Joe,

I admire your ability to defend the principle of your faith whilst expressing concern over the actions of people in the name of it. I wouldn't be able to do that, so I genuinely admire you for doing so.

Regarding soundbites though, it is a fact that you either write a thesis for your followers to interpret or you use a microphone / press release, or even both. But if you address the media, then you need to speak their language or have your message misconstrued. So yes, sadly, he needs to speak to Reuters in Reuters language.

Peter K notes that homosexuality was common in ancient times in many parts of Africa till the colonialists came. Two things spring to mind there;

Mea Culpa was described to me as "If you enjoy something, you should be ashamed of yourself." That is a broad brush, possibly inaccurate way of putting it, I know. But you can see the link, Christian missionaries deciding they enjoy some things too much. So, sex is for procreation only and sex that can't give us a little Christian at the end of it is banned. And that buggers that, or doesn't as the case may be.

Ironic that it is in many parts of Africa where the "West" are alarmed at how homosexuality is deemed a sin. Reaping and sowing springs to mind.