It's bigotry if church discriminates against homosexuals (Observer Letter) .....

Dear Editor,

As a devout churchman I fail to appreciate the concern that many of my church folk have about the buggery law. The practice of faith, the last time I checked in my church, was based on the teachings of the Bible, not on the legislature. The church does not need the support of the state in order to practise its beliefs. If it does, then we must worry. But what would be the legal implications if the buggery laws were repealed in Jamaica?

It seems to me that it would come down to a question of whether the right to choose one's sexual expression isn't one that can be surrendered to the dictates of a religious body to which one belongs - meaning that one's belief and practice of one's sexual expressions are subjected to the authority of the church. If choosing one's sexuality is an inalienable right, then the church would be practising its belief in violation of the law. But if it is not an inalienable right, then legally the church is within its right to maintain its position that homosexuality is wrong.

I agree with those who are convinced that the issue is not about homosexuality as it is about rights, which is a discussion that must take place well beyond the parameters of one's sexual orientation. God made man with the power of choice, and unless in the exercise - in particular instances - infringes on another's right, then those choices should be between God and the individuals.

Granted, as God's servants whose understanding would place the burden on us to appeal to those who are leading an objectionable lifestyle, we are obliged to publish our beliefs - not in a manner as to condemn, but to persuade those we are concerned about that it would be in their best interest to follow God's recommended way to live. And we do this with the full knowledge that there is an extensive list of unholy practices that would separate us from God. We therefore do not discriminate against homosexuals. That would be bigotry.

I would take exception to any individual or group who would, without the support of scripture, want to redefine the belief system of my church. With the many religious options there are in the world today, among which are sympathisers to the homosexual way of life, coupled with the fact that church membership is not an inalienable right, why would an individual or a group want to take a church to court? If it were me, I would find one where I am accepted, or create my own. You need your space to live as you believe, please allow me mine. But if you won't, the Bible rules.

Charles Evans

charock01@yahoo.com

ENDS

Pity the church was not named which makes the authenticity of the letter questionable but if it is so according to the writer the separation of church and state seems unclear to the writer when in the end the subtle suggestion of the Bible being the end all for LGBT people to follow.

But locally the moral authority and their motives of the religious community comes into serious question when the groups and the Council of Churches find time to aggressively and publicly block the newly instituted Sunday racing yesterday crying fowl and the gambling issue distorting the moral fibre of society, 

also see the Gleaner's: Church Livid

yet hypocritically Saturday racing has had no major opposition all these many years not even from the powerful Seventh Day Adventists who worship on a Saturday or Friday racing where the Sabbath starts for some on that evening. Some critics go as far to say that the complaints from the church are due to the possibly loss of income in tithes and offerings with the prosperity gospel line some denominations take. The head of the Council of Churches Reverend Harriot in a radio interview said the church has always been opposed to gambling as it is poor people's money who are used to enrich rich, when questioned about the right of persons to choose he said that while they are not forced they are subtly made to gamble. He continued that families get destroyed etc but doesn't stigmatising lgbt people and bashing them also damage families when we see displacement, estranged loved ones and churches who openly read out perceived LGBT people? Other leaders in the grouping have said that racing can take place without the gambling component present and the opening of the betting shops. 

Why does the church feel it must impose its will over freedom of choice of the sinner? this seems like a kind of absolute monarchy wanting to rule every aspect of life.

The thousands of missing children as I have referred to in previous posts and the daily Ananda alerts in the newspapers also does not get the attention and coordinated aggressive responses from the church as homosexuality does and this perception that the gay lobby is trying to impose same on the society when all that is asked for is the right for consenting adults to practice a form of sex associated with male homosexuality, not all same gender loving men or men who dabble in anal or male to male play are homosexual either, a fact that has been left out of the discourse from most sides.

Time and money are found for those with information coming to the fore for recent anti gay public education campaigns with multi million dollar full paged print ads but not for rehabilitation of things and societal ills right before our eyes, we have a long way to go it seems. What about the homeless or destitute and aren't there churches and related folks wealthy too?

Do you agree with the letter writer ??

Peace and tolerance

H 

Did Apostle Paul actually accepted Christian homosexuals?

Maybe yes, just was able to share this as so many other stuff have been happening here in Jamaica as you may have realised by the posts. In November 2011 this news came and also  a book (photo below) with accompanying YOUTUBE videos to explain the legal paradox and the supposed unsolved Romans text on homosexuality. 

For the last 2,000 years, Christians have been taught to believe that Apostle Paul condemned homosexuality. But a new discovery documents that he deliberately acknowledged that it does not prevent anyone from entering heaven. This discovery by internationally acclaimed cryptographer Michael Wood removes the final barrier to full societal acceptance of gays and lesbians.


“Michael Wood’s discovery is remarkable because it solves a colossal paradox regarding Paul’s Greek that has baffled scholars for 2,000 years,” says Dr. William Berg, former professor of Greek and Roman Classics at Stanford University, UCLA, and other academic institutions.


Paul’s only unequivocal reference to homosexuality is found within Romans 1:18-3:20, a Biblical passage that has mystified scholars for two millennia. “The interpretation of Romans 1:18-3:20 has been notoriously difficult for almost every commentator,” Richard Longenecker, a distinguished New Testament scholar, writes in his book ‘Studies in Paul.’ “Earlier interpreters such as Origen, Jerome, Augustine, and Erasmus wrestled with this issue and it continues to plague commentators today.”’


The passage is riddled with paradoxes. It says that “only the doers of the law will be vindicated by God,” and “by the works of the law no one will be vindicated.” The passage also mysteriously separates idolatrous, homosexual, orgy fests from transgressions worthy of spiritual death. “In finding the definitive solution to Paul’s legal paradox, I inadvertently discovered why he separated the idolatrous, same-sex orgies from the things he considered worthy of spiritual death,” said Wood.


