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Shanmugam meets pastors to discuss gay issue
In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Shanmugam said that Faith Community Baptist Church pastor Lawrence Khong had asked to meet him. -Singapolitics
Tessa Wong
Mon, Feb 18, 2013
Singapolitics
Law Minister K. Shanmugam has met with the leaders of LoveSingapore, a network of 100 churches, to discuss views on the gay community.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Shanmugam said that Faith Community Baptist Church pastor Lawrence Khong had asked to meet him, following Mr Shanmugam's meeting with lesbian group Sayoni.
He said he met with Mr Khong, who heads LoveSingapore, with other pastors last Friday, and linked to a statement written by Mr Khong on the LoveSingapore Facebook wall.
Mr Khong had noted it was interesting that they had met on Friday, which happened to be Total Defence Day, to discuss "defending the moral future of our nation".
He said the pastors enjoyed the conversation with Mr Shanmugam on a "hot and emotional topic", and they looked at the LGBT issue through "different lenses and from many angles".
"(Mr Shanmugam) explained multiple viewpoints on the topic, his engagement with many different groups, and how their viewpoints differed," Mr Khong wrote.
In response to the pastors' queries, Mr Shanmugam had stated the Government's position as outlined by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2007, said Mr Khong.
During a parliamentary debate that year on Section 377A of the Penal Code, which bans gay sex, PM Lee said Singapore is a conservative society, and while the Government would not repeal the law, it would also not proactively enforce it.
LoveSingapore made the headlines recently when Mr Khong and another pastor associated with the network, Mr Yang Tuck Yoong of Cornerstone Community Church, spoke out about the gay community and S377A.
They subsequently ceased their postings when the Attorney-General's Chambers warned that public statements on the topic run the risk of being sub judice, as the matter is before the courts.
There are currently two constitutional challenges to S377A.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Shanmugam said that Faith Community Baptist Church pastor Lawrence Khong had asked to meet him. -Singapolitics
Tessa Wong
Mon, Feb 18, 2013
Singapolitics
Law Minister K. Shanmugam has met with the leaders of LoveSingapore, a network of 100 churches, to discuss views on the gay community.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Shanmugam said that Faith Community Baptist Church pastor Lawrence Khong had asked to meet him, following Mr Shanmugam's meeting with lesbian group Sayoni.
He said he met with Mr Khong, who heads LoveSingapore, with other pastors last Friday, and linked to a statement written by Mr Khong on the LoveSingapore Facebook wall.
Mr Khong had noted it was interesting that they had met on Friday, which happened to be Total Defence Day, to discuss "defending the moral future of our nation".
He said the pastors enjoyed the conversation with Mr Shanmugam on a "hot and emotional topic", and they looked at the LGBT issue through "different lenses and from many angles".
"(Mr Shanmugam) explained multiple viewpoints on the topic, his engagement with many different groups, and how their viewpoints differed," Mr Khong wrote.
In response to the pastors' queries, Mr Shanmugam had stated the Government's position as outlined by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2007, said Mr Khong.
During a parliamentary debate that year on Section 377A of the Penal Code, which bans gay sex, PM Lee said Singapore is a conservative society, and while the Government would not repeal the law, it would also not proactively enforce it.
LoveSingapore made the headlines recently when Mr Khong and another pastor associated with the network, Mr Yang Tuck Yoong of Cornerstone Community Church, spoke out about the gay community and S377A.
They subsequently ceased their postings when the Attorney-General's Chambers warned that public statements on the topic run the risk of being sub judice, as the matter is before the courts.
There are currently two constitutional challenges to S377A.