View On Homosexuality (Press, 3 April 1985)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: View On Homosexuality (Press, 3 April 1985)
On 3 April 1985, the Salvation Army announced that it would recommend a more compassionate approach to the classification and penalties for homosexual offenders to Parliament’s Statutes Revision Committee. This stance was articulated through an advertisement published in the "Evening Post," which outlined the organisation's position on the ongoing Homosexual Law Reform Bill. The Salvation Army expressed regret that its previous involvement in a petition opposing the bill, combined with certain media coverage, may have led to misunderstandings among its supporters. In the advertisement, the Salvation Army made a clear distinction between homosexual orientation and homosexual acts, asserting that while they sympathise with thoughts they view as abnormal, they do not condone behaviours that conflict with their scriptural standards. They emphasised their understanding of the challenges faced by homosexual individuals while rejecting the notion of normalising behaviours they deem deviant. The organisation clarified that its opposition to the reform bill should not be interpreted as approval of the current provisions in the Crimes Act concerning consenting males. They acknowledged the significant public pressure on both sides of the debate. However, the Salvation Army reaffirmed its independent decision-making in supporting the petition against the reform bill, stating that the petition is a legitimate democratic expression. The advertisement also highlighted the Salvation Army's commitment to providing compassionate support services for homosexuals, consistent with their international principles. They concluded by reassuring the public that funds from the Red Shield appeal or any other donations would not be used to oppose the bill.
Important Information
The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact
The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand