Homosexuality: Phom Baptist to stick to the Bible

Dimapur, Nov. 22 (EMN): The Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) has reaffirmed faith in the teachings of the Bible concerning homosexuality and same sex marriage. The organisation issued a press release noting the verdict of the Supreme Court of India scrapping Section 377 of the Indian Panel Code, and decriminalizing homosexuality. The association met during November 13-18 in Longleng to discuss a series of concerns and issues ‘ensuring the church safety and her identity,’ the press release stated. One of the issues that the association discussed was the recent judgement of the Supreme Court scrapping Section 377 of the Indian Panel Code, and decriminalizing homosexuality. “Legalising and empowering such acts in our land is totally unacceptable, alien and shocking to the Christian community,” the organisation stated. “Through the platform of central council meeting, PBCA warns all Phom youngsters and believers not to be persuaded by such laws, which is misleading, misguiding and misinterpreting the biblical morality and ethics. Simultaneously, in a tribal socio-cultural context even a man and a woman marrying from the same clan is ostracised from the village-community.” In such a context, the organisation stated further, the act of homosexuality is ‘unconceivable.’ ‘It is totally unacceptable, unethical and shocking to the Phom tribal community. With clear conscience, PBCA condemns such kind of laws empowered by Supreme Court. Christians are guided and governed by biblical principles and values.’ The PBCA vigorously affirmed that marriage is only between a man and a woman, and apart from that there are no other marriages recommended by the Bible. “Therefore, PBCA wants to make it clear that we solely stand on the finality of the Holy Bible for all matters of faith and practices for Phom society in particular and the Naga society in general,” the organisation added.