Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama Admonishes FG To stop Punishing Gay Nigerians
The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama has said Nigerian government is “wrong” for “punishing” gay Nigerians.
Speaking at a press briefing with The Tablet at the Vatican yesterday, the Archbishop stressed that the Catholic Church in Nigeria is opposed to any discrimination of gay people.
According to him, after Nigeria adopted a law that hands out 14-year sentences to gay Nigerians earlier this year, he had announced the Church’s support for the legislation. However, there was a “gross misinterpretation” of this by the media.
The Catholic Church, he now says, only supported the elements of the law that set out that marriage is between a man and a woman, but is against “the criminalization of people with different sexual orientations.” He told The Tablet:
“We are not supporting the criminalization of people with different sexual orientations. We would defend any person with homosexual orientation who is being harassed, who is being imprisoned, who is being punished. The Government may want to punish them – we don’t. In fact we will tell the Government to stop punishing those with different orientations.”
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50 Comments
maxonex
October 11, 06:07Odiegwu…. #StoryThatTouchesTheHeart…
Dennis Macauley
October 11, 06:53Assin eh! Odiegwu ooo
Ndi ala
Khaleesi
October 11, 10:35story that touches the heart and tickles the bum bum … ***sashays away and collapses back into bed***
gad
October 11, 06:17A major step forward
Metrosexual
October 11, 06:25Sweetie, the smoke of this offering may not even be recognised cz of the thick mist covering the Nigerian air
#TeamKizito
October 11, 06:29I’m speechless.
Dennis Macauley
October 11, 06:31I would have been happy with this news, but then again I thought about it and realized that celebrating this news will amount to seeking validation from them.
It will mean that we are wrong and they are right, and now they finally (graciously) allow us to be who we are.
So I will pass
*long hiss*
pinkpanthertb
October 11, 06:35Dude’s got a point. But appreciating the news shouldn’t be all about feeling validated. It could also mean pleasure at the fact that the church might be coming around, one church leader at a time.
Khaleesi
October 11, 07:44akuko!!! am still hungover and cant think str8, lemme clear my head and come back … ***gurl that vodka strooonggggg***
maxonex
October 11, 07:21Exactly…I almost got excited…and then I realized I don’t need their validation…
T/
October 11, 07:09Tbs….between fighting for justice and desperately longing for acceptance
Obatala
October 11, 07:21I don’t think its about being validated at all. in fact he sends a very different message to government. he has in fact become a voice of reason in the midst of the madness. his message is to stop criminalization of our lifestyle. not validation at all but common sense.
maxonex
October 11, 07:23His voice alone isn’t enough.. His voice could easily be drowned …
pinkpanthertb
October 11, 07:26One voice at a time. We don’t expect a chorus of support at once, do we?
maxonex
October 11, 07:51That’ll be over reaching….
We just need more voices though… A celebrity will make a louder statement… Maybe an actor or a musician… Since they’re loved by so many… But then again, most of them are busy securing their fragile career…
gad
October 11, 11:56Religious leaders versus celebs? I think the religious leaders wield more influence and followership among people who are influential in the society
pinkpanthertb
October 11, 15:43true that.
gad
October 11, 11:45Add your voice
pinkpanthertb
October 11, 11:47Lol. Oh gad… Touché
Sojiment
October 11, 07:22Matter of hating the sin and not the sinner
Rapu'm
October 11, 07:40Interesting. Way forward indeed. It’s the sense of entitlement that I hate. “In fact we will tell the Government to stop punishing those with different orientations,” he says, like he’s the great grand father of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He didn’t even say he’d make a case, but that he would ‘tell.’ Great. Religious leaders have proved time and again how they own this country.
But hey, who’s he fooling? When this bill came out, he didn’t speak out against it. When he lauded it, he didn’t make the distinction he’s making now. But, whatever.
R.A
October 11, 08:17Asin!!!!!!! Better Whatever my dear!
lexus
October 11, 08:34The Catholic Church isn’t like other churches. Matter concerning the doctrine of the church is a delegate one. You can’t just speak without authorization. maybe he was against the bill from start or maybe he was for? We can’t tell, but what we know now is that he wants to speak out.
Legalkoboko
October 11, 10:17oh purleeease! Lexus give me a break! A Catholic Bishop can say HIS OWN MIND in Catholic doctrine issues without further authorization. He has the teaching authority to do that. He only consults in matters of DOGMA.
The chap probably got more than a few tongue lashing from the Pope last Sunday about his country’s outrageous anti gay law. And he is here now dancing to a different tune.
I laugh in Latin.
enigmous
October 11, 13:22Legal whatever u flog with…I beg to differ. He may be a bishop, but if he’s to state an opinion in a sensitive case like this, it has to be the OPINION of the church since he represents the church.
That said, I hope this is just the beginning of a new era. More voices should just follow suit and hopefully, we will have the Nigeria we so desired where everyone is loved and respected.
gad
October 11, 16:36He said that unfolding events made him have a rethink.is it bad 4 one to change his earlier stand on an issue especially when more informations are got? The earlier we wake up to the reality that religious leaders wield a lot of influence in this country the wiser for us
Legalkoboko
October 11, 19:30Enigmous, I Just googled the profile of a Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, a retired
auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of
Detroit in the US, a notorious promoter of
homosexuality, contraception, and
homosexual and women’s ordination: ” Bishop Gumbleton has consistently been a
supporter of New Ways Ministry and has
also called for homosexual priests and
bishops to “come out” and be truthful to
themselves and others”.
Archbishop Kaigama could have done the same. But he chose the comforts of bigoted teachings.
