>> ACT hailed over marriage stand
Le gouvernement tanzanien, par la voix du ministre des Affaires étrangères Bernard Membe, a salué dimanche l’opposition officielle de l’église anglicane du pays au mariage homosexuel malgré « des pressions » de la part des congrégations occidentales.
Le chef de la diplomatie tanzanienne représentait son gouvernement aux cérémonies marquant le cinquantenaire du diocèse anglican de Dar es Salaam, la capitale économique tanzanienne.
‘’L’Eglise anglicane de Tanzanie s’est levée solidement et sans peur pour s’opposer au mariage de personnes de même sexe alors que d’autres églises anglicanes à travers le monde avaient décidé d’accepter (ce genre de mariage) », a déclaré le ministre Membe, dont l’allocution en langue swahilie a été reçue lundi par l’AFP.
‘’Vous m’avez apporté beaucoup de soutien, parce qu’à travers vous la voix du gouvernement et la voix des Tanzaniens opposés à la pression étrangère en faveur du mariage homosexuel ont gagné plus de force et d’écho », s’est félicité le ministre.
‘’Vous m’avez soutenu lorsque je me suis levé pour dire solennellement à nos amis étrangers que, s’agissant du mariage homosexuel, nous Tanzaniens, demandons à être en désaccord », avec eux, a ajouté M.Membe.
En novembre 2011, la Tanzanie avait rejeté toute idée de légaliser l’homosexualité, en réaction à la menace du Premier ministre britannique David Cameron de suspendre l’aide de son pays aux Etats qui ne reconnaîtraient pas les droits des homosexuels.
‘’La Tanzanie est un pays pauvre mais nous n’accepterons pas de légaliser cette stupidité pour toucher leur aide et leur argent. L’homosexualité, ce n’est pas notre culture et même nos lois ne l’acceptent pas », s’était indigné le ministre Membe.
Le chef de la diplomatie tanzanienne avait révélé, à la même occasion, que son gouvernement avait rejeté en 2010 une demande d’accréditation d’un diplomate homosexuel.
avec APA
>> FOREIGN Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Bernard Membe has hailed the Anglican Church of Tanzania (ACT) for standing firm and rejecting same sex marriages unlike some other churches in the West.
Mr Membe told the congregation that had gathered to mark the 50th anniversary of the Dar es Salaam Diocese in the city that he was encouraged when the church in Tanzania stood firm and stressed to its foreign counterparts that same sex marriages will not be allowed in this country.
In November 2003, responding to the consecration of the first open gay Bishop Gene Robinson of the New Hampshire in United States, the then Anglican Archbishop of Tanzania, Reverend Donald Mtetemela, insisted that homosexuality was against biblical teaching.
“The Anglican Church of Tanzania believes that homosexuality is contrary to the teaching of the Word of God. It is a sin,” the then archbishop had asserted.
The cleric had gone on to declare that the church in Tanzania was no longer in communion with the Episcopal Church and the United States of America’s bishops who participated in the consecration of Gene Robinson and those who permit the blessing of same-sex unions.
“I received the news with comfort because, through this church, the voice of the government and people of Tanzania of refusing pressure from abroad to allow homosexuality reached higher heights.
The anniversary was attended by, among others, the Bishop of the Dar es Salaam Diocese, Dr Valentino Mokiwa, as well as Presiding Priest and Secretary of the Diocese, Canon John Mlekano, and Canon John Senyagwa, respectively.
“The Anglican Church of Tanzania and that of Burma are the only two church provinces in the world that have embraced both the high and low church traditions, thus enabling a similar liturgy,’’ Mr Membe observed.
He noted that the two echelons of the church also have one archbishop to preside over all parishes. ‘’It is on this backdrop that I believe our church was solid in rejecting same sex unions unlike some other churches,” the minister further observed.
Mr Membe hailed the church for its support in improving social services and at the same time playing a crucial role in preserving peace and harmony that the country enjoys.
“I pledge before you that the government will continue working with the Anglican Church as well as other religious denominations to improve the lives of Tanzanians.
We will always cherish your advice towards improving development,” he said. Mr Membe decried moral decay and vices in all levels of the society, including corruption and cruelty against the elderly and people with albinism and appealed to religious leaders to pray for the nation as it prepares for the general election and referendum on the proposed constitution.
“This year, our nation will be sailing through these trials. I, therefore, appeal to religious leaders and their believers to pray so that during the polls, the Almighty God will guide us to elect capable leaders to address challenges facing this country,” he prayed.
The minister pleaded to the cleric to preach peace; harmony and unity to enable the country maintain tranquility in electing the president, MPs and local councillors.
Earlier, Dr Mokiwa urged believers and Tanzanians in general to embrace peace and cohesion. The cleric said an obedient nation with a fear of God can sail through any challenge smoothly.
