Aizawl, March 13, 2010: The Baptish Church of Mizoram is having problems with its members being ‘gay’. The church formally declared ‘war’ and has threatened to excommunicate its members indulging in homosexual activities.

The decision was announced in a statement released by the church on Saturday after its General Assembly meeting.

“We have decided to take strong punitive action against members who are involved in homosexuality. The disciplinary actions include ex-communication,” the statement said.

Equating homosexuality with birth control and abortion, both seen as “immoral acts” here, the Baptist church said it should be banned by the state government.

“Medical termination of pregnancy should be permitted only when the life of a woman was in risk,” the statement added.

The church moral guideline is a big challenge to last year’s Delhi court ruling on gay sex among consenting adults. Some officials who spoke to MizoramExpress under anonymity said that the Baptist Church of Mizoram’s decision will have a large impact on the lives of the Mizo.

However, some are skeptical. “The church diktat is not enforceable in the court of law. What worries me is that the church members or leaders may take law into own hands,” a social activist, Zoramliana, said.