Dr. Berg has spent many months examining the linguistic and historical basis of what he describes as Wood’s “remarkable” discovery. “Michael Wood reveals to the public a well-kept secret, namely that the apostle Paul, like the rest of his contemporaries, divided the commands of the Jewish law into two groups demarcated by Leviticus 19:18—‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the commandments based on loving your neighbor were ‘Justices of the Torah.’ Those not based on Leviticus 19:18 were ‘Jobs of the Torah.’” Dr. Berg explained.


Wood’s solution is definitive, elegant, and verifiable. Romans 2:13-26 teaches: Only the doers of the ‘Justices of the Torah’ will be vindicated before God. Romans 3:20 says, “By the ‘Jobs of the Torah’ no one will be vindicated.” Not only is there no contradiction, but the two teachings have always been simple restatements of each other; the “Great Paradox” is no paradox at all! MORE


meanwhile

Monumental Cryptography Discovery Reveals Homosexuality Not Forbidden in Bible

Apparently Paul’s paradoxes laid out in the book of Romans in the Bible have plagued theologians and historians for thousands of years. A classic argument against cultural permissiveness toward homosexuality stems from Romans, in which Paul appears to say homosexuals need not apply for an all-inclusive pass to Heaven – because they will be denied.


But Wood’s discovery has turned the entire scripture upside down, and it appears that the Bible has had a welcome mat out for the gays all along.


“Michael Wood’s discovery is remarkable because it solves a colossal paradox regarding Paul’s Greek that has baffled scholars for 2,000 years,” says Dr. William Berg, who taught Greek and Roman Classics at Stanford University.


Paul’s only unequivocal reference to homosexuality is found within Romans 1:18-3:20, a Biblical passage that has mystified scholars for two millennia. “The interpretation of Romans1:18-3:20 has been notoriously difficult for almost every commentator,” Richard Longenecker, the Distinguished New Testament Scholar at Wheaton College, writes in his book Studies in Paul. “Earlier interpreters such as Origen, Jerome, Augustine, and Erasmus wrestled with this issue and it continues to plague commentators today.”


The passage is riddled with paradoxes. It says that “only the doers of the law will be vindicated by God,” and “by the works of the law no one will be vindicated.” The passage also mysteriously separates idolatrous, homosexual orgy fests from transgressions worthy of spiritual death. “In finding the definitive solution to Paul’s legal paradox, I inadvertently discovered why he separated the idolatrous, same-sex orgies from the things he considered worthy of spiritual death,” said Wood.


Wood’s solution is definitive, elegant, and verifiable. Romans 2:13-26 teaches: Only the doers of the “Justices of the Torah” will be vindicated before God. Romans 3:20 says, “By the ‘Jobs of the Torah’ no one will be vindicated.” Not only is there no contradiction, but the two teachings have always been simple restatements of each other; the “Great Paradox” is no paradox at all!


This legal solution fully explains Paul’s treatment of homosexuality. Paul’s passage excludes idolatrous, homosexual orgy fests from things which he considered worthy of spiritual death, things such as “bad-mouthing others,” “deceiving,” and “inflicting pain.” Those engaged in idolatrous, homosexual orgies weren’t violating the Justices. (They weren’t violating the precept “Love your neighbor as yourself.”) Therefore, Paul was obliged to separate this from his list of things which did violate the Justices.


The finding is significant because it documents that Paul purposefully separated the same-sex acts; it was a conscious, deliberate decision consistent with the rest of the passage. In fact, it was demanded by the rest of the passage. The resolution of the paradox empirically proves that Paul’s view on homosexuality was very different from what Christians had thought for 2,000 years.


Although Romans 1 contains the only unequivocal reference to homosexuality, anti-homosexual statements have been introduced into other passages in newer versions of the English Bible. As for these modern changes to the Biblical text: “Michael Wood has gone the extra mile in being faithful to Paul’s Greek,” said Dr. Berg. “He shows, time and again, that the words traditionally mistranslated as ‘homosexual,’ ‘effeminate,’ ‘impure,’ and so forth, are really targeting selfish, unloving, unjust activity and have nothing to do with sexual orientation. He shows that once again Paul was condemning those who violate the Justices of the Torah, and nothing more.”

the book can be had at AMAZON

Gleaner's associate editor on no to theocracy

Byron Buckley wrote

Church Picking On Gays

ALAS, PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller has named her Cabinet, notwithstanding the fear and hysteria expressed by some clergymen during the recent election campaign, about the possible inclusion of homosexuals in her administration.

 

Indeed, the overwhelming political mandate, in terms of seat count and geographic spread, given to Mrs Simpson Miller and her party is perhaps a rebuff to those who sought to vilify her position that she would appoint persons to Cabinet positions based on merit rather than sexual orientation.

It is shameful and scandalous for a Christian to support the victimisation (beat the B-man) and discrimination (job denial) of homosexuals and any other groups of persons.

The Christian community in Jamaica is grappling with the dilemma of how to embrace homosexuals while not condoning their sexual orientation and lifestyle.

Why do Christians regard homosexuality as an exceptional or grievous sin?

It is in a Christian's 'DNA' to object to homosexual practices. After all, homosexuality runs counter to the natural principle of procreation established by God. Copulation by Adam and Eve (not Steve) ensures the continuation of the human race. In underscoring this point, God, through Scripture, has regarded homosexuality and bestiality as morally reprehensible.

unnatural, sinful and inimical

Throughout Old and New Testament Scripture, God has expressed displeasure at men and women engaging in unnatural sexual acts with persons of the same sex. The Bible has even come out against men behaving effeminately. Importantly, the Bible forbids other kinds of sexual immorality, including fornication, incest, divorce/adultery and prostitution. Indeed, St Paul told Christians at Corinth that persons who practised homosexuality, adultery and idolatry, among other sins, would not enter God's kingdom.

So, the Church is on message in its opposition to homosexuality. And this article is not a call for the Church to abandon its teaching and stance against homosexuality as unnatural, sinful and inimical to procreation and family life as designed by God.

However, this is a critique of the Church's extreme and selective attitude towards homosexuality and those who practise it - which is contrary to Christians' mission to share the good news with ALL.

