We are aware of the aggressive attempts to define marriage in a way that includes gay and lesbian relationships, such that we even have countries that have legalised so-called gay marriages. In our time, the idea of marriage as a commitment to life-long relationship is being undermined by so-called pre-nuptial contract in which couples determine, even before they exchange vows what will come to each other, if and when they divorce each other. In these days, we have trial marriages that exclude commitment until, for example, the woman is able to get pregnant or the man is able to provide all the luxuries that she wants.
In our days, we have couples just living together without the intention of getting married, with the excuse that if they get married, they will lose the urge to put in the efforts required to keep the relationship going, or else that they will soon begin to expect too much from each other and so begin to restrict the freedom of each other. Attempts to resist such influences, particularly of gay marriage, have led to the so-called anti- gay bills in a number of African countries in particular. We take it that such laws are meant to resist the incursion of these obnoxious disvalues into our cultural settings and perhaps to help those engaged in it to reform themselves.
However, we must not fail to reiterate that just like Christ our Lord and master, while we hate the sin, we must not hate the sinner. In other words, while we condemn homosexual activities as being contrary to God’s will for us, we must keep on urging those concerned to change their ways, but we must never chip anything away from their dignities as human beings. That is why lynching of those suspected to be engaged in the acts is not an option. We must not forget that the commandment of God says: Thou shall not kill.
• Most. Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
