SOUTH AFRICAN CHRISTIANS URGED TO PROTEST HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE DECISION
|
9th December,
2004
South African Christian leaders
are encouraging people to protest against a Supreme Court of Appeal
decision ruling in favour of recognising homosexual ‘marriage’.
Groups including the Christian Lawyers Association are encouraging
people to write to the South African Minister of Home Affairs, Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula, to appeal to the Constitutional Court against the
decision.
The move would open the way for the Constitutional Court to dismiss
the 30th November decision but even if the court supports the ruling
and instructs parliament to change the laws relating to marriage,
parliament may not necessarily comply with such instruction.
Philip Rosenthal, director of the ChristianView Network, says the
court decision violates moral values, democracy and the separation
of powers in government.
“It is likely to worsen the already serious stress on the institution
of marriage and family in South Africa”, he said.
Christian leaders warn that if Mapisa-Nqakula does not appeal, then
homosexual ‘marriage’ may become law without being considered
by Parliament or the Constitutional Court.
Rosenthal said that if the minister does appeal the issue could be
argued in a number of forums, the first of which would be aimed at
highlighting the point that the decision undermines the status of
the good moral institution of marriage by equating it with immoral
homosexual relationships.
He called on all South Africans to resist what he terms ‘judicial
tyranny’ and uphold the sanctity of marriage.
Churches are being asked to pray for the Minister of Home Affairs
to appeal against this decision.
- TANYA BENNETTS
Johannesburg, South Africa. |
