LETTER OF THE DAY - Forewarned is forearmed
Published:Monday | April 28, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Correction & Clarification
There was an omission from Shirley Richards’ Letter of the Day titled ‘Forewarned is forearmed’, published Monday, April 28. The sentence should have read thus: “What seems to be clear is that in countries that have legislated for the equivalence of homosexuality and heterosexuality, invariably religious freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom of conscience are impacted negatively.”
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THE EDITOR, Sir:
Please allow me to respond to an article by Pastor Desmond Robinson, published on April 22, 2014. The article was titled 'Expunge old laws for real flexi-week'.
Although the article was mainly about the pending flexi-week legislation, Pastor Robinson also expressed his views on the anti-sodomy legislation. This is what he said: "That's why I could not join the rally for an anti-sodomy law, because when they are successful, joining hands with Government to lock up the LGBTs, they will want more. Rightly or wrongly interpreted, they will find another Bible text, and it's anybody's guess who will be next."
Pastor Robinson needs to understand that there is no rally for any new anti-sodomy law. What does exist in Jamaica are rallies both for the retention and repeal of the existing anti-buggery law. He needs to investigate how religious liberties will be impacted were the repeal rally to succeed.
Just recently, a pastor in Mandeville told his congregation of an incident which occurred last year when he was summoned by a government official after preaching a sermon in which he stated that homosexuality is sinful.
He was told by that official that he could lose his position as a justice of the peace if he continued preaching like that. Thankfully, the pastor made it clear that he would not give in to such bullying. Or Pastor Robinson could research the story of Pastor Ake Green in Sweden and preachers Harry Hammond, Miguel Hayworth, Tony Rollins and Paul Shaw in England.
IMPACT ON FREEDOMS
What seems clear is that in countries which have legislated for homosexuality and heterosexuality invariably negatively impact religious freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of conscience.
The movement for equivalence of behaviours all begin with the repeal of anti-sodomy/anti-buggery laws. These laws are necessary in order to keep a distinction between different forms of sexual behaviour. Further repeal of these laws paves the way for punishment of dissenters. It behoves pastors of all denominations to educate themselves as to how they and their congregations will be impacted should this move to repeal the law succeed. Forewarned is forearmed.
S. Richards
Kingston 10