Posted by By Tokunbo Olajide, Olugbo Soretire & Simon Ateba on
Professor Augustus Olakunle Macaulay, father of gay pastor, Rev. Roland Jide Macaulay, has distanced himself from the son's gay ministry.
Professor Augustus Olakunle Macaulay, father of gay pastor, Rev. Roland Jide Macaulay, has distanced himself from the son's gay ministry.
Prof. Macaulay, at a press conference this morning, in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, admitted knowing that his son is gay, but added that he never knew that he is the pastor of a gay church.
At the press conference, held at the United Bible University, where the professor is the director of studies, he dissociated his theology school from the House of Rainbow, Macaulay's gay church. The theology school, he claimed, only hosted the praise night of Jide Macaulay's church. He said he never knew that his church was a gay church. 'I have never had anything to do with homosexuality or lesbianism and will never, by the grace of God.'
Even though the father of the gay pastor condemned the son's ministry, he added that he will never deny him as a son.
'Roland is my son and I cannot deny him because he is a gift from God. I love him and respect him. I personally relate with him as a father and not with the church he controls.'
He said since P.M.News reported the scandal, the family has been in emotional trauma and that his son has not been located since then. On 12 September, PM.News undercover reporters exposed the activities of the gay church, House of Rainbow, which operates from a two-bedroom apartment in Block 145, Jakande Estate, at the Oke Afa area of Isolo, Lagos state.
During the investigations that lasted for several weeks, PM.News reporters discovered that scores of homosexuals, bisexuals, lesbians, and ‘transgender' people regularly congregate at the assembly, touted as the first gay church ever in Nigeria to worship God.
It was also observed that, Rowland Jide Macaulay, a 42-year-old self-professed ‘reverend' and UK-trained lawyer, who presides over the ministry, attended mainly by top fashion designers, models, celebrities, activists, among others, misinterprets the Bible, by quoting several portions to justify the practice of homosexuality and bisexuality, which the holy book abhors.
Weekly, the preacher, who wears rough curls, and dresses flamboyantly, claimed that being gay is 'totally acceptable in God's sight.'
Macaulay says that his mission is to draw about 14 million gay people he claims exist in the country, to the fold. The gay ministry also plans to further promote the movement, with its plan to sponsor five interested people to study theology, in line with the gay doctrine.
The story first hit the newsstands on 11 May, this year, when Jide Macaulay was one of the guests at the recording of a television show called Moment With Mo, anchored by celebrity presenter, Mo Abudu, at the City Mall Studio, Onikan, Lagos.
During the Television show, the self-acclaimed man of God shocked Nigerians when he declared that homosexuality is not against the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The gay pastor and several other homosexuals and lesbians in the studio on that day took two good hours explaining comfortably to Nigerians that being homosexual does not make one a sinner. Reverend Macaulay disclosed that he has been a gay since he was 14 years old and had several intercourse with different men.
When asked if the Bible does not preach against sodomy, the act of having sex with another man through the anus, the 'man of God' said it was not in the Bible.
He said the case of sodomy in the Bible is an isolated one and must not be taken out of context. He admitted that he practices sodomy and was comfortable with it as a gay. He further explained that marriage in the Bible has nothing to do with sexual orientation, but love and trust. Macaulay disclosed that he is a trustworthy gay.
The gay 'man of God' explained that he does not feel attracted to women no matter how beautiful they may look, but on the contrary, has strong feelings for handsome men.
While other gays and lesbians in the television studio did not want their faces to appear on television, Macaulay said he is happy being the face of the faceless.
After the television show, Reverend Macaulay told P.M.News that he is bold to talk about his homosexuality because 'that is who I am.'
Another young lesbian, who did not want her face to appear on television, said she was introduced to lesbianism by a female friend at a tender age. She disclosed that she has dated many girls and had sex with most of them. She also said she has strong feelings for girls and does not feel same for men.
When asked if she would like to quit lesbianism, she said never. She added that now that she is a lesbian, she can never become heterosexual again.
The City Mall edifice, on 11 May, looked like a rendezvous for gays with several homosexuals and lesbians freely and openly holding hands and kissing in public