Some were for it and few others were against it, but for the largest Church in northeast state of Mizoram there is no discomfiture in its stance against the recent gay ruling.
The Mizoram Presbyterian Church has strongly opposed the HC ruling that de-criminalised gay sex among consenting adults and called on Law Minister Veerappa Moily to review the judgement that overturned a 149-year-old colonial law.
"Homosexuality is against all religious ethics and the culture of Indian society. We feel that the Indian society is safeguarded by the IPC Section 377 from unnatural and anti-social behaviour. Hence we are of the opinion that there is no need of legalising homosexuality in our country," the Church wrote to Union Government.
It pointed that homosexuality was fundamentally against the family structure and legalising it will destroy the fundamental nature of family unit of life.
It continued: "Homosexuality is against the natural order of God’s purpose in creating both sexes. Anything that goes against the natural order does not last over time and will have negative impact on the lives of the people and society."
"The society has the right to consider the ethical and moral aspects in an individual’s life. We are of the strong opinion that legality should never challenge ethical and moral standard of the society. It is on this basis that the Church finds this judgement unacceptable."
What's more, homosexuals comprise only 0.3 per cent of the population, so the right of rest 99.7 per cent to lead a decent and moral life must not be ignored.
Therefore, it pleaded the law minister to "seek a thoughtful review of the verdict and retain a good standard of social ethical values in our country, known for upholding its traditional values for centuries."
Earlier, there were reports indicating that the Christian-dominated state of Mizoram might disregard the Delhi High Court's gay ruling and rather stick with an 100-year-old British law that rigidly criminalises homosexuality.
The British law formulated in 1909 by superintendent of then Lushai Hills HWG Cole strictly opposes homosexuality and also punishes chiefs who fail to "report all cases of unnatural offences".
Mizo church leaders also support the 1909 order that was framed with Christianity in mind.
Reverend Zosangliana Colney, executive secretary of the Mizoram Synod, says the British order was strongly supported by the church as "homosexuality is directly against the ethics of Christianity and the Bible."
Meanwhile, the National Council of Churches in India - an ecumenical forum of the Protestant and Orthodox Churches - after its Chennai symposium on homosexuality Tuesday, told Christian Today that it would soon release an official statement that would present the unequivocal view of the Church on the issue.
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