New Testament writers refer to homosexuality as part of sexual immorality in general. So to be consistent, the Church should oppose, with equal energy, adultery, fornication, wife-swapping, incest, paedophilia and the high rate of broken marriages. The Church can't cherry-pick its favourite sin to oppose. Homosexuals see straight through this double standard and ask, 'Why discriminate and victimise us?'

What's the real reason Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed? Although Christians often point to the destruction of these cities as caused by rampant homosexuality, there is reason to believe the practice was one of a suite of sinful behaviours that God found offensive. The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel explained the iniquity of Sodom and Gomorrah as pride, fullness of bread (material wealth), abundance of idleness (hedonism), lack of care for the poor and needy, haughtiness and abominable (homosexual) practices.

transformative mission

So, again, Christians have chosen to take their own meaning or emphasis from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. A more apt message to take away is that as a society, we should ensure that material prosperity does not cause us to descend into an orgy of immorality and sensuality. We should also ensure that we take care of the disadvantaged, the poor and needy. This is why Christians should never be found in the position where they are supporting harm being done to anyone - especially with the Church's dismal record during the Crusades and the transatlantic slave trade.

The transformative mission of the Church requires it to display a higher standard of behaviour towards homosexuals. Christians should be leading the way generally in protecting the welfare of homosexuals. Christians can't join the rowdy chorus of 'kill or beat the B-man.' The challenge for the Church is to establish a caring and grace-filled environment that enables it to share the transformative gospel with homosexuals as well. Jesus Christ came to heal the broken-hearted and set the captives free - in short, to transform lives.

The Church cannot be selective about who it ministers to, nor can it place boundaries against groups - such as homosexuals - as if they are beyond God's love.

I believe while there are persons who have accepted their homosexual orientation, others have not. This is where the Church has a mission to offer counsel and healing. But a condemnatory stance by the Church will only drive away such persons who are likely to be befriended by the wrong crowd.

The homophobic (I deliberately choose this word) reaction by some church leaders and Christians is tactically foolish. In the grand culture war and cosmic struggle between good and evil, Christians must secure victory with the weapon of love, which will bring transformation to individual lives.

Maybe Christians have adopted a hard line against homosexuals because, in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, God destroyed, rather than mercifully saving them.

But that's not the full story: Sodom and Gomorrah could have been saved if there were enough righteous people there! In the final analysis, no matter how repulsed Christians are by the haughtiness of some homosexuals, we should leave their fate to God.

In the meantime, we anticipate the PM carrying through her campaign promise to debate and review the law against buggery, allowing legislators to vote according to their conscience and upon their constituents' advice.

No doubt, the voice of the Church and faith-based community will be heard. After all, Jamaica is a pluralistic society as well as a robust democracy. And I prefer this to a theocracy.

Byron Buckley is an associate editor at The Gleaner. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the newspaper. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and byron.buckley@gleanerjm.com.

Did the talk of buggery turn persons off from the polls as well?

As the days roll on since the elections and the new year is in with today being the first official working day more and more as the Christmas and New Year's holiday sheen wears off reality seems to be setting in for Jamaicans, everywhere from radio news reviews, other blogs (gay and straight), barbershop/hairsalons, offices, on buses, downstairs from my workplace and even my African neighbour who is from Nigeria who is married to a Jamaican are adding the talk of the Buggery Law review as one of the turn offs from taking part in the polls. Let us also not forget no vote is still a vote and with the lowest turnout in many decades and the Jamaica Labour Party loosing even once key seats in the polls the shock to both sides is still real, it's as if persons are or were in a daze and are slowly awakening. There is a strong rumour although NOT true or proven that the government in waiting the People's National Party received money from gay contributors overseas hence the overwhelming vote for them supposedly by gays, at my office only this morning the workmen by a hardware were arguing vociferously on it saying they will not tolerate it if "Sista P" the affectionate name for Mrs Miller legalizes homosexuality, although it is not illegal but buggery is but the perception that it is still exists. This rumour I fear if not nipped in the bud and properly countered maybe the ruin of the PNP if they don't get their act together and any hope of a repeal may be delayed tremendously or derailed altogether. 


Many persons seemed more lost in the holiday merriment and making a buck or having traditional family celebrations and or were just upset that the elections were called in the period stayed away from the polls, not even the slick ad campaigns, the alleged vote buying, typical election excitement and online presence could get persons out. Some now conclude that the crowds we saw at both campaign tours on televisions and on online were persons bused in from Kingston or other parts of the island with strong support to create the illusion that there was a groundswell, why else would there have been low turn out by only core support for the PNP/JLP and an almost full ignoring of the voting process by the undecided with vexed feelings by disgruntled JLP supporters. One news review yesterday on radio suggested this as well and the gay vote was included as the LGBT community may have responded to the promise of the review of the buggery law by Sista P. The powerful religious community seems to have also stayed away from the polls whilst opposing the suggestion by Prime Minister designate Portia Simpson Miller to review the buggery law, powerful business interest also were quiet maybe expecting the continuation of the economic policies that benefited some of them, everyone seems caught by surprise on this one even the sharpest of wits on political matters Ian Boyne seemed stunned by the results.

Mark Wignall also who had predicted a possible JLP win retracted in essence his call in the Jamaica Observer, on January 1 Mr. Wignall wrote: Voters prove me horribly wrong. JLP soundly rejected that 

"A dwindling electorate is dangerous"


Where only the diehard, robotic base of both parties participated in the elections and one side captures two-thirds of the seats under such an arrangement, the question must be asked, which Jamaica do the political parties represent?
Can we honestly claim any broad-based representation, or is it that the PNP represents the poor and the JLP the not-so-poor?


As I asked in a recent column, 'Will unemployment, poor roads bite the JLP?' there was always going to be a believability factor facing both parties in terms of which one the people believed would deal with that pressing matter in a more urgent time frame.
The JLP Government had been claiming 'stability' of the macro-economic picture and 'continuity' as a springboard for development. This assumption was always centred on the idea that a poor man without a steady job or, more likely, perennially unemployed, could take that home with him and cook it for dinner.


The PNP countered with JEEP, which the party now says will be instituted. I wish it luck. This proposed emergency employment plan, workable or not, has been bought into by the people.
Because the JLP could not promise anything resembling this proposed crash programme, the assumption on the part of the JLP was always that the people would understand and wait, a most foolish position to hold if the JLP MPs had been in the trenches. What has in fact transpired is that not many discriminating people believed either party so must we assume that only those who walked through the gates of the big dance and arrived early believed it?


With the PNP capturing 53 per cent of the popular vote and 65 per cent of the seats in the lowest turnout in recent memory, it means that increasingly the majority of voters are deciding to remain at home as election cycles continue. The danger of that is that as the voter turnout decreases, the party which wins theoretically only has to pander to the wishes and the desires of its immediate base.
If it takes a crash programme to satisfy that need, then so be it, but that is a dangerous downhill slide in social and economic terms and it operates against the success of any long-term development.


It appears to me that even the PNP was surprised at the win. One JLP supporter who did not vote told me Thursday night, "Last Christmas, nuh work, no money nuh run; this Christmas, same ting. Den a how dem expect fi win?"


One PNP supporter e-mailed me the following: "Well, to say I am surprised is an understatement. Not only did the PNP win, but it was, in reality, a landslide. I never imagined that at all. I can only assume that the voters were upset with the JLP regarding lack of employment, the 'Dudus' affair, the Manatt enquiry, the JDIP scandal and the unimpressive debate between Mr Holness and Mrs Simpson Miller. Surprise, surprise. It was not even close.


"My worry is that the PNP did not expect this. It is like a "buck up". I do not believe they are ready to govern and lead Jamaica to prosperity and development. I say this as a PNP supporter. But I will watch carefully and see what the PNP does." Many people expect jobs next year."


The Buggery review matter has been heating up in the religious front as well since it was postured by Sista P and as we saw on December 31st on a television program "Word Power" restorative advocate and pastor Al Miller has now joined forces with a Singaporean anti gay Christian advocate and law professor Lian Thio 

who proposed among other things that laws that seek to destroy the family must be contested and not allowed to be passed, she is on the island to promote her new book "Mind The Gap" and participate in a lecture series as well on how Singapore mixes moral values and secularism in their society. She was at pains to say she does not support theocracy but as the interview progressed she kept hinting to the homosexual agenda and the need to fight it. She hinted to the gay agenda as very agnostic aggressive with secular humanism and  implanting its power in political circles while slowly opposing Christianity so as to inform laws and decisions. "Unrighteous laws breeds unrighteousness and lawlessness brings judgement, all this is in the book of Ezekiel ...... when it comes to homosexuality though I oppose same sex marriage, I argued to keep anti sodomy laws on the table ..... churches must not say it is wrong but also provide a solution," she continued she believed persons can be changed. Rev Miller agreed and hinted that the buggery review would be opposed from his standpoint. Miss Chio is the current editor of the Asian yearbook of international law and formerly the Chief Editor of the Singaporean International Journal and Comparative Law while also being a formerly government representative.


Clearly persons are now waking up either from a kind of slumber or daze just realizing that review was suggested, anger was the order of the day at a barber shop I was at the other night. The news was being read on television Jamaica TVJ and the buggery issue came up again, the reactions were mixed at first but when one male barber expressed outrage at gays flaunting their stuff in public the whole air of the discussion changed with some of the same persons who were tolerant before adjusting their tone, to me that is an indication of how fragile tolerance can be and can be influenced to the negative in short order as feeling run close to the surface for many persons just by observation.


The composition of the Senate is also of concern for some as the practice when members of parliament loose a seat they are not normally sent to the senate but the outgoing JLP may not have a choice when Andrew Holness thinks how to put voices that can guide the processes seeing that in the upper house the numbers are low and certain key voices such as Christopher Tufton are gone. The wise and tolerant outgoing President of the senate Ozwald Harding who also has been one of those open voices who advocated over the years for the Buggery Law repeal is no longer in the house. Albeit the senate may only be a slowing agent for key legislation reviews but since more younger persons are now in the mix how does a leader mix experience with youth while having proper representation?


My African neighbour who I referred to in the introduction in a spirited discourse yesterday morning by my gate as I bought my newspapers asked what I thought of the results? I told him I had mixed feelings as I was still wondering why the low voter turnout, he proceeded to reiterate some of the other opinions that the JLP was taught a lesson and the PNP too that it cannot sit by and not move quickly on issues to appease the turned off undecided voters. He also mentioned the buggery review issue and said he didn't have a problem with gay persons so long as they kept it private (I suppose a jab at me since he knows of my previous run in with the law and buggery charge in 1996) he was quick to point out though that he didn't think the gay community contributed money to the campaign as is rumoured but that there are obviously gay persons in the PNP just by looking at the makeup of the cadre of persons there. He like myself is concerned about the massive 2/3rds majority she has and her hold on such awesome power to make legislative changes almost a whim with very little counter from the soon to be opposition JLP, in his strong Nigerian accent he concluded: "it can be dangerous for democracy my friend but Jamaica is a fantastic place and one never knows what to expect" 
We were later joined by his University student tenant a 19 year old male who lived upstairs and another much older and experienced male neighbour two doors from me who originally hailed from Waterhouse, a former active PNP stronghold of the seventies and eighties, we recounted the previous elections and all realized that these are indeed interesting times, I was careful to infuse in the exchanges the buggery review component while not declaring my hand but they know very well that I am gay based on previous legal issues that were public except the 19 year old student tenant who is also a Christian, he just moved in some two years now, he said he was jaded by the ads especially the ones that attempted to make Mrs Simpson Miller out to be incompetent and never saw any messages that gave him hope so although he was enumerated/registered to vote he never voted he also went on to say that the buggery matter was a concern as well, the older neighbour somewhat jokingly said " ... a battyman run the werl" (gays that are running the world), an ode that also seems to be a kind of steadily growing resigning position coming from persons who once aggressively opposed any hint to homosexuality discussed publicly. This sentiment was also expressed by my own barber recently as well.


Several things confront us here friends in this time in Jamaica, the buggery issue may have also contributed to the aloofness by chiefly the undecided at the December 29th polls but it also seems to be gaining some momentum post the results, Jamaicans do not forget things easily as the other factors that went against the JLP is on the lips of the nation such as the Manatt Dudus affair, the JDIP program, the surveillance plane over Tivoli during the incursion with the subsequent denial of sorts by the outgoing National Security Minister who also lost his seat and the feeling of mistrust from former PM's Golding's departure coupled with the "Not In My Cabinet" stance that deeply offended the LGBT community. The incoming PNP also has a lot to do and its work is cut out regarding jobs, the hopelessness in the economy, the continuation of things that were functional or positive from the outgoing JLP, gone are the days when political parties running for or are in office can get comfortable and hope for second terms, the JLP is now the first one term administration and the people will put parties to pasture if they do not deliver if it means a low voter turnout, no vote is still a vote.


The gay community obviously had a hand in this time in the polls responding to the promise to review the buggery law by Sista P, it maybe the most votes ever cast by our cohort in any election ever.


Peace and tolerance


H


Also see: Internalized homophobia glaring since the elections …. a worrying trend

Jamaicans for Justice calls for Ombudsman Bishop Hero Blair's resignation

In a swift move this afternoon the JFJ demanded the head of Herro Blair based on a sermon he delivered to his congregants at his Waltham Park Road church, The Jamaica Observer also carried the story:

HUMAN Rights group Jamaican for Justice is calling for Political Ombudsman Herro Blair to resign from that post.

In a release to the media the group said Blair's recent comments from the pulpit on the controversial buggery issue has eroded the perception that he is politically impartial.

"Political impartiality and the clear perception of impartiality are essential to the role of Political Ombudsman. Reports of comments recently made by Bishop Herro Blair have eroded the perception of his political impartiality, and in light of this, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is calling for his resignation from the position of Political Ombudsman," the release said.

President of the People’s National Party Portia Simpson Miller had said during the recent political debates that she would review the Buggery Law sending of an ongoing debate and the issue has become the subject of political campaigning as politicians hustle for votes.

"It is reported that Bishop Blair took a clear position on the issue, encouraging voters to support his declared position. Whereas both in his personal capacity and as a Bishop in his church, Bishop Blair is absolutely entitled to hold and voice his opinion on the issue and to encourage persons to support that position, this action would erode his ability to be seen as an impartial adjudicator in his role as Political Ombudsman," the release said.

"The content and tone of some of his comments would make it difficult for him to continue to speak out against inflammatory language coming from political candidates and political platforms," the JFJ said.

JFJ is calling on Bishop Blair to do the right thing and resign from his position as Political Ombudsman with immediate effect.

ENDS

In a subsequent radio interview on Radio Jamaica RJR with Dionne Jackson Miller Bishop Blair who did not appear live but was recorded earlier by phone intimated that he was misquoted and that the Jamaicans for Justice should have checked the recording, when pressed what did he actually said he then directed the host and the Jamaicans for Justice group to the recorded service.

However Executive Director Carolyn Gomes said in response that it is he the Bishop and Ombudsman who should have checked as the quotations of him in the various media has stood for the past thirty six hours or so without him contesting their accuracy instead of waiting until her group the Jamaicans for Justice has now challenging the statements and his impartiality that he denies what was reported.

The issue of his position of a bishop than that of an Ombudsman if he cannot separate the two in response Mrs Gomes responded that he should not seek to incite subtly or otherwise violence against any group or take a side with any party when persons are to report infractions to his office, he maybe unable to deal with them as his impartiality or the appearance of being impartial has been compromised.

She also said that the JFJ has amassed support for their stance and the support is growing with groups and individuals, she however never named them.

Previously ...................

BLAIR… we have to stop it in its bud

“My concern is not with reviewing a law, my concern is that next year this time, if you as Christians don’t go out and listen to the voice of God — not Herro Blair now — to direct you, because we don’t know who is who… my concern is that next year this time, the next thing that is going to happen in this country is an approach to same-sex marriage,” Blair said during his Christmas Day message to about 2,000 members at his church on Waltham Park Road in Kingston.

“Unnu build a prison for me, because I’m not doing it,” the bishop said, echoing the sentiments of some pastors who told the Observer last week that they would never accept the lifestyle of the gay, transgendered and lesbian community.

Last Tuesday night during the national leadership debate between Simpson Miller and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Simpson Miller said her People’s National Party (PNP), if elected to form the Government, would review the buggery law and ask for a conscience vote on the issue in Parliament.

Her pledge has reignited what has traditionally been a hot-button issue in Jamaica where homosexuality is frowned upon by the majority of the population.

For years, local and international gay lobbyists have been trying to get Jamaica to repeal the buggery law, but have so far been unsuccessful in their bid.

Recently, the United Kingdom said it would cut aid to countries that uphold laws against homosexuality, while the United States indicated that it would ensure that US diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons.

Bishop Blair, in his message on Sunday, pointed to that kind of international pressure, saying: “God not dead, God not asleep, God will look out for his own and Jamaica don’t want no English man, and we don’t want no Spanish man, and we don’t want nobody from Europe or China to tell us how to live; and what they are doing is that they are putting pressure on our politicians to yield.”

He urged his congregants to call the candidates seeking their votes and ascertain their individual views on homosexuality, ahead of Thursday’s general election.

“You are going to vote on Thursday [but] before you vote, don’t call Portia and don’t call Andrew, call your candidate and ask your candidate what are their moral beliefs, what they defend,” he cautioned during the service, which was attended by the PNP candidate for St Andrew East Central Dr Peter Phillips and his JLP contender Beverly Prince.

“My problem is not with reviewing the law, I am going to review it tomorrow (Monday), I have it in my office. I am going to look at it, that’s a review,” Blair said. “But when you get a government — any government out of the two elected — and one have three here and the other may have six or seven over there, that is 10 out of 63. We have to stop it in its bud, you are going to have to kill it in its bud,” he said.

