Christian Council calls for counselling services for homosexuals

Accra, Aug. 5, GNA - The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) on Friday, called on health services and other professionals to offer counselling to practicing homosexuals in order to eschew the practice.

The Council reiterated its call on the Christian Community to make available their counselling services and clinics to people who may find themselves in the practice.

The call was made in a statement signed in Accra by Reverend Dr Fred Deegbe, General Secretary in reaction to a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report.

It said 93A BBC report on August 3, carried the news that the homosex= ual community in Ghana may be at risk of being ejected from their homes, refuse= d treatment for conditions including HIV/AIDS as well as being in danger due to the public outcry and threats of attacks against the act. "The Christian Council of Ghana will like to say that such reports i= f true are regrettable. People who are infected by HIV/AIDS and are in need o= f treatment must receive their treatment. It is also wrong for anybody to threaten to kill a homosexual," it added.

The statement reiterated the salient parts of what was stated by some Leaders of Christian Churches in their last release that: 93In obedience t= o the example of Jesus whose compassionate love was all-embracing, the Christian churches seek to understand and sensitively to accept and help those of a homosexual disposition and those who express that disposition in sexual acts." "We are opposed to the victimization of persons on the grounds of sexual orientation and recognize the social and emotional stress and the loneliness borne by many who are homosexual."

"In humility, we reiterate what has always been the message of the Christian faith everywhere: God loves the sinner including the homosexual but he hates sin including homosexuality."

"We, therefore, would like to state that it is not about victimizati= on, but it is about how all of us would work to provide a safe environment for people who find themselves in this practice and would want to receive support spiritually, emotionally and physically to get out of the practice,= " the statement added.