State Dept., 'Accept homosexuality or we will starve you!'

To the Editor:

According to the Catholic News Service, 12/21/11, Church organizations are unhappy with the stance taken by the U.S. government to tie foreign aid to the assurance of homosexual rights.

The Zambia Episcopal Conference, the Pentecostal Church's Bishops' Council of Zambia and the Zambia United Christian Action said that it was unwise for the U.S. government to use its money to force other nations to permit "ungodly practices" in their land.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that a country's cultural or religious traditions were no excuse for discrimination and directed U.S. government agencies to use foreign assistance to protect human rights and advance non-discrimination while working with international organizations to promote gay and lesbian rights.

Father Paul Samasumo, Zambian bishops' conference spokesman, said it would be wrong for Zambia to accept gays and lesbians simply because of donor aid."Donor aid should not be tied to promoting immorality," Father Samasumo said in Lusaka Dec. 20.

If the State Department disagrees with religious convictions against adultery, will it also cut off aid? Polygamy? If the State Department wants to engage in social engineering, why doesn't it tie aid to whether a nation condones cutting off the hands of women who simply want to be educated or drive a car? Honor killings? Jihad?


Pastor Terry K. Hagedorn
Calvary Baptist Church
PO Box 282 Reedsville, WV
Ph. 304-864-3870

http://mountainmanna.com

"Pointing Mountaineers to Mount Calvary."