Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Methodist Church in Fiji Threatened with Criminal Prosecution

From Radio New Zealand:

The Methodist Church in Fiji says the planned public march is to support a submission to remove a phrase on sexual orientation from the Fiji Constitution and not to discriminate against homosexuals.

The General Secretary of the Methodist Church, the Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, says the church wants the words ’sexual orientation’ removed from the constitution because its meaning is too ambiguous.

The Human Rights Commission says the Methodist Church could face prosecution for encouraging discrimination if it goes ahead with the march.

Hat tip.

3 comments:

John said...

Look at this line from the story:

"The Reverend Waqairatu says the church plans to include former gays in the march who, he says, no longer practice gay activities because of a church rehabilitation programme."

Let the critics say what they will, but this sounds like a church willing to practice what it preaches.

Gord said...

Having read the link I am having trouble understanding this comment:
The Human Rights Commission says the Methodist Church could face prosecution for encouraging discrimination if it goes ahead with the march

HOw does the planned march encourage discrimination?

John said...

If I understand the news story correctly, the Methodist Church would be advocating discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation if they marched against the proposed Constitutional amendment, and therefore could be prosecuted on that basis.

I guess. I don't know much about Fiji politics.