CHANGING ATTITUDE NIGERIA NEWS

PRESS RELEASE

Changing Attitude Nigeria responds to the HOB statement

Wednesday, 26 September 2007

Changing Attitude Nigeria, after reading the response from the Episcopal Church House of Bishops, thanks them and welcomes their positive response to the commitment made by Lambeth Resolution 1.10 and repeated by the Primates of the Communion in 2005 and 2007 to listen to the experience of GLBT people in every Province.

Davis Mac-Iyalla, Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria, said:
“We understand how difficult it has been for the bishops to compromise over their weekend of discussions which have been conducted in the spirit of working to amend the tear in the fabric of the Anglican communion which conservatives claim happened when bishop Gene Robinson was elected and consecrated.

“We support the bishops in saying that our African Primates should stop the incursions they are making into Provinces where they have not been invited.

“This call also goes to Archbishop Peter Akinola to emulate the bishops of the Episcopal church and start the listening process in the province of Nigeria which all the bishops have committed themselves to undertake.”

Recently the Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria visited 20 cities in America where he met with bishops, lay people and priests in the Episcopal Church.

In addressing the Executive Council meeting of the Episcopal Church in June Sir Davis Mac-Iyalla drew their attention to the discrimination and violence that LGBT people are facing in Nigeria and how the Nigerian church is supporting a bill that will imprison and criminalize not only LGBT people but any bishop or priest who starts to listen to their experience, with the penalty of five years in prison.

Davis Mac-Iyalla concluded: “We are grateful that the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church is still committed to uphold the justice and dignity of all gays and lesbians in every Province.”

END

Contact:
Davis Mac-Iyalla, Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria
+228 993 7680
davis@nigeria.changingattitude.org

Telephone 01380 724908
E-mail office@changingattitude.org

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