Catholic bishops and Islamic clerics oppose same-sex marriage

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India while commenting on the recent petition filed at the Delhi High Court about the marriage of SOGIESC community under the Hindu Marriage Act said that homosexuality is unnatural and that the Church does not accept homosexuality as it is against nature and what God has taught.

“Indian society and law do not recognize such a concept. Homosexuality is unnatural and the Church does not accept that which is against nature because we follow what God has taught us”, Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India was quoted saying in a report by UCA News dated September 15, 2020.

He said that the Church neither promotes nor propagates homosexuality and believes that it is always for men and women and happy families.

“The Church believes in natural activities and it will always stand for that”, he said.

Muhammad Arif, the chairman of Center for Harmony and Peace, was quoted saying in UCA News that same-sex marriage, homosexuality and gay culture are all Western culture.

“Same-sex marriage, homosexuality and gay culture are all Western culture, which some people think is correct, but I don’t think our society is ready to accept them at this moment.”, he had said.

He said that our country has a history of people living peacefully and following the age-old tradition of marriage between men and women and that it will be difficult to accept same sex marriages.

A petition was filed at the Delhi High Court seeking the recognition of the right of SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics) community members to marry under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

The public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed by defence and strategic affairs expert Abhijit Iyer Mitra, intersex activist Gopi Shankar Madurai, transgender activist G Oorvasi and senior women rights and lesbian activist Giti Thadani.

The matter has now been adjourned till October 21.