Archbishop Desmond Tutu would rather go to hell than be in heaven with anti-gay people, the religious leader confirmed in a fiery series of remarks about gay rights.
Speaking on the issue of gay rights, modern Christian sentiment and heaven, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said that the current anti-gay movement is like “apartheid,” and he made some pretty strong opinions known on the matter overall.
Tutu isn’t the first to compare the struggle for gay civil rights to the one faced historically by black people worldwide, but he is a prominent voice to link the two movements so visibly.
The retired South African archbishop was speaking in Cape Town during a launch of the United Nations’ gay rights campaign, and he plainly stated :
“I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this.”
Tutu isn’t just committed to gay solidarity on Earth, as he went on to renounce eternal salvation if the price means discriminating against and denying his fellow humans civil rights.
He added :
“I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place.”
On gay rights and apartheid, Tutu was also firm, saying:
“I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid… For me, it is at the same level.”
On Twitter, some were quick to condemn the religious leader for his statements, and more than one detractor tweeted:
Desmond Tutu Says He Would Rather Go To Hell Than A Biblical Heaven That Condemns Homosexuality Might get his wish.
— ? @jeanniemcbride (@jeanniemcbride) July 27, 2013
Desmond tutu supporting gay rights movement…i withdraw every respect i ever had for him….. #endoftheworld
— President2029 (@president2029) July 27, 2013
Others were more supportive of Archbishop Desmond Tutu:
This is what real christians sound like: Desmond Tutu: I’d Choose Hell Over A Homophobic Heaven http://t.co/LEDIz9PsWI via @HuffPostRelig
— Kevin Jennings (@ArcusKevin) July 27, 2013
Do you think Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s gay rights stance is in line with Christianity’s teachings?
