David Kato, gay martyr

You might have noticed my mention of David Kato’s murder in Sunday’s homily. David was a gay Ugandan, who was working within the church as best he could, which wasn’t too good, and with Integrity where possible, to bring the promised “dialogue” about gay people to the Ugandan Anglican church, and to the greater Anglican Communion. He was butchered last week by homophobic fellow citizens.

Here is a story from the Episcopal News Service about his “funeral” which was conducted by a lay-reader when his own rector refused to honor his death http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_126792_ENG_HTM.htm.

Our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts-Schori, has very bravely called the whole church to respect the dignity of every human being. To see a video of her entire sermon click http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens.htm.

Somewhat belatedly, the Archbishop of Canterbury has made a second statement, after the first in which he seemed to doubt that this had been a murder, see his comment on  Video http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0130/anglicans.html#video.