Homosexuality and the youth in the catholic church: A case study in the Ejisu municipality
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2023-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
KNUST
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Homosexuality is gradually becoming a controversial issue in Ghana today. Homosexuals are
demanding to be given equal rights and treatment as heterosexuals in the Ghanaian society. Human
rights organisations are claiming that all laws that discriminate against people on the basis of their
sexual orientation, violates human rights. However, many nations globally, including Ghana, still
maintain laws that discriminate against homosexual acts. In Ghana today, homosexuality is an illegal
and ethical subject is attracting diverse opinions. Whilst some Western countries recognize
homosexuality as legal and provide free movement as well as resident permits for same-sex couples,
homosexuality is repressed, criminalized and forbidden in Ghana. A bill to criminate homosexuality
in Ghana is before the Ghanaian Parliament for consideration. However, there has been an intense
debate among Ghanaians on whether to legalize homosexuality or not. Homosexuality is common
among the youth especially in boarding schools. Meanwhile most of them are Christians with some
belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. As already mentioned, homosexual acts are illegal in
Ghana for now, hence their acts are hidden and it is a problem to deal with especially, among the
youth as peer pressure plays very important role in their decision making. This study aims at
exploring the attitude of the youth in the Roman Catholic Church in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality
towards homosexuality. A qualitative study is employed to investigate why the youth, engage in
homosexuality, the Church’s pastoral role towards the youth in the Church concerning
homosexuality and also to assess the views of the youth on the effects of homosexuality. The study
further contributes to the current debate on homosexuality from the reactions of the Ghanaian youth
in particular in relation to the global dimension.
Description
This thesis is submitted to the Kwame Nkrumah University Science and technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Arts degree in religious studies