A special adviser on media and publicity to Nigeria’s president is trying to justify a brutally oppressive new law by claiming that it reflects national and religious values. Meanwhile signatures are being gathered for a petition asking the archbishops of Canterbury and York to speak out against this law. Overseas faith leaders may need to choose their words carefully if they are to be most effective.
Regarding people as good or bad simply on the basis of religion or ideology is risky, says Savi Hensman. Similarly, those who call themselves conservatives are often advocating radical change.
Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria and Henry Orombi of Uganda have declined to condemn violence against lesbian and gay men and women during a press conference at the GAFCON meeting in Jerusalem.
The head of Changing Attitude England, a group of Anglican Christians working for an inclusive church, has exposed a "shocking" act of anti-gay violence in Nigeria and called on the Church there to condemn it unequivocally.
Further to out story about accusations that the Nigerian Anglican Primate is being used by Western conservatives, the Church Times newspaper has a report by correspondent Pat Ashworth headed
The war of words over sexuality and authority within world AngArchbishop licanism stepped up a notch today, with controversial Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola standing accused of having a major document written for him by Western conservatives.
Accused by critics of acting harshly towards the US Episcopal Church and softly towards those who attack it, Archbishop Rowan Williams has called on anti-gay Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola to refrain from intervening in the America church.
Seven 'Global South' archbishops refused to receive Holy Communion with their fellow Primates on 16 February 2007, at thir Tanzania gathering. They alleged that they were "unable to come to the Holy Table with the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church [USA] because to do so would be a violation of Scriptural teaching and the traditional Anglican understanding" - writes Matthew Davies for Episcopal News Service
A warm East African welcome met Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams when he arrived in Tanzania yesterday (13 February 2007) for a crucial Anglican Primates' meeting ‚Ä' but a gay Christian leader from Nigeria had a different experience, being interrogated for several hours before being given a visa.