“I will go back to country and I will plant yellow yam and cocoa and dasheen and I will start a dasheen factory or a cocoa factory; I will sell tamarind ball, but this country is God’s country,” he said.

The pastor, who reminded the churchgoers that God had destroyed two cities before because of immorality, was equally vocal about what he believes was the silence of the church community on the issue.

“The church has been sleeping in this nation. The whole church has been sleeping in this nation because the church of the living God has given up its responsibility and that’s why they cuss us off whenever they want to,” said the pastor.

On my sister blog GLBTQJA on Wordpress see more here: 

Buggery law backlash – Blair: The church has been sleeping – Blair warns review could lead to same-sex marriages

Jamaicans won't be bullied into accepting homosexual lifestyle (Observer Letter) & More anti-gay positions

 

Dear Editor,

It is not true, as the international gay rights community suggests, that Jamaicans are murderously homophobic and intolerant of homosexuals.

The evidence is that more homosexuals are murdered in Jamaica by members of the gay community, than by anti-homosexual violence.

What is true is that Jamaican men, especially, have co-existed in relative harmony with many prominent or well-known persons whose lifestyles or sexual orientation are either openly or evidently homosexual, but who are otherwise discreet in their attitude and behaviour, rather than up in your face.

It is honest — not hypocritical, as some suggest — for Jamaicans to acknowledge that this is the situation, generally.

What many Jamaicans hate, and will no doubt continue to oppose, is the gay rights movement's barefaced attempts to use threats, bullying and intimidation to impose their deviant, species-endangering lifestyle and sexual practices upon Jamaica, with support from their local and international friends in media and elsewhere.

This is clearly in order to advance their role and agenda, to manifest that the whole "...world is Sodom and Egypt" (Revelation 11:8). Naturally (really, more spiritually), these friends include "...principalities and powers... rulers of spiritual darkness in high (and low) places..." against whom the "children of righteousness" are always "wrestling" (Ephesians 6:12, KJV).

Religious and non-religious persons need not respond to the Bible verses above with the usual "dialogue-of-the-deaf" rhetoric. Just be reminded that it is easy to establish — without the Bible — that practising and promoting homosexuality in mankind is against the natural instinct of self-preservation and multiplication in all species, and ultimately a threat to the survival of mankind, including women.

Nevertheless, the Judeo-Christian Bible also condemns homosexuality, listing the practice as "abominable". The same book(s) clearly indicate(s), however, that it is possible to "hate the sin" and still "love the sinner', being willing to forgive the repentant sinner, allowing him to "go and sin no more".

We are all aware that the Creator alone can "see" a man's "heart". Hence He is the One who ultimately determines which "sin" is "unto death", and which, whose, and when, a "sin" is "not unto death". Our responsibility as human beings, therefore, (especially if we have received "new hearts") is to love even our enemies. To do unto others as we would have them do to us, even as we strive to appropriately conform to laws of the land.

None of this should be interpreted as meaning that Jamaicans in general will be ready anytime soon to agreeing or authorising our parliamentarians to legalise the practice of homosexual intercourse (buggery), leading ultimately to national, social, and cultural acceptance of same-sex marriages, and one-sex families, among other things.

Gay rights supporters should understand and accept that unless (somehow), it is Yahweh's will to allow Jamaica to experience the same fate as did the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, we will draw our line in the sand against the international advance of homosexuality in Jamaica, at a point no further than, possibly, extending the definition of buggery to mean, or to include, inter alia, public or private consensual or non-consensual engagement in homosexual activity with minors, and non-consensual or forced engagement with anyone, publicly or privately.

Prime Minister Holness, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, the media, and all parliamentarians should take note. And whether we review and/or repeal, according to Yahweh's will, let the discourse continue in the year of Jubilee (2012); but let it be from the above-stated base of factual accuracy.

Let the struggle continue, as it must, but let us do all things decently and in order, with the love and power of our Divine Creator as our motivator, protector and guide.

C Anthony
Kingston 10
carltongor@gmail.com

Read more: 

Reject homosexual agenda, Miller urges Jamaica

FIREBRAND preacher Rev Al Miller yesterday  (27.12.11) urged Jamaicans to reject what he called “the homosexual agenda” when they go to the polls tomorrow.

Miller made public his very strong position in a letter to the editor in which he also called on religious and political leaders to speak out on the issue which has marked the final days of the election campaign.

Rev Miller was among the first church leaders last week to voice opposition to PNP leader Portia Simpson Miller’s announcement that a Government led by her would review the buggery law.

Simpson Miller, in responding to a question in the National Leadership Debate last week Tuesday, said she would initiate a conscience vote on the controversial issue in the Parliament and clearly stated that she was not opposed to having gays in a Cabinet led by her, adding that she would appoint people based on their ability.

Expressing concern about the buggery law review proposal last week, Rev Miller said: “I am disappointed that we are still insisting to go back in that direction, because the matter was dealt with in the amended Bill of Rights earlier this year.”

Yesterday, in his letter, Miller reiterated his opposition to having homosexuals serve in the Cabinet, arguing that to do so “would be to declare homosexual behaviour as normal and right”.

Homosexuality, he said, “challenges human existence and the true family values and culture to which all Jamaicans should aspire. There are also implications for the institution of marriage and the education of our children”.

Miller said that while he rejected any notion to deny the homosexual minority their human and national rights, he rejected the gay agenda of acceptance of homosexual activity as normal and right.

“We therefore call on all Jamaicans islandwide to use the vote to reject the homosexual agenda,” he said. “We also call on Jamaica’s principled church and political leadership to make heard your voices now.”


also see: 

Gays Should 'Tek Weh' Themselves

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THERE IS a difference between knowing that you have done wrong (sinned) and accepting this to be right. If homosexuality is to be accepted, then everything else has to be 'accepted' (accept all sin to be 'right'). This fundamental flies in the face of all things 'Christian' and anybody who knows anything about Jamaica knows how many churches there are in Jamaica.

