No to Repeal of Jamaica’s Buggery Law – Seventh Day Adventists
Jamaica’s buggery law has been a subject of debate locally and more so internationally for a very long time.
Under The Offences Against the Person Act (OAPA), whosoever shall be convicted of the abominable crime of buggery, committed either with mankind or with any animal, shall be liable to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for a term not exceeding ten years.
Numerous international groups have criticised Jamaica for not revoking a law which they view as archaic and unfair.
Contrastingly, in Jamaica there have been efforts to ensure stiffer penalties for those engaging in homosexual activities.
In 2009, Ernest Smith, a Labour Party member of Parliament, stated during a parliamentary debate that “homosexual activities seem to have taken over” Jamaica, described homosexuals as “abusive” and “violent”, and called for a stricter law outlawing homosexual conduct between men that would impose sentences of up to life in prison.
Prior to the 2011 General Election, the then prime minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson Miller, promised that if elected, she would facilitate a conscience vote in Parliament on the controversial issue of the buggery law.
Since then, various church and interest groups have become quite vocal on the controversial issue.
Recently senior clergymen of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (Jamaica’s largest denomination) shared their undiluted views that any decision to repeal Jamaica’s buggery law will not be in alignment with the Bible, and as such, encouraged policymakers to keep God at the centre of their deliberations.
According to the Gleaner, Dr Merrick Walker, pastor of the Washington Gardens Seventh-Day Adventist Church in St Andrew recently stated:
“We are very conversant with the discussions and developments taking place, and the short answer is that we are not supportive of removing the buggery law. When it comes to the matter of legislation, we believe that we should be very meticulous … looking at the repercussions that can result, and pursue the continuation of the family as the Lord established it. I often say that we are very tolerant of those who are different, but we disassociate ourselves from the difference if it is construed to be something immoral.”
In the same report by the popular newspaper, President of the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists Pastor Everett Brown also stated:
“We are aware that Government has a responsibility to protect the rights of Christians and non-Christians, but as a Christian organisation, we would not support any legislation that would make it acceptable for anyone to practise anything that is immoral.”
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