Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute | Samantha Singson | July 19, 2007
(NEW YORK — C-FAM) Claiming that “the tide has turned” in favor of homosexual rights at international institutions, University of British Columbia professor Douglas Sanders’ recent paper on “Sexual Orientation in International Law” published by the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) includes a detailed history on how homosexual rights have advanced in Europe and how the European example could be followed at the United Nations.
Sanders, the first openly gay individual to address the UN and deliver a speech on homosexual issues, concedes that “sexual orientation” and “gender identity are not mentioned in any of existing international human rights instruments” but that “through invoking provisions on personal privacy and general provisions on equality,” homosexuals have been able to gain some recognition in the international human rights arena. Many Member States of the UN would disagree with Sanders analysis. The European Union is another story, though.
According to Sanders analysis of the EU, two essential elements have laid the foundation for the advancement of the homosexual agenda: the repeal of any anti-homosexual criminal laws and the prohibition of discrimination. With these two elements in place, Sanders details a progression of homosexual rights in the realms of parental custody, inheritance laws, immigration rights for same-sex partners, government-sponsored educational programs against any criticism of homosexuality in schools as well as paving the way for cases challenging laws against same-sex unions and homosexual adoption.
Homosexuals have not been so successful, however, at the United Nations. After repeated attempts, homosexual rights activists have failed to gain inclusion of “sexual orientation” on the non-discrimination category list in UN documents and conferences. Only one UN resolution, on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, includes an explicit reference to the term.
While no existing international human rights instrument explicitly recognizes “sexual orientation,” UN bodies such as the Human Rights Committee have interpreted terms such as “other status” and “sex” to include it. Activists have brought discrimination cases before the committee in attempts to secure recognition of same-sex unions using the “right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found a family.”
The most high profile attempt to introduce “sexual orientation” into the UN system, a resolution on “Human Rights and Sexual Orientation” introduced by Brazil at the 2003 Commission on Human Rights, failed after strong opposition. In condemning it, the Pakistani delegate, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), called it an attempt “to develop norms which directly contradict fundamental value systems.” The incident is indicative of the deep divide on the issue between the EU, Canada and Brazil on one hand, and the OIC, Africa, and much of Latin America on the other.
Pro-family groups note that “sexual orientation” is not part of any binding UN document and warn that homosexual activists would use a non-discrimination clause in a UN document to argue for recognition of same-sex “marriage” and for hate crimes legislation. Muslim and Christian groups fear that accepting the term “sexual orientation” could deny religious faiths the freedom to criticize the homosexual lifestyle.
For more news visit us at www.c-fam.org
Copyright 2007 – C-FAM (Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute).
Permission granted for unlimited use. Credit required.
Ugh.
Unfortunately, throughout the world, gays are still targeted for physical violence, often with the implied (and sometimes expressed) consent of the government in which they reside. In Moscow recently, gay citizens who were gathering peacefully were bloodied by Russian Orthodox and Socialist protesters. Gatherers in Jerusalem were threatened also with physical violence, and anti-gay haredim rioted and burned property. In Nepal, two young women were detained by Communist Maoists before being starved and beaten for suspicion of being lesbians.
In several countries—including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Mauritania, Sudan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and parts of Nigeria—homosexuality is punishable by death.
Thus, I’m not sure how I see how alleviating some of this is supposed to be seen as some sort of “conspiracy”.
Any unprovoked physical assualt on anyone for any reason ought to be illegal and prosecuted. If found guilty the prepetrators ought to be jailed. Period.
The best way to blunt the Homosexual Agenda is simply to really enforce the laws against violence without regard to the the status of the person assualted. If the Russian Orthodox Bishops have any courage, they will condemn the attacks and intervene to stop them if necessary.
What he said.
I guess you haven’t heard about the preacher in Sweden who was arrested and jailed for preaching against homosexuality then? Google Åke Green if you have not. He might not have been the most diplomatic in his objection, but should he be jailed and threatened and protested because of it?
