What of the pastor's role?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

IF WHAT appeared in your sister publication on Sunday, July 9 concerning the sexual molestation of a minor is true, then it appears to me that retired Justice Martin Wright-cum-pastor of the Church Dayton Diamond Ridge is in breach of Section 6 (2) of the Child Care and Protection Act.

Section 6 (2) of the act states, inter alia: That any person who has information which causes the person to suspect that a child has been, abandoned, neglected, or physically or sexually ill-treated SHALL (my emphasis) make a report to the Child Care Registry.

The law does not stop here: It prescribes a penalty for that omission to report: A person who contravenes Section 6 (2) of the act is liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or a term not exceeding six months or both.

If it is that he knew about the offences foisted upon the young girl and did nothing as this paragraph of your story states:

Pastor of the Dayton Avenue church, where the deacon worships, retired High Court judge, Justice Martin Wright, said he was aware of the incident when The Sunday Gleaner spoke to him last week. Despite this, it was the newspaper that called in the police.

He should be made to face the court. How comes no one is talking about this but people are talking about prosecuting the broadcast media for airing the evidence of the wrongdoing?

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL WILLIAMS

michaelwilliamsa@yahoo.com

Kingston

Church misses the point

THE EDITOR, Sir:

WITH REGARDS to the article 'Daytona Avenue church responds to girl's violation' in The Gleaner dated July 12, 2006, Ruby Kelly and the Daytona church board are still missing the point. If this is supposed to be an apology, it is unacceptable.

You are still saying that after you knew of a member of your board committing a criminal offence against a child, it should have been dealt with as an internal matter. Excuse me but the church leaders should have been worrying about contacting the police and handing over this man before contacting the child's parents to discuss anything.

This just leads me to question how much more of this is taking place in other churches and organisations and is being covered up because of the "undue influence" of leaders. We want justice for this young girl and the many young boys and girls who have been sexually molested by church members and their leaders.

I call upon the Government to impose stricter penalties against those who rape and abuse our children. How long before these measures will be taken? Is it when your child gets abused and killed before the Government decides to act?

Let us raise our voices until the perpetrators of this crime against this girl and many others are punished to the fullest extent of the law.

I am, etc.,

JUDITH JOHNSON

Juds_johnson@yahoo.com

Portmore, St. Catherine

Expel church leaders

THE EDITOR, Sir:

FOR SOMETIME now I have been struggling with my feelings about the Church, not to be confused with Christianity, and the response by the leader of the church involved in the defilement of a child has helped me to understand why I had the struggle.

The leader of the church reminds me of the Roman Catholic Church. When they had evidence of priests sexually molesting children, they simply transferred the priest to another parish and swept the charges under the carpet.

In both cases they should have come out and condemned these evil acts. This action would have gone a far way in showing all God's children that the Church is the defender of God's children.

In my humble opinion, the leaders of this church who support the incarnate Satan should be expelled from the church and any attempt by these persons to form another church be resisted at all levels. I liken these people to sexual offenders in the U.S.A. They should be registered and be legally obliged to let the law enforcement authority in any area where they reside be made aware of their presence.

I am, etc.,

WAYNE CHIN

waynedchin@yahoo.com

George Town