The pastor of an LGBT-affirming New Orleans church is denouncing the vote of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations against a resolution that condemned capital punishment for same-sex relations, adultery and other acts deemed criminal in many countries.
Last Friday, the U.S. delegation voted against a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council that called for countries to end discriminatory imposition of the death penalty, including on pregnant women, minors, and those convicted of adultery or consensual same-sex relations.
The resolution, offered by Belgium, Benin, Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia and Switzerland, passed 27-13. Joining the United States in opposing the statement were Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, India, Iraq, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
"It's astonishing that a nation that prides itself on being among the most freedom-loving in the world would oppose a non-binding resolution on this subject," said Rev. Alisan Rowland, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans. "The United Nations recognizes that under international law, nations are free to pass their own criminal codes and penalties and, now, the U.N. acknowledges that the death penalty is applied in a discriminatory manner in many countries. Sadly, the United States was on the wrong side of this vote.
"Disagreement about the merits or effectiveness of capital punishment isn't the point," Rowland said. "Even proponents of the death penalty should agree that executing children, pregnant women, or people who engage in consensual sexual relationships is draconian. It's a crying shame that our own delegation to the United Nations can't."
For a recent article on this topic, click here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2017/10/02/death-penalty-for-same-sex-relations-denounced-by-united-nations/#375169ef2b77
For more information about Rowland's church visitwww.MCCNewOrleans.com . For more information about the denomination, visit www.MCCChurch.org .