Clerics back Senate's stance on homosexualityNIGERIA and the United States (U.S.) may be heading for a significant diplomatic confrontation regarding the issue of homosexuality and lesbianism, which the Nigerian Senate recently criminalised in line with the country's primordial values, beliefs and Nigerians' deep-rooted resentment of unorthodox sexual practices.Both President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, have taken critical steps to serve notice to countries like Nigeria where homosexuality is a crime, indicating the readiness of the U.S. government to diplomatically fight such countries on the matter, as a human rights issue.One immediate area that this fight may emerge is in a new U.S. global funding from which Nigerian civil society groups could benefit. U.S. government sources said yesterday that in countries like Nigeria where homosexuality has become a crime eventually, the U.S. would fund civil society groups to defend the 'rights' of the homosexuals.Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has lauded the Nigerian Senate on its decision to criminalise same sex marriage in the country.A statement issued at the end of the administrative board meeting of the CBCN in Abuja by Most Rev. Felix Alaba-Job, said that the church was emphatic in its condemnation of same sex union, stressing that it is against the Bible and the Nigerian people's culture.Also, Vicar and Archdeacon of Ikoyi, Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion), Ven. Samuel Igein Isemede, has described homosexuals and lesbians as troubled people problem, who need both physical and spiritual healing.Isemede said the church had the responsibility of providing spiritual healing to homosexuals and lesbians.The CBCN wrote: 'We note that the Senate took this courageous and hope-inducing decision in the face of considerable internal and international pressure to do the exact opposite. Nigeria has in fact since then been directly asked by some Western countries to reverse this decision or forfeit certain aids and support.
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