Updated and republished Tuesday evening
While the General Synod meets, Political Spaghetti continues to report on the progress of the legislation that is officially supported by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
daily episcopalian reports the latest development affecting gay Anglicans in Nigeria here:
Pray for Davis, and write to Lambeth.
In a later report, Matt Thompson tells us that:
The Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) just announced their public support of Peter Akinola in a press conference in Abuja, condemning any group that might wish to make same-sex marriage lawful in Nigeria.
And in an even more recent posting, he reports that
The Nigerian Senate is expected to vote on the legislation this Thursday (less than 48 hours from now). The Nigerian House is ready to vote as well.
and provides a long list of contacts in Nigeria, the USA, and the UK (including Lambeth Palace) for those who wish to express their concern.
Davis Mac-Iyala has returned to Nigeria and is now asking for help from TEC. His life is in danger.
Please read his latest e-mail and ask yourself why TEC should pursue communion with Akinola and his enabler, Rowan Williams.
http://revjph.blogspot.com/2007/02/rowan-williams-is-responsible-for-this.html
A cross post from JN, by A. MacArthur: (QUOTE) Write to Lambeth??? Puh-lease, Rowan knows exactly what Akinola’s up to. Instead of writing missives to ancient palaces, the HOB ought to issue an appeal to Davis (along with a visa and a plane ticket) to join them for “urgent consultations” at Camp Allen. The point is that Davis has to be gotten out of Nigeria, he is in personal danger, and regardless of the politics, get him out. But he does have quite a story to tell the bishops of TEC, and he’s every bit the man who can look… Read more »
Just faxed a two page letter to Lambeth Palace, asking for help in calling Nigeria and Nigerian Anglicans to account for their sins on this one. I doubt that Canterbury actually cares, but people may always surprise us even when we do not particularly expect it. In any case, I think Rowan needs to know that we indeed see and hear him, all round, no?
FWIW, here’s a portion of an e-mail I sent earlier today to Bishop Katharine’s office. Got a quick response and assurance that the right people are looking into the matter: “Soon after I was ordained, I became the Diocesan Refugee Coordinator for (my) Diocese. One of the things we DRCs learned is that a “well-counded fear of persecution” based on ethnicity, political belief/activity, etc. was the determining factor when it came to deciding who was a refugee, and who was not. Depending on the specifics of the anti-gay legislation that eventually becomes law in Nigeria, and given the apparently well-documented… Read more »
Judging from my memories of my Grandfather, I rather suspect Davis Mac-Iyalla is the last to want to leave his country or to think he has done anything at all… … also dear old Ajax – extra thick boards, extra floating tanks and all – enjoys her well deserved rest on the bottom of the sea… … not to say that I am too far away to rescue anybody out of Nigeria by sail and oar… … but I think I just might be able to put aside a few quid this month, 200 perhaps 300, if God is mercyful…… Read more »
I want to second Goran’s offer of assistance.
It is very difficult to deny reality…we are experiencing a gross human-rights violation and a grandstanding bid for oppression and thieving simultaneously at the Anglican Communion.
It’s time for the ABC and ++Katharine to remove the cotton from their ears and shove it in their mouths.
What an apt St David’s Day present for Rowan Williams this new law will make.
Nobody can say they were not warned.
So, come on – have some guts and get out of the CofE. Can’t you see that they have nothing to offer us?
As we all take what action we can to preserve Davis Mac-Iyalla’s life and the lives of other GLBT Nigerians, I’d like to raise a question for our further reflection:
Could we in the Episcopal Church do more for them if we were no longer part of the Anglican Communion?
I think it’s an open question, myself. What do you think?
Beth I liked your letter. I find this a bit amusing. There was a big uproar in Australia a couple of years ago that sending Christians back to some countries was basically a death sentence (converted apostates). There was huge lobbying by the churches to protect these converts who could not help being what they were. The need for them to be able to live free of persecution and a genuine threat to their lives was trumpeted in lobby groups and within their own parishes. Yet the irony is that now it is someone who is displeasing to them, they… Read more »
I’m with Goran, I’ll help…let me know how to PROPERLY channel ‘help’ through Changing Attitudes U.K…I won’t send anything directly to Nigeria or Uganda as I’ve already had a very unhappy experience being “frisked” by Orombi’s accomplice, Fr. Eryc (I wasn’t alone).
