The Church loves homosexuals but not their lifestyle. Making the statement was Reverend Pat Glasgow. He was speaking on the church's stance on gay and lesbian rights. Glasgow was speaking at a press conference at the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies (PAWI) on its upcoming 34th Biennial General Conference on May 20-25 at the Woodbrook Pentecostal Church, 53 Gallus Street, Woodbrook.
"We love the homosexuals but we don't love their acts," Rev Glasgow said. "We must make the distinction between a person's act and the person themselves. We believe that God loves all homosexuals and wants them to be saved. "Homosexuality, like any other sin like murder or other, is a sin that people commit."
Rev Glasgow said even though same-sex unions were private affairs by consenting adults, once it violated the principles of God it became a problem. When asked whether gays and lesbians were entitled to certain legal rights and protection, Glasgow said every government had to be careful with the decisions it makes.
He said someone's rights should not infringe on another's, but it could impact on other aspects of society, such as children. Rev Glasgow said it was an imposition of one person's lifestyle on another, which violated Biblical principles. He also said his organisation did not support US president Barack Obama's position on gay rights.
Glasgow said he was also against violence on homosexuals, and the harassment and attacks on gays and lesbians in Uganda should be condemned. Alleged homosexuals are routinely "outed" in Ugandan newspapers calling for their public punishment since the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, more commonly known as the "Kill the Gays Bill", was proposed.
He said gays in T&T should not be persecuted or be treated in an inhumane manner, such as in Nazi Germany where homosexuals were forced to wear pink triangles to identify and shame them. Glasgow said the church's response should be one of love and acceptance with a view of bringing the person in line with the principles of God's word.
