Possible New Pope Supports Uganda's "Kill the Gays" Bill

Cardinal Peter Turkson, who has been brandied about as a frontrunner to succeed Pope Benedict when he retires later this month, likely wouldn't at all be a more gay-friendly pope. Indeed, he has lent support to Uganda's "Kill the Gays Bill," which, as its name implies, would apply the death penalty to those convicted of being gay. From The Huffington Post:

Turkson claimed during a United Nations summit last February that such laws could be permissible in society because the "intensity of the reaction is probably commensurate with tradition," according to the National Catholic Register. “Just as there’s a sense of a call for rights, there’s also a call to respect culture, of all kinds of people,” he said when discussing the stigma surrounding homosexuality in Africa. “So, if it’s being stigmatized, in fairness, it’s probably right to find out why it is being stigmatized.” 

Turkson also criticized U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has called forAfrica to decriminalize homosexuality and end discrimination based on sexual orientation. "When you’re talking about what’s called ‘an alternative lifestyle,’ are those human rights?” said Turkson, according to NCR. “He [Ban Ki-moon] needs to recognize there’s a subtle distinction between morality and human rights, and that’s what needs to be clarified.

[...] He also said he believes the Catholic Church must "evangelize," or convert, those with "alternative lifestyles, trends or gender issues."

As much of a step forward as a non-European (that means black) pope would be, a pope who supports implementing the death penalty against gay people would be even more of a step backwards.