Die regte en verantwoordelikhede van die homoseksuele persoon : research article

The rights and responsibilities of the homosexual person Homosexual conduct is at the moment a very contentious issue in Christian Ethics in South Africa. The arguments in favour of a Christian ethical approval of homosexual relations, that were entertained in the seventies and eigthies of the previous century in Europe and the United States, are now on the agenda of the Dutch Reformed Churches in South Africa. The issue of possible official marriages between homosexual partners is also under consideration due to a judgement of the Court of Appeal in South Africa that a prohibition on same-sex marriages should be regarded as unconstitutional. This article investigates the arguments of the proponents of homosexual marriages by evaluating the Scriptural testimonies regarding homosexual conduct, and by formulating ethical norms applicable to this theme. The conclusion is that Scripture forbids homosexual conduct because it is considered as "contra naturam". Therefore, the government and the church cannot condone homosexual conduct as well as same-sex marriages, because these relations are against the Biblical and constitutional value of human dignity. However, in spite of this principle both government and the church have an obligation to treat homosexual people with justice and love and to reject any form of homophobia. Homoseksuele gedrag is vandag 'n baie omstrede saak in die Christelike etiek in Suid-Afrika. Die argumente ten gunste van die etiese regverdiging van homoseksuele gedrag, wat in die sewentiger- en tagtigerdekades van die vorige eeu in Europa ontwikkel is, is nou ook op die agenda van kerke in die gereformeerde tradisie in Suid-Afrika. Die sogenaamde "gay" huwelike is ook in Suid-Afrika onder bespreking as gevolg van die uitspraak van die Appèlhof dat die verbod op sodanige huwelike as ongrondwetlik beskou moet word. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die argumente van die voorstaanders van "gay" huwelike deur hulle aanspraak op die Skrif te evalueer en om etiese norme te formuleer wat op hierdie saak van toepassing is. Die konklusie is dat die Skrif "gay" huwelike verbied omdat dit beskou word as "contra naturam". Die kerk en die sentrale owerheid mag nie "gay" huwelike en homoseksuele gedrag kondoneer nie, omdat dit strydig is met die Skriftuurlike en grondwetlike waardes van menswaardigheid. Tog het die owerheid en die kerk die taak om mense met 'n homoseksuele oriëntasie regverdig, billik en met liefde te behandel en om enige vorm van homofobie tee