This, we believe, would severely fracture the already weakened moral fibre of our society. I do not think many of us want to kill or even prosecute anybody, so that the buggery law is not materially insignificant; but, homosexuality as an issue puts us in a moral dilemma. The Christian concepts and that of homosexuality are mutually exclusive; they do not coexist. They (homosexuals) need to keep their activity to themselves, call their union something else ... not marriage. We know they exist … just like prostitution, we know it is there but 'wrong'. We will resist every and any attempt by those abroad to impose this on us, the majority, in Jamaica. Those who believe in Christian precepts may be a minority elsewhere but not here.

Concerned

Portmore

Jamaica Observer online readers blast buggery law review

Jamaica Observer online readers have weighed in on a claim by international gay news website, Gaystarnews.com, that the People's National Party (PNP) is fielding at least two homosexual candidates in the upcoming general elections, following PNP President and Opposition leader Portia Simpson Miller's disclosure during last Tuesday's national leadership debate that a PNP government would review the contentious buggery law. The story was published in last Friday's Daily Observer and is one of the most-read online. Below are some of the comments:

 

ANONYMOUS: A waa yu a say! Two man soon can get married den. Jamaican people do you really want that?

YELLOW YAM: I guess in 50 years they'll be fighting for open paedophiles to be in Parliament... hmmm... the buggery law also includes buggery with animals... I guess we should let them in also. Let them all in... prostitutes, homosexuals, people who practice bestiality, paedophiles, everyone. After all, it's their own private business right? (I'm being sarcastic).

VIVIAN STEPHENSON: Jamaica because of its beggy beggy attitude, is kneeling to the shaft of homosexuality. Portia knows better than that, but she is desperate for votes. She wants to win so bad she will put her principles in the closet and allow this reprehensible lifestyle to permeate Jamaica...

R COOL: This whole issue at hand just proves and shows the high showing of illiteracy and its common practice of our people in Ja. No wonder the other so-called small islands are ahead of us with the exception of athletics. People have the right to live their lives the way they choose as long as they're not infringing on your rights as a person. The total misconception, misunderstanding and (misquoting) of what was actually said by Mrs P Simpson is so outrageously negatively propaganda.

TJ JACKO: We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God at times. We should not judge but I do not think we are judging, we are simply saying this is wrong. We have kids who are already confused and to add more confusion would be so unfair. Your sexual orientation should be kept to yourself and NOT be thrown in the faces of people who are not used to this way of life. If Portia wants to review it, then she can go ahead, but GOD forbid if she changes the law to suit homosexuality if she should win.

ANTONETTE W: People need to use their time and energy to stomp out sexual predators, child abusers, workplace sexual harassers, murderers, robbers and other malcontents who are destroying Jamaica and stop worrying about what adults do in their bedrooms. Oh, but I guess it's more exciting to gang up, ki-ki-ki-ki and point our hypocritical fingers at gay people rather than look at our imperfect selves.

PIERRE BUCKLEY: ...And so it begins. We are on a slippery slope. Jamaica has the choice to defend their moral tradition come December 29, 2011. Why can't gays understand that they are all welcome to Jamaica, but respect that we will not endorse their lifestyle nor treat it as normal? Is sex such a big part of their lives that we can't live in harmony without them bringing up their sexual orientation?

JAKAN: I have to give it to Portia for saying it BUT I wonder how that plan of hers would work. MPs would be voting by conscience yet by feeling in their constituency and that to me is an impossibility for the two won't jive. Would it not be a waste of time to even try when we know the majority belief? Also, if constituents have a say, why not do a referendum? I get it, we know the result already.

JAMES PITTERSON: The Lord God is Almighty and his words supersedes all. God created Adam and Eve for them to inhabit the earth and to procreate. God is the master of all. He made all things bright and beautiful. He knew what He was doing when he created Adam and Eve. HE is against HOMOSEXUALITY. If HE was for it, HE would not have created Adam and Eve.

JUS IRIE: In hedging his bets on a very controversial issue in Jamaican society Mr Holness has displaying an inability to lead from the front. In so doing, he handed Portia the moral high ground on the issue. The Bible Thumpers can quote verses until they are blue in the face. The good book does not address the issue. Amend the law to protect children; let consulting adults do what they want in privacy, even if it disgusts the rest of us.

COMMON SENSE: ...Over a third of the population have cancer but that does not make it good. We must stand up to the perceived fluffiness of what the first-world countries see in homosexuality. We here in Ja look at the physicality of it, which is disgusting and nasty; it should not even be called sex because the part of the body used for it is not a sexual organ but for waste release. Stand up to the big, bad guys Ja.

MR NEMBHARD: Why is the gay community calling this a victory?? All the lady said is that she'd be willing to put this law up for review, she went on to say how it would be done CLEARLY. The Cabinet ministers would basically have (to consult) their respective constituents on the matter. So, in essence, all would have a chance to individually answer to the question WOULD YOU LIKE THE BUGGERY LAWS TO BE CHANGED?... Yes Or No. The findings would then be brought to Parliament

MELVIN CONSTANT: Why now? Why go against the grain at this time? We should be talking about economic issues that matter. Jamaica is not up for sale. Jamaican people are God-fearing and would not want what happened in the Bible days to come upon them. Be careful how you get votes. We have ears, we know what we hear.

MAROON C: There they go, trying to bring that dirty American way of choosing a leader to our shores. I am appealing to u all, do NOT get caught up in this ungodly way of life. Jamaica is a God-fearing country and we should not loose sight of that. To those who want to join that bandwagon, maybe Portia can arrange for u one of their usual five flights a day to one of those place where people have rights to do wrong.

also see: Vaz gets death threats after gay-funding question to PNP

Frankly speaking I do not like where all this is going and the temperature seems to be unnecessarily being stoked by an enthusiastic media who knows very well that papers sells and interest increases vastly when this issue becomes mainstream. What I have come to see here is that the PNP tried to get the gay vote here but it seems to be backfiring in their faces but with much support from the noveau intelligentsia of the LGBT community who seem to miss in my view the possible fallouts this may have including violence to the least amongst us but those of course can be statistics to prove homophobia in Jamaica, who cares?

