CONCERN OVER ZUMA GOD SQUAD

[Ockie]

A report that a President Zuma sanctioned religious body will work to reverse gay marriage rights in South Africa has been slammed by activists. An article in last Friday's issue of the Mail & Guardian, headlined "Zuma’s New God Squad Wants Liberal Laws To Go", claimed that: "The National Interfaith Leadership Council (NILC), formed by Rhema church leader Ray McCauley and closely associated with President Jacob Zuma, flew its conservative colours this week, saying that it wants to revisit laws legalising abortion and same-sex marriages." According to the newspaper, Nthabiseng Khunou, an ANC MP and member of the NILC, confirmed that the organisation would “play a role” in reviewing legislation legalising abortion and gay marriage. “I know most churches want them abolished, so the reason for NILC is to give a voice to people who don’t have it,” he was quoted as saying. The article raised concerns that the NILC was closely connected to the ANC, including using the ruling party's offices and facilities in Parliament to disseminate its communications. The newspaper further said that at least four of the Council’s 20-member secretariat are ANC MPs. McCauley, however, told the newspaper that there were no formal links between the organisation and the ANC. In March, ahead of the April 22 elections, Zuma, in a controversial visit to Rhema's headquarters, urged religious bodies to engage the government on the issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. SA GLAAD, which described the NILC as "not only hostile to gay rights and women's rights - but at its core - human rights as well," was the first activist organisation to express its dismay at the report: "...Mr Zuma put the hard-won rights of the gay community to marry their partners on the bargaining table to secure more votes from the discerning Christian right", said SA GLAAD in a statement. The organisation went on to add: "If Mr Zuma was bluffing when he made his offer to win their votes, then this promise has come back to haunt him. One has to question Mr Zuma's intentions towards the pink community when he himself has made homophobic remarks which made headlines a few years ago. If his offer was a bluff at all, then Rhema and Ray Mccauley and fundamentalists in SA have just called it." SA GLAAD noted that South Africa was a secular democracy and that religion had no place in governing the country. Mambaonline Reporter

http://www.mambaonline.com/article.asp?artid=3613

 

[Ockie]

Sorry about the "no paragraphs". Copy and pasted from my blackberry. I hope this does not happen. Could Zuma really even consider voiding a right that was granted to us by constitutional court?

 

[McGuywer]

Interesting news. I do not have a point at the moment.
Will like to see the outcome of this.

 

[Moron noodle]

Riiiiight!! because JZ is so concerned with the sanctity of marriage - surely among christians cheating on 3 wives at once gets you a special place in hell?

Get your god/s our of our lives.

 

[ponder]

Could Zuma really even consider voiding a right that was granted to us by constitutional court?

Constitutions are noble thoughts written on paper that throught the ages have been ignored, abused, abolished.

 

[Mila]

This could turn into a Casta Saga.

 

[Ockie]

Why oh why are they allowing a church like Rhema to get involved in politics. Dangerous Dangerous Dangerous!!!! These people send a very cold chill down my spine.

 

[DigitalSoldier]

Riiiiight!! because JZ is so concerned with the sanctity of marriage - surely among christians cheating on 3 wives at once gets you a special place in hell?

Get your god/s our of our lives.

Seems like hypocrites R us will be heading this "god squad"

Ray McCauley

In Matthew 5:32 Jesus teaches about divorce:

"But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery." (NLT)

Sorry about the "no paragraphs". Copy and pasted from my blackberry. I hope this does not happen. Could Zuma really even consider voiding a right that was granted to us by constitutional court?

Doubt it will happen unless the ANC get the support from other political parties to change the constitution.

 

[noxibox]

Why are Christians so obsessed with homosexuals? Are those who are so vocal about it in the closet themselves?

And abortion, on what basis do they oppose that?

 

[HapticSimian]

Why are "Christians" so obsessed with homosexuals?

You forgot the parentheses...

 

[Ockie]

They are aposing gay people and the right on abortion based on the Bible I suppose. The Bible says gay people are a abomonation....and they must not come with this stories of it is OK to be gay...as long as you dont act on it bullcr@p. Abortion i guess they see as commiting murger.

 

[LazyLion]

As a Christian, I must say that Ray Mcauley is the worst example of someone to be heading up something like this.

he should get his own life in order first.

 

[ponder]

As a Christian, I must say that Ray Mcauley is the worst example of someone to be heading up something like this.

he should get his own life in order first.

Not religious myself but that dude makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[HapticSimian]

As a Christian, I must say that Ray Mcauley is the worst example of someone to be heading up something like this.

he should get his own life in order first.

Absolutely. As an I-don't-even-really-know, people who try to exercise their interpretation of the core teachings of Christianity (as with most religions) are pretty easy to get along with. People preaching fundamentalism and religious fanatics... not so much!

Ray McCauley a Christian... well, yes much like a dolphin is a fish.

 

[Ockie]

Well, at least if this rumours are true then we gay people will know where we stand with this government.

You are a citizen of this country, but you are a gay citizen and therefore some of your rights are actually not rights, but privileges....and these can be taken away as we see fit. :-( That is the message that this will be sending out to us and the rest of the world. Gay rights groups overseas are sure get catch wind of this and spread the news.

 

[HapticSimian]

ocleroux, just be careful of doing the stereotypical screaming drama-queen thing as well. It's ONE report - hang back and see if anything threatens to come off it before getting the 'crew' together and running down the street in pink tutus shouting 'inequality'. That's annoying.

Said with respect, of course.

 

[DigitalSoldier]

LOL

 

[Bizkit87]

ocleroux, just be careful of doing the stereotypical screaming drama-queen thing as well. It's ONE report - hang back and see if anything threatens to come off it before getting the 'crew' together and running down the street in pink tutus shouting 'inequality'. That's annoying.

Said with respect, of course.

+1

 

[Ockie]

That is why i said IF it proves to be true. I am quite happy in my jeans and t-shirt...no pink tutus for me thanks....I am asuming the above was meant as a light hearted jab.

 

[HapticSimian]

That is why i said IF it proves to be true. I am quite happy in my jeans and t-shirt...no pink tutus for me thanks....I am asuming the above was meant as a light hearted jab.

It was. At least you don't have to deal with having a comb stuck in your sock the whole time as I do.