IMO, laws like this are targeted at people like me who don’t think homosexuality is just an alternate lifestyle choice. I believe it is a sin like stealing, adultery and praying to false gods and that is what I teach my son. Laws like this would eventually make it impossible for folk like me to say that out loud–just like in Sweden.
Because
laws like this are targeted at people like me who don’t think homosexuality is just an alternate lifestyle choice.
That is exactly right.
JamesK knows this, he simply has another dog in this fight – and thinks your loss is a necessary evil…If he recognizes the evil at all…
#4–
I happen to agree with you in one respect; I believe that homosexuality should be morally and legally akin to praying to false gods.
Phil, your comment proves once again that you have no concept of morality.
Uh, okay.
Note 4. Meona, another Swede named Åke Eldberg, Lutheran pastor, put some lines from old Swedish Laws into English — and he says to an American (a group of Orthodox/Lutherans) in a friendly manner,
The Halsinge Law, ca 1300
With law shall the land be built. If there was no law in the land, no
one could live there. Therefore law has been made, first by God and
then by our king, with the assent of welborn men and all the people,
that the good shall enjoy good things of their peacefulness and the
wrongminded be chastised through the loss of life or with fines,
according to the crimes of each.
The Gutalaw, ca 1260
This is the first in our law, that we shall say no to paganism and
say yes to Christianity, and all believe in God almighty, and pray to
him…
– – – – – – – –
At the Russian Church, last week, I was on the second floor of a lovely Hospitality House and could not resist looking into a Book about various pre-schism saints. One chapter by Vladimir Moss transported me to Sweden and told me about her Earliest Missionaries. I think St Vladimir was a Norseman who traveled down the trade route to Kiev where he was converted? But he wasn’t a part of this one book.
My husband is always asking, “What happened to the Vikings!” They have changed…..since the Olde Days. How did they come to be reserved if not docile?
Notes 6 & 7.
— If homosexuality was once outlawed by ‘the several states,’ why would not praying to false gods be outlawed as well? That’s at the top of the list in the Law of God. I’m curious about the Code of Justinian.
— Phil votes both remain not outlawed.
— Michael, I’m going way out on a limb to be sure. Why should sins which were capital crimes in the “Opinion” of the revealed Law of God be weighed on balancing scales for our ‘opinion’ as we decide what is and what is not
harmful to a person.
— Can you imagine saying to Yourself? “just worship whatever the heck comes to mind, whatever god.”
— As the Head of a Family, can you imagine it? “just worship Whatever.” Was something wrong with Joshua? He reviews God’s faithful history with the people of God and urges: “Choose you this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
— Obviously without sanctions, no Law exists. If curses/sanctions exist that really do come down on people’s heads, why wouldn’t a Christian Nation warn people and protect people?
— Is it presumptuous for parents to decide for a baby “Whom he will serve?” when the rite of Holy Baptism is given and a child is reared in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
— The so-called Great Commission – what’s so great about it? It seems to speak to leadership: Baptize nations and teach to observe all that I have commanded.
— Do we see Christ ‘commanding’ – just worship Whomsoever you so desire? He says, Fear him who can destroy body & soul in hell.
— Don’t we need watchman of some kind to round up these children on Sunday mornings? One day there soul will be required of them. At least re-institute some Blue Laws and get them to church so they won’t fall into the hands of the Living God unprepared?
— Is it the most loving thynge a Tribal Leader could possibly do, or is it not, to make a choice of “Religion” just as Joshua did for his family? Come to think of it as St Vladimir did for all the locale/Russia of his time?
— Missionaries do aim to convert the Tribal Leader, because in many places of the world Radical Individualism has not yet ruined the ability of people to Love their King and obey.
— Finally, dualism? I think church and state should be close. Two lungs. If I’m not mistaken it was the vision of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Similar
to whatever the ideal was for Israel.
— I should know more about Byzantium.
— Father Jacobse says there is catching up to do with Russia’s gains, and I am interested.
Nancy L. wrote:
They bought into Pietism.
Nancy,
Some thoughts on law
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, all law is flows from Him and is fulfilled in Him.
Since we have the Incarnation and partake of His Body and Blood the nature of law changes. It is not supposed to be only external anymore but primarily internal-written in our hearts.
