Decisions on whether to repeal laws criminalizing sex between men should be made by the government, and Singapore’s Catholic Church takes a neutral stance on repealing section 377A of the penal code, says Singapore said Archbishop William Goe of
He added in a recent interview that the church would not oppose any repeal of Section 377A as long as the rights of the church and religious are protected and they continue to teach what they believe to be right.
The question of whether the law should be changed or repealed was revived after an appeals court ruled in February that the law should be left in place but could not be used to prosecute gay men. surfaced.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church was one of a group of religious leaders, Singaporeans, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT). Cabinet ministers have been involved in recent weeks as the government considers how best to move the law forward.
Religious groups and LGBT groups saw this as a signal for an impending policy change and issued statements expressing their positions.
In response to a question on the issue, Archbishop Goh stressed that it was for the government to decide whether the law should be repealed. As long as we are, we are neutral.That’s it.We don’t want people to be criminals.”
He referred to the Catholic Church’s right to maintain the status of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and that the family unit consists of a father, mother, and their children.
Several other religious leaders have expressed similar positions.
When asked by The Straits Times, Tan Thiam Lai, president of the Taoist Federation, said:
Malminderjit Singh, chairman of the Sikh Advisory Board, said repeal of Section 377A would be a realistic move as the law has not been implemented.
However, he added that from the perspective of the Sikh faith, this should be balanced against the strengthening of the notion of marriage and the family unit as being between men and women.
Earlier this year, Singaporean Muslim leader Mufti Naziruddin Mohd Nasir said in an interview with The Straits Times that the LGBT issue is a very complex one, but that he will work harder and find some solution. “We need to move faster,” he said. Expect religious leaders to provide guidance on this matter.
Dr. Nazirddin said Islam’s position on homosexuality is clear, saying it is not allowed, but homosexuality is rooted in homosexuality, kindness and inclusivity.
He urged communities to find constructive ways to coexist, reminding each other to support their faith rather than rejecting Muslims who do not practice certain aspects of their religion.
The 2020 Census found that among Singapore residents aged 15 and over, 31.1% identified as Buddhist, 8.8% Taoist, 15.6% Muslim and 5% Hindu. I was. He accounts for 18.9% of those who identify as Christians, of whom 36%, or 6.7% of the inhabitants, are Catholic.
The Alliance of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of Singapore describes Section 377A as “a marker of many social and moral considerations” and warns against repealing it.
A statement last Friday said repealing the law “without an equally weighted ban” would lead to far-reaching negative social consequences, including a rewriting of the norms of acceptable sexual relations. I warned you.
It will also spur “a brand of intolerant and aggressive LGBT activism that seeks to impose its ideology on Singaporean society,” the alliance said.
It called on governments to put in place clear, not vague, moral markers of the values we wish to promote and protect.
Religious groups also expressed concern that any abolition could encourage and encourage LGBT activists to seek recognition of same-sex marriage, and called for stronger protections for marriage.
An alliance representing churches, Christian groups and networks of ministers wants the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman to be enshrined in the constitution.
About 1,200 people, including Christian and Muslim leaders, attended a closed-door gathering called the Protect Singapore Town Hall last month to discuss the impact of the abolition and promote protections to protect marriages, families, children and freedom of conscience. asked for a solution.
About a week later, Minister of Home Affairs and Justice K. Shanmugam pointed out that most people wanted to keep the current position on marriage, and the government decided to move between dealing with the law and protecting the current legal position. He said he was looking at how to strike the best balance. Marriage from a challenge in court.
Archbishop Goh said in interviews with The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao that he hopes people will respect the right of the Catholic Church to maintain its position on marriage and family.
Catholics fear the repeal of Section 377A. He said he feared it would lead to a situation where people can’t practice what they believe and can’t even say same-sex relationships are wrong, as in the West.
“But we have to tell our children. For us it is unacceptable. So we must have the right to continue teaching[this]in Catholic schools.”
He added that the Catholic Church’s arguments were not against the repeal of the law.
“We are simply saying that we must continue to teach what we believe and have the freedom to practice what we teach.”
