THE EDITOR, Sir:
I FIND the comments from the Christian right regarding issues of fundamental human rights to be self-serving and sensational. Religion should not interfere with the rule of law or basic human rights, even if such rights oppose one's basic religious beliefs.
The notion that decriminalisation of homosexuality will lead to a breakdown of morals and lead to the destruction of Jamaica is far from the truth. If this was so, the countries of North America and Western Europe would all be withering away with moral decay. On the contrary, these nations are progressing with economic opportunities, low levels of crime, disciplined people and law-abiding citizens.
Church-going and religious piety are not always the hallmark of good moral standing. In fact, Iceland is a nation of little or no crime. It has a church attendance rate of two per cent. Jamaica's church attendance rate is much higher with religious indoctrination a part of daily life. This did not stop Jamaica from having the highest murder rate in the world. The sad fact is that the Jamaican Church has failed in its mission to lead a just and moral society, because too much time and money is spent on large church buildings, self promotion of various ministers and religious denominations and less on doing the work among the poor and dispossessed.
It is time for the Jamaican Church to recommit itself to doing good deeds and challenging the status quo to break down the social and class barriers that continue to make us a nation of haves and have-nots.
I am, etc.,
DENNIS FRANCIS
Denafranco55@hotmail.com
Poughkeepsie, New York
Via Go-Jamaica
