THE Archbishop of York has renewed his opposition to a proposed law to prosecute homosexual people in his native country.

Dr John Sentamu, who was born in Uganda, spoke out after MP David Bahati introduced a private members’ bill to the Ugandan Parliament earlier this month calling for gay people to be jailed for life. It was greeted with cheers and laughs by fellow Ugandan MPs.

The Archbishop said: “The victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is an anathema. Homosexual people are children of God, loved and valued by Him and deserving the best we can give – pastoral care and friendship.

“Sadly,this particular high, extreme, sentencing already exists in Uganda in relation to other practices.

“No-one should have to live under the threat of violence and death, or live in fear because of the bigotry of others. Such violence has been consistently condemned by the Anglican Communion worldwide, and by myself – particularly in the Primates of the Anglican Communion statement in Dublin in 2010 issued following the murder of former York resident David Kato in Uganda.

“Every person has the right to enjoy safety and security regardless of their beliefs or sexual orientation – we are all created in God’s image and likeness. That image is in all of us and not just in some of us.

“We are all created by the God of love, and are of infinite worth in his sight. Homosexual people in Uganda deserve the best we can give in pastoral care and friendship, and I am quite sure that the response the Church of Uganda will make will have to take account of all these realities.”

Mr Bahati dropped his 2009 proposals to make homosexuality a capital offence.