Mizoram church threatens to excommunicate homosexuals

AIZAWL: While the Indian state has remarkably softened its stand on gays, the church in Mizoram has kicked off a controversy by threatening to act against homosexuality.

On Saturday, the Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) said it would take ''strong punitive action'', including excommunication, against homosexuals in the flock.

The highest assembly of the BCM, the second most powerful Church body in Mizoram after the Presbyterian Church, has effectively ruled that homosexuality should be outlawed, Church leaders said here. Over 900 Baptist Church leaders attended the meeting held at BCM Bazaar Church at Lawngtlai in south Mizoram, about 300 km from Aizwal.

The meeting was chaired by Rev. C Rothuama.

According to the BCM guidelines, same-sex relationships, abortions and birth control are strictly prohibited in Mizoram. The BCM, however, is not against medical termination of pregnancy when the life of a woman is in danger.

The controversy surrounding the Church and homosexuality had begun in Mizoram in July last year after Delhi high court struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalized consensual gay sex among adults.

The court had then observed that the section violated fundamental rights of life and liberty and the right to equality as enshrined in the Constitution.

Immediately after the order, Mizo Church leaders came out in opposition. An umbrella Church organization of the state, the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), appealed to Union law and justice to look uphold Section 377.