Absalom
October 11, 08:12Una dey vex oh. The message is on point jor. Which kind validation? He’s simply putting things in proper perspective.
engorgio
October 11, 08:17Smh…..he had to say it when he’s at the Vatican, why couldn’t he talk about it here on the Nigerian soil
lexus
October 11, 08:29It is definitely not the voice of the Archbishop but the voice of the Holy Catholic Church. If that was his voice he would have the Pope to face just like that Australian priest who spoke without permission. The church is coming around. isn’t this more than a coincidence, him making this statement during the inner meeting of the church to redefine marriage, pre marital sex etc. There is light at the end of the tunnel guys. love you all
infamousdiaries
October 11, 08:45I really do not care about most of this chiz… But, on the bright side I just realised Dennis is an Igbo nigga! Nwanne’m (^_^)
Dennis Macauley
October 11, 09:58Nwannem!
*chop knuckle*
infamousdiaries
October 11, 10:06*chops knuckle/bumps fist with a swell brother* I ga di, my blooda, I mean, my brother.
Kryss S
October 11, 09:42Story 4 d Gods! U r in support of d law but against d misinterpretation by d media! Isi a dikwa gi nma? R u ok! Sheer case of hypocrisy! Stick to wat u want, fight 4 it nd quit acting like d goody two shoes dat u ain’t! Ewu Gambia! These ppl just annoy my spirit!
By d way, am making chicken egusi soup oh with wheat nd u all r all invited later in d day! *dashes of to d market*
king
October 11, 09:56Kryss luv…pray where do you stay biko…i need me some of those….
enigmous
October 11, 13:42Somehow, I feel you misunderstood this man. I believe what he said isn’t bad at all. Is that not what we have been fighting for? Someone now says it and we go on-all-fours and start barking?
Every human is permitted not to like what the next person is doing, just don’t criminalize someone for sinning differently from you. I think that’s the positive we should take from his speaking out while we hope others will follow suit.
P.S. Keep my own egusi soup o, and make sure there are lots of stock fish in it. Also, I don’t do eat wheat, pounded yam will do.
gad
October 13, 20:05This man made his positions known and we are insulting him.what is our own opinion and where have we aired it? During the debate where were we?The committee members told members of the human rights community that we don’t have gays in Nigeria.How many of us challenged that lie?
Kryss S
October 11, 09:43Mind not my typos oh, it is dat time of d month *wink*! Hehehe!
Legalkoboko
October 11, 10:31With due respect to the Arch Bishop, the Catholic church is full of disrespect for those with homosexual inclination. His claims are against the facts on ground.
But I’m glad the ground is gradually shifting.
And to those who say we don’t need the validation of these people, abeg drop the heroics. We don’t owe these people anything, and yet they’ve hijacked our precious space and have made it as toxic as hell. The least we can do is to heave a sigh of relief. The tide is changing and I’m glad it is.
gad
October 12, 01:05At least someone is talking sensibly
Khaleesi
October 11, 10:33oh puhleeeezeee!! spare me all this crap!! the Catholic church like most other Nigerian churches was a vocal supporter of the obnoxious anti – gay bill, I vividly remember Archbishop Onaiyekan of Abuja pouring vitriol on gays and baring his blatant homophobia before the world on TV. I was shocked and dismayed and this further affirmed the correctness of my shoving religion outta my life. y’all are a bunch of hypocrites leading a few hypocrites and numerous fools #BBM talk to the hand smiley# … And yes, I honestly don’t need your approval or validation … in fact I need it as much as a fish needs a bicycle to get around the sea ***yawns and rolls over continuing to battle major hangover*** nonsense and condiments!!
pinkpanthertb
October 11, 10:44Lmao. What I long for? The day an out and proud Khaleesi, perhaps on foreign soil, will lock horns with a priest. Between his blistering verbal attack, and the scorching touch of fire, that priest won’t know which one burns hotter.
Legalkoboko
October 11, 18:52wiaris the 9ja fire service? This speech has set KD on fire biko nu!
gad
October 12, 01:15I have heard Onaiyekan talk about this issue lately and it contrasts sharply with what you just said.
Kryss S
October 11, 11:42Lol @ Nonsense nd condiments! D mother of Dragons has spoken!
King my love!!!!!!!!! Take d next available flight to Abuja i.e. if u ain’t here already nd I wud b @ d arrival lounge in my sexy two-piece bikini waving my pom-pom @ u *wink*!
infamousdiaries
October 11, 11:49*looks into magical crystal ball* I see an upcoming tryst in King and Kryss’ future. Or could it be more? I can’t really say… The unicorn spirits aren’t giving me a definite answer, but, there will be sex -A LOT, if I might add…. Stay gucci people, I’m your in-house medium. *screams ‘Mind Freak’ like Chris Angel*
pinkpanthertb
October 11, 11:54Sex. A lot.
Lol. Right.
infamousdiaries
October 11, 12:05¯..(•͡.̮ •͡ )../¯ the unicorn spirits know all….
Kryss S
October 11, 18:21@Infamousdiaries *stammering* Sex? *tightens bumshort* Am scared of sex oh! It hurts a lot! Lets just stick to d cuddling nd smooching biko!
By the way, I hope there is no Mrs King around? Make person no wear me kito oooh! My bathroom slippers still fine 4 my legs! Lol!
HRH
October 12, 09:49It is not what he said he is for the anti gay law and the punishement if he was not and is not then he should actively seek to have the whole law if not the imprisonment clause repealed. BTW Jesus has abolished the law of Moses and established Grace for us. You can be a gay and a Christian