acts
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09070606.html