Capital Crimes: Everything we label a crime and many things we do not lead to the death of the soul. “If you call your brother a fool, you are worthy of death…isn’t that somewhere in John?
Unlike the governing theology of Massachusettes Bay and Israel the focus is not on God’s wrath (although that is real), but on His forgiveness and on the Cross.
He stands at the door and knocks, He does not break down the door with a battering ram. He never stops knocking
The Law was given for a time to convict us of our sin, now the Life is with us and we must submit to His love if we are to be saved. Love cannot be compelled.
IMO more will come to salvation if allowed to come freely and no one extra will be lost–this is not possible with man, but it is with God.
If we submit our own hearts to the transforming and healing power of God’s love, then many around us will be saved.
It is not supposed to be only external anymore but primarily internal-written in our hearts.
WHEN? whenever was it ‘to be only’ external?
Unlike the governing theology of Massachusettes Bay and Israel the focus is not on God’s wrath (although that is real), but on His forgiveness and on the Cross.
HOW? how was Israel’s ‘governing theology’ God’s wrath?
Well, you might infer that that would be my vote. It wasn’t stated in this thread. But I’m happy to defend the contention that society, or a unit of it, such as the government or the family, should treat both the same.
I’m curious how Michael managed to find fault with what I wrote in note 6 but not with the statement I was agreeing to in note 4.
Note 10.
Dear JBL:
I’ll tell you – that drew uproarious laughter (my husband.) The Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsinite, Nebraska Swedes are indeed such.
Bishop Hilarion – on the Europa site Father Hans provided – discusses the apostasy, though, of the Protestant Church in Europe. He uses the term “Liberal”, but I prefer a biblical term such as apostasy. I think “liberal” belongs with the Faithful. And the Bible gives clear directives, how to treat apostates.
I don’t think there are really many Pietists left in Sweden. My Grandparents, Nilsdotter/Jonasson “Johnsons” — were born in 1866 and 1877. Because they were Pietists (adult baptism by immersion and Lazare Readers Movement) — thir children, my Aunties, were ‘illigitimate.’ Not Citizens. I’m saying the Pietists evacuated Sweden. Not until 1952, were these choices valid. And in 2000, the state church was redesignated (after nearly a millenium) — to OPEN National Church. Only the King, I think, must needs by Lutheran.
You know, I appreciate what Jordan Bajis told me: “There developed in the early church two rites, The Cathedral rite, and the Monastic rite.” Obviously the Pietist Movement, being akin to the monastic rite: “Single unto the LORD”, a common phrase for Pietists. I do not know why the Lutheran Church could not have made room for them, the way Orthodoxy made room for monastics. Think about it. Some of the fathers were baptized as adults. As for immersion – where is the scandle. Jan Hus is my favorite early Reformer, because he was crusading for the Eastern Orthodox practice of Infant Communion. Why would you bring a child to life in baptism, and not feed the child? This is infanticide!! The practice of baptizing children and …………………………………waiting till confirmation. Something really wrong with that picture. The Baptists and the Orthodox at least are on the same page here: If you are going to bring a child to Life: now it is Time to Feed the Child!
Somewhere I have a beautiful hymn written by Jan Hus about Infant Communion.
It looks like the Åke Green variety are Pentecostals.
Åke Eldberg says:
Note 13.
Dear Phil:
Oh – you caught me “inferring!” 🙂 One of my worst faults since Childhood. Some of my family members (four aunts/uncles of my Grandparents 12 children) were born unable to hear/speak. They were deaf mutes. Two of them attended Gauladet School for the Deaf in Washington D.C. Something interesting is that one of them, Uncle Leonard, married a woman who was also deaf. She was an Ireland, same family as Archbishop John Ireland, St Paul, Minnesota — who was the nemesis of Saint Alexis Toth.
But my father and mother would sometimes use sign language around us kids. Or directly to us, such as the sign for “Naughty!” Your two forefingers form a “T”. You move from X to T. But I hear my mother saying to me in my pre-puberty days — “Stop jumping to conclusions!!!”
Thank you Phil