When the UK government enact the new mental health legislation and make it possible for people withpersonality disorders to be locked up indefinitely, even if they have commited no crime, some of this site’s correspondence will probably find out, first hand, just how scared David is.
As you can see from this week’s New Statesman (UK publication) persecution affects different ethnic groups, political dissidents and, of course, faith groups. Rowan Williams wrote a piece in conjunction with Amnesty International about Christian leaders being detained without trial, which of course is a gross violation of human rights and to be highlighted and deplored. Web link here http://www.newstatesman.com/200702260024 What is happening in Nigeria is a different kind of evil. It’s a package of human rights violations actually carried through a Parliament, an unheard of thing – the criminalisation of a thought, of an idea, of discussion about a… Read more »
A comment judged to be defamatory of an individual which was made here and approved earlier today has now been removed, and several other consequential comments will therefore not be published.
I wrote my Congressman, Jim McDermott, who is also an Episcopalian, but I’m afraid I’m much too late. I was stupid not to think of doing that earlier. I did send his office the fax number of the Nigerian Embassy and the instructions to address it to the General Assembly, but, again, I think it’s not going to get there in time.
I also asked Rep. McDermott to do what he can to facilitate emergency refugee status for gays and lesbians who need to leave Nigeria if this bill passes.
Leonardo Ricardo wrote: “I won’t send anything directly …. as I’ve already had a very unhappy experience being “frisked” ….. (I wasn’t alone).”
It was the same with South Africa in the 80ies.
I called the ABC’s office. his press secretary will relay emails: jonathan.jennings@lambethpalace.org.uk
Several questions:
1. The man was just in Tanzania and apparently free to come and go, why the frenzy about getting him out? He seems to come and go with no problem.
2. Has anyone authenticated the various alleged threats he has received? They may be real but might they also have been invented by him to focus atention on a legitimately serious issue? (It would not be the first time that appeals from from Nigeria were attempted scams. I get email requests on an almost daily basis.)
DaveG , I am an honest gay Nigerian Anglican who is working for total inclusion for LGBT members of the church of Nigeria. I have never scam anyone or have reason to invent those threats. That I have just retuned from Tanzania never means I am safe in Nigeria. I have never considered asylum not because I am safe in Nigeria but because I love my country and want to remain to continue my work of changing the attitude of the Nigerian church and society towards us LGBT people. I want to hear how you can help appeal to the… Read more »
“It would not be the first time that appeals from from Nigeria were attempted scams. I get email requests on an almost daily basis.” Dave G You’re absolutely right. I guess we have to rely on the “authenticated” support of ALL the folks that met Davis in Tanzania and Changing Attitudes U.K…did the ABC say hello to the “condemed?” Did the ABC and ++Katharine ask him to drop by and tell his story even though he was in the SAME building for the entire time? The “omissions” are terrorizing LGBT people worldwide…but, the ABC and Bishop Katharine contine to live… Read more »
Just to say many thanks to all those who have been showing concern and Christian love to us your Nigerian LGBT brothers and sisters.
: I personally have been very moved by all the messages of support for me.
Dave, I was with Davis in Tanzania. There is nothing fabricated about the threats. If you think there might be, ask the respected journalists Jonathan Petre (Daily Telegraph UK), Stephen Bates (Guardian UK), George Conger (Church of England Newspaper – which has an article about Davis written by George this week), and David Virtue. And if you don’t beleve them, ask the Archbishops of Cape Town and Canada. And if they aren’t good enough for you, try asking Bishop Martyn Minns, who met Davis every morning at breakfast in Tanzania. What’s the matter with you, Dave, that you are so… Read more »
DaveG. “the man” is well known to people on TA and all those questions have already been answered, by him, by his supporters and on the Changing Attitude website. Davis is absolutely trustworthy, in real and actual danger, and the Tanzania visit was planned carefully by him and others and in secrecy. Having said that, Davis has said on a number of occasions that he is not yet willing to leave because he believes strongly that his calling is to stay in Africa and work for Nigierian lgbt people for as long as possible. I know Davis and I don’t… Read more »
Davis Mac-Iyalla: people are looking, listening and keeping watch for your safety because of your important representation.