Baptists move to block pro-gay bill at House

By FIDEL JIMENEZ, GMNews.TV Three Baptist ministries on Sunday urged lawmakers in the House of Representatives to block the passage of an anti-discrimination bill that would benefit gays and lesbians. In a joint statement, the Bible Believer’s League for Morality and Democracy (Biblemode), Alliance of Baptist Councils (ABC) and Christian Leaders for Good Governance (CLGG) reminded congressmen that homosexuality is condemned in the Bible. "The bill (House Bill No.634 or anti-discrimination bill for gays and lesbian), if passed into law, legitimizes homosexuality and lesbianism as acceptable lifestyles in the Philippine society. However, the Bible clearly speaks against homosexuality and lesbianism as practices that are ungodly and wrong," the three Baptist ministries said. "To encourage sin and ungodliness is to invite the wrath of God upon our nation. The Philippines should not have to suffer the same fate that befell Sodom and Gomorrah and New Orleans," they added. Last Saturday evening, Rep. Bienvenido Abante (Manila), president of Biblemode, led an assembly attended by around 1,000 Baptists to call for "moral righteousness." "I am not declaring an all-out war against homosexuals or the pro-gay group Ladlad, but I’m declaring all out love of God to change their lives," he told his followers. In a phone interview, Abante told GMANews.TV Sunday that there is enough law to protect human beings under the Bill of Rights. "If we passed this bill (anti-discrimination of homosexual), what’s next? Are we going to pass anti-discrimination bill on prostitutes? For me it is better if we focus on more relevant issues like corruption," he said. Abante also lambasted Akbayan Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales, sponsor of the pro-homosexual bill, for being ignorant about the procedures of the House Rules in passing a law without elaborating. Threat to society The joint statement said that the passage of the HB 634 could be used by gays and lesbians as license for same-sex marriage. "It was noted that the proposal does not enumerate the licenses, the denial of the application for which based on sexual orientation or preference shall be considered unlawful," the statement said. The statement added: "We find this omission seriously dangerous because the provision may be misconstrued as inclusive of marriage licenses. Such misconstruction of the law paves the way for the state cognizance of same sex marriages." The Baptist groups also said claims that lesbian and gay are oppressed have no factual basis. "Without [the] facts, there is no compelling reason for the proposal to be given legislative cognizance," said Marcelino Arias Sr., a lawyer and a Baptist pastor. If lawmakers are serious about protecting the rights of homosexuals, Arias challenged "closet" lawmakers to come out. "I know several of these lawmakers are gays," he said. "I challenge Rosales to name these ‘closet queens.’" Arias said an incumbent lawmaker whose name starts with the letter A and a former legislator from a rich clan in the Visayas are among the "closet queens" in the House. GMANews.TV