One word of advice to Mrs. Miller if you aren't sure of a win in a conscience vote do not suggest one in the first place, we all know the outcome of this if it is moved across the parliament floor in the absence of proper debate, unemotional thinking and proper engagement by the advocacy structure namely JFLAG, now we see why I have been criticising them as we have not sought to clear the air on certain issues including the perception of male homosexuals as paedophiles. 

also see:

Buggery law backlash - Blair: The church has been sleeping

Blair warns review could lead to same-sex marriages

Peace and tolerance

H

Could you kindly deliver this letter to Mr Mullings ........ from an Average, Straight, Christian, Labourite.

Here is an interesting piece that has been making the rounds in social networking pages and groups, this is not new in terms of a response to the Leviticusal rebuttals from the church on homosexuality normally leaving out the other abominations and dishonestly zooming in on the same sex reference while also leaving out the historical context the book was written. In light of the Bible totting MP Clive Mullings at a recent JLP function. See for more on that here with the Sodom trope:

Mullings slams Simpson Miller over buggery law review plan
'No nation that seeks to move away from God's words can succeed'

If sin is sin then why is homosexuality made to be a greater sin than others? 

And since we have no record of Jesus himself condemning homosexuality are we sure that it is a sin in certain contexts?

Have a read of the piece and arrive at your own conclusion.

Dear Mr Mullings,

 

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your speech, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, 

I simply remind them that Leviticus
18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Haitians, but not Cubans. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Cubans?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual unseemliness
- Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9.. The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states
he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the Police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there'degrees'of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/ polyester blend). He also tends to
curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16.
Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Yours Truly,

The Average, 

Straight, 

Christian, 

Labourite.
**COPIED**

ENDS

Raymond Pryce ridiculed by JLP supporters on the strength on the queen of Jamaica comment made by Mrs Simpson Miller during the leaderhsip debate recently. 

What little LGBT support for the JLP has been dwindling fast and with photos like that above just by observation since the pronouncements by Daryl Vaz on Adam on Steve, also mayor of Kingston and candidate for West Kingston taking Bruce Golding's place also joined the fray and the recipient of this letter enclosed Clive Mullings also joined in. Very serious thinking is missing though in regards to the proposed conscience vote, while Mrs Simpson Miller may have our interest at heart on the face of it I continue to say there is method to madness and a conscience vote may very well put a complete stop to the agitation on LGBT rights etc. Of course the JLP has been attempting to capitalize on the stance taken by Mrs Miller, will it lead to a victory for them? Here is a video remix of both leader comments and a digitally voiced commentator suggesting a theocratic stance in governance:

also see: Has PNP received financing from gay community?- Vaz says JLP confident of securing 34-38 seats in Dec 29 poll


Mullings slams Simpson Miller over buggery law review plan - 'No nation that seeks to move away from God's words can succeed'


from Mark Wignall: PNP to review buggery law when?

‘Idiot plan that!’ - Many Jamaicans against Buggery Law review ...............

Peace and tolerance

H

Petition ........... Stop Xpressing Hate in support of Trinidadian LGBT allies

Our friends in Trinidad have asked us to join and sign to remove an ad similar to the one that appeared in our paper some time ago. The offending advertisement which mentioned Exodus International appeared in a leading paper there. 


An article from "FreePride Foundation Project" aka FREEPRIDE read in part that - The same His Way Out Ministries as were mentioned; visited our nations last year with their homophobia and 'the cure" in hand to smear the name of people who identified as homosexuals. In the article supported by a bounty of references by their "accredited" "religious" institutions to which is by the way now available on Amazon cause why not hit two birds with one stone and boost book sales as well.

However the disturbing nature of the article was the many "facts" claimed of someone that experience same-sex attraction:

"homosexuality is a manifestation of sexual brokenness...seeking affirmation and love - may result in homosexual relationship, adultery and sexual abuse."

To the impressionable, statement like these would only justify the stigmas that people who experience same-sex attraction are not "normal" but are all sexual defiant, mentally unstable, promiscuous and self-selecting.

Claiming homosexuals are "associated with serious health risk" thus further fuels social ostracization and stigmatization as was shown when a national survey conducted by the The Ansa Mcal Psychological Research Centre for Ministry of The People and Social Development Social Investigations Division[1]. Nearly half of the respondents (48%) indicated “no” they will not go out liming with someone whom they knew was gay/lesbian/homosexual." READ THE FULL PIECE HERE

It was only some weeks ago we saw the Lawyers' Christian Fellowhip aligned Isaachar Foundation full paged ad as well that challenged the call for the decriminalization of buggery here in Jamaica by the lobby groups and advocates. Here is a scanned version I did from the Gleaner newspaper on December 1 when it came out:

HERE IS THE DIGITAL COPY

Interesting that religious groups find funds for full paged ads but we see obvious things that need attention and they are ignored yet they all want to stop persons from making personal private decisions. What about the thousands of children missing where we see Ananda Alerts in the newspapers highlighting such? yet the zeal for that seems non existent but for gays, well!.... see the digital copy of the above local ad here on On The Ground News, one can imagine how caustic they are

SIGN PETITION STATEMENT

This petition seeks to demand an apology from The Express Newspaper (Trinidad and Tobago) for their recent publication on Sunday December 11, 2011 titled "What you should know about HOMOSEXUALITY". Please sign this petition to let Trinidad and Tobago know that you are tired of siting back and reading blatant attempts of public hate and discrimination such as this. This is an outcry to human rights and by signing you can help others demand an apology from the Express and a retraction of this article online.

You do not need to understand Homosexuality to recognize hate and discrimination, you simply need to sign.

GO HERE TO SIGN

We have a long way to go it seems and with a recent meeting by the same Isaachar team with the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship at the Norman Manley Law School where some advocates and bloggers attended they were bombarded with religious rhetoric laced with anti homosexual sentiments and fear that decriminalizing buggery will release homosexuality on the nation whilst implying the free abuse of little boys according to one attendee of the meeting

Sign the petition please and keep watch.

Peace and tolerance

H