Uganda parliament passes anti-gay law
After many fits and starts, the Uganda parliament has finally passed a harsh anti-gay law. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) The legislation provides penalties as harsh as life imprisonment but does not call for capital punishment. It will become law if and when it is signed by President Yoweri Museveni. The story has been reported by The New York Times, Al Jazeera, and other news outlets.Kunonga continues disruptions in Zimbabwe
According to The Zimbabwe Mail, deposed bishop Nolbert Kunonga and his supporters recently seized control of St. Luke’s Bvumbura parish, thus continuing to be a disruptive influence among Anglicans in Zimbabwe. (Pittsburgh Update last ran a story on Kunonga here. We have not followed his exploits closely.) According to the The Zimbabwe Mail, Kunonga is a close friend of President Robert Mugabe, with whom he shares an opposition to the “inclusion of sexual minorities into mainstream social life.”Pilling comments continue piling up
Thinking Anglicans has published yet another post on comments on the Pilling Report. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) Of particular interest is an essay from Simon Sarmiento, which provides a good overview of the controversial report.Same-sex marriage advances on two fronts
On December 19, 2013, the New Mexico Supreme Court handed down a decision making same-sex marriage legal throughout the state. State law neither allowed nor prohibited such marriages, and licenses were being granted in some counties and not others. The Albuquerque Journal reported the story, which includes the court decision itself. Opponents of marriage equality may attempt to negate the court decision through legislation.According to The Washington Post, on December 20, 2013, a federal judge struck down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage. Judge Robert Shelby, as in the New Mexico case, found no state interest in prohibiting marriage between persons of the same sex. Bishop of Utah Scott B. Hayashi issued a statement the next day rejoicing in the decision and requesting “understanding, compassion, and prayer” for those who find the court decision unwelcome. According to AP, the state was in federal court December 23 requesting a stay of the decision pending appeal. NPR reported later in the day that that request was rejected, requiring the state to seek a favorable ruling by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.