Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Russian Pro-Morality Bill Passes: The West is Aghast

Edit: in case you haven't seen this.
MOSCOW, June 11 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday gave its final approval for a controversial “anti-gay” bill, with only one of the 436 lawmakers present abstaining and no votes against, after a day of clashes outside the building and dozens of arrests by police. 
The bill seeks to ban the “the promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships,” making such acts punishable by a fine of up to 1 million rubles ($30,000). 
The first draft of the bill, passed by the State Duma on January 25, used the term “homosexuality” but this was replaced by the term “non-traditional sexual relationships,” in the final version Tuesday.
Link read further... 

A similar movement collapsed in Romania, however. (Surely, EU membership  threats loom somewhere on the horizon, and well, Romanians aren't Hungarians, they're not even Russians.) I found the following from the aforelinked blog, at a Political Refugee in the Global Village, which shows the determined lack of direction and conviction which typically stymies most people, unfortunately, especially churchmen, from making definitive and clear cut statements.  Auden may have struggled with sin, but he wasn't a "practicing homosexual" and he certainly didn't quibble about calling a sin a sin, either.  Understandably, as those of us with strong connections to people suffering from various kinds of sins in the Dictatorship of Relativism, we tend to waffle.  I think Auden would have objected to being called out thusly. Italics ours:

I hope this constitutional amendment  becomes law but doubt it will, simply for fear of foreign opinion.  

I do not want to be pharisaical or victimise homosexuals. As the cliché goes, many of my best friends are homosexuals (they really are). We are all fallen creatures, thoroughly imperfect, but because we break the rules this does not mean the rules about fornication, adultery and divorce  are wrong. I prefer what W.H. Auden, a practicing homosexual and a practicing Christian, said: 'Of course its a sin and we must hope that God will forgive us.'  Homosexual marriage would be a public recognition by the law that what Christianity teaches about sexual life was out of date and bigoted. It would also mean that marriage had changed in its essential meaning.  

Romanians used to be shocked by homosexuality (as by smoking joints and other things which are pretty normal further West). Now they are learning slowly from the EU that Christian teaching on the matter is bigoted. In other words, the old doctrine is a sin against the new human rights religion which seems to complement but is, in fact, replacing Christianity. 

12 comments:

Geremia said...

Russia will be converted. ☺

susan said...

EXTRAORDINARY! May God bless them....it appears they are already on the road to re-conversion more than we.

Anonymous said...

There are always things to be glad for, really glad.

Anonymous said...

Well, it seems to me the West needs conversion more than Russia.

Geremia said...

Russia's errors are the root of the West's errors, so if the root heals, so might the branches.

Anonymous said...

One of the reasons they have this important autonomy is that
they are not a member of the EU; not dictated to by EU or U.S. .

Anonymous said...

I think it is astonishingly good that out of 436 voters no,
no votes and one abstention. Astonishingly good.

Anonymous said...

Russian Embassy, 2641 Tunlaw Rd., NW Washington D.C., 2007
Phone, 202-939-8907 or 8918 or 8913 .

Geremia said...

What should we say in our calls to them? ☺

Anonymous said...

Firstly Alan Aversa I almost 100% like your comments here and elsewhere. I only posted contact #s for anyone who might want them. Anyone can say or not say whatever they want. Their , the Russians business should be their business. They don't need our 2 cents. I just sometimes contact people whom I want to say something to.

Unknown said...

Such a romantic and perfect day to walk at the park under the lovely pink blooms! Beautiful place! EConnect USA

Anonymous said...

GOD BLESS HOLY MOTHER RUSSIA