Belgian Bishop Accused of Homophobia

From the desk of Paul Belien on Wed, 2007-06-27 18:06

Belgian homosexual activists have brought charges against Mgr André-Mutien Léonard, the Roman-Catholic bishop of Namur, for homophobia, a criminal offence in Belgium according to the country’s 2003 Anti-Discrimination Act. In an interview last April in the Walloon weekly Télé Moustique, the bishop is said to have described homosexuals as “abnormal” people.

According to Michel Graindorge, the activists’ lawyer, the bishop intended to “stigmatize” homosexuals, whose “identity and dignity is debased from the moment that the bishop considers them to be abnormal.” Mr Graindorge warned for the dangers of such stigmatization, which he claims leads to  “the fate the Nazis reserved for [homosexuals].” Homosexual activists claim that the Nazis sent homosexuals to extermination camps.

The homosexual activists also take offence at Mgr Léonard’s reference to Sigmund Freud, arguing that Freud did not consider homosexuality to be abnormal. The bishop says that he never described homosexual people as “abnormal people,” but was only referring to their sexual behaviour which deviates from the normal pattern. “One has to distinguish between the person and his behaviour,” he explained. However, according to the journalist who taped the interview, the bishop had been referring to the people rather than their behaviour.

Last January Christian Vanneste, a member of the French parliament (who has just been reelected), was convicted for homophobia by a French court. Mr Vanneste had said that “heterosexuality is morally superior to homosexuality” and that “homosexuality endangers the survival of mankind.”

Meanwhile Sweden is preparing a law, which is expected to be voted next January, to  allow homosexual couples to marry in church.

Comfortable

Submitted by marcfrans on Tue, 2007-07-03 20:20.

Amsterdamsky is seeking comfort in the comforting "we".  It is a 'cheap shot' from a shallow American in Amsterdam, producing countless silly oneliners and twoliners.  But, I agree with him that "banning kills sites".

Banning kills sites

Submitted by Amsterdamsky on Tue, 2007-07-03 18:23.

I was a regular blogger on a very popular site until a few activist mods starting banning people.  It kills the site.  Unless they are posting 300 times a day it is really better to just tolerate them like we do to Marc Frans.

"WE"???

Submitted by atheling on Thu, 2007-07-05 01:23.

Tolerate Marc Frans? Mr. Frans is one of the most sane posters on this site.

We tolerate Amsterdamsky because he reveals just how absurd the mind on crack can be. Besides, reading some of his silly remarks can make me laugh out loud.

In Search of A Reasonable Compromise

Submitted by Atlanticist911 on Sun, 2007-07-01 13:29.

Re: Mrs P.

 

While I can fully appreciate the frustrations of Kapitein Andre, I must agree with George2.Personally,if I were the Kapitein, I'd approach Mrs P. in the following manner.

 

Dear Mrs P.

To directly quote the words of Sara Jeannette Duncan,"If you have anything to say to me of importance,for God's sake begin at the end".Otherwise, and to (slightly mis)quote William Shakespeare,"Let the rest be silence".

Do we have a deal,Madame?

 

Would someone please ban Mrs. Parmeswar!!!!!

Submitted by Kapitein Andre on Thu, 2007-06-28 02:39.

This user is a complete troll whose incoherent ramblings are not in any way connected to the posted articles. I am quite tired of hearing about Simsbury CT, Arjun and Muslim witchraft. Although I "hardly seem human" I think that most others on this blog agree with me.

 

Thanks.

El Capitano

Mrs P

Submitted by Bob Doney on Thu, 2007-06-28 15:07.

Actually I find it entirely commendable that our hosts are prepared to tolerate even this irritating stuff. I don't think, by the way, that Mrs P is a troll. Something more health-related, I suspect.

Mrs P (2)

Submitted by George2 on Sun, 2007-07-01 11:39.

Live and let live. This includes trolls and the small spotted woodpecker.

Heil Socialist Sweden

Submitted by Amsterdamsky on Wed, 2007-06-27 20:52.

"Meanwhile Sweden is preparing a law, which is expected to be voted next January, to  allow homosexual couples to marry in church."

 

So the Swedish churches report to the government?  I am an atheist and pro-gay rights but I find this very, very disturbing.  I don't understand why any gay couple would want to get married in a church but I would defend the rights of churches not to marry gay couples if they choose not to.

Only in church, you say?

Submitted by ras on Wed, 2007-06-27 19:05.

Meanwhile Sweden is preparing a law, which is expected to be voted next January, to allow homosexual couples to marry in church.

... but not in a mosque?