When the funeral arrangements for Boyzone singer Stephen Gately were announced last week, many people wondered what sort of reception the Catholic Church would give the openly gay star. But at the service last Saturday, the church shocked everyone when it publicly recognised his sexuality and marriage.
This turn of events has pushed the debate on gay marriage in Ireland to a new level. But the question remains: Has the Catholic Church abandoned its stance against gay marriage? Or did it temporarily set aside its objections to give a befitting burial to a one of Ireland’s most popular music stars?
Given its long-standing opposition against gay marriage, the church needs to come out clean on this issue. It would also be a great opportunity to address homosexuality within the church. An affirmative clarification would surely help the plight of gay people everywhere, especially in countries where homosexuality is illegal.
For example, in Uganda a government party politician has just proposed an ‘anti-homosexuality bill’ to toughen existing laws and establish the death penalty for people who have “gay sex with disabled people, under-18s or when the accused is HIV positive.” This is despite xondemnation of the country’s huge fines and extraordinary prison sentences for those convicted of homosexual acts.
While we do not encourage any injustice against the disabled or minors in Uganda, we believe that the situation in that country is a worrying development among many which the Catholic Church must help to urgently address.
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