The United Nations headquarters in New York.
LOCAL pastors have raised concerns over the position The Bahamas is set to take on a United Nations resolution today on the protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Pastors Cedric Moss, Alfred Stewart, and Lyall Bethel, in a letter to Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell, said while they denounced cruelty against all persons, they were concerned that the words “violence” and “discrimination” were being distorted to mean any view that does not support the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community.
Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn was appointed the independent expert for the resolution and the UN is expected to vote on it today. Calls made to him to inquire on how the country intended to vote were not returned up to press time.
The pastors wrote: “Professor Muntarbhorn has already indicated that he will advocate for decriminalisation of buggery in countries with such laws; depathologisation to make LGBT conduct to be seen as normal, including banning therapy for persons struggling with same-sex attraction who want help; status recognition, which will allow, for example, men pretending to be women to change their drivers licence and other documents to support their sex as being opposite to their biological sex; gender-diverse cultural inclusion, which he described in his own words as to ‘identify and disseminate all-inclusive interpretations of religion and other beliefs with space for gender diversity’; and empathisation, which is to indoctrinate children with the LGBT ideology from childhood up through the school curriculum and otherwise.”
Their email was sent to Mr Mitchell on Friday.
“Clearly, the LGBT ideology that professor Muntarbhorn seeks to promote is unwelcome by the overwhelming majority of Bahamians. In addition, our laws protect everyone against acts of violence, and our Constitution provides everyone with the same protections against specific types of discrimination. Therefore, we are asking and urging you to cause our country’s representative at the United Nations to vote against Resolution 32/2 on Monday.”
They also said: “The first vote on this resolution was taken on November 21, 2016 and recorded 84 countries for the expert, 77 against, and 17 abstentions. The Bahamas voted yes in favour of the IE on November 21; therefore, we are writing to ask and urge you to direct our country’s representative to vote against the appointment of IE in Monday’s vote.
“While we denounce violence against all persons, we are concerned that the words ‘violence’ and ‘discrimination’ are being distorted to mean any view that does not support the LGBT ideology.”
Further, by his own admission, Professor Muntarbhorn has made it clear that he will use his appointment to advocate for and promote the LGBT ideology, which is contrary to the surface reasons for his appointment, the pastors noted.
Comments
Alex_Charles 7 years, 11 months ago
I am not sure I am on board with the pastors here. This isn't really about the Bahamas in this case, it's directed at several states in Africa and bits of Asia which has atrocious records with Human rights as it relates to the LGBT. Also, the Bahamas has been joking for a few years now to get on the Human rights High Commission. This isn't about your religious views and feelings, this is geopolitics at work. Whatever we vote should have that in mind.
Emac 7 years, 11 months ago
These closeted, sissy pastors really think that they speak for the entire Bahamas. Please let adults do what they want in private, as people let you do when you rob all of your blind followers. Again, let the church speak for its members and leave others citizens to make up their own mind. Oh, and by the way, it would be nice to hear your voices on more pressing issues, such as murders(attempted murders), rape and child abuse. In case your heads are shoved up up too far in other people a$$es, the Bahamas has the highest rates in the world when it comes to the mentioned crime.
sealice 7 years, 11 months ago
the biggest group of faggots in the country the BBC is once again worried about schit that is really none of their business?
Pastor_Cedric_Moss 7 years, 11 months ago
It is quite easy to spew vile and vicious comments anonymously. Please be man or woman enough to post your vile and vicious comments under your true name. I have no doubt that if you posted under your true name you would refrain from such attacks, and perhaps it would help you to be objective and cause you to interact with what we actually said.
Now if you wish to have a civil discussion, let's have one.
For the record, I support our country's laws on sexual conduct, which in a nutshell allow consenting adults to engage in heterosexual, homosexual, and poly-sexual relations with other consenting adults in private. Further, I support our constitutional right to privacy, thus whatever sexual conduct that consenting adults engage in within the privacy of their homes is beyond the reach of the law.
That said, I believe that all sexual conduct outside of marriage is sinful. Am I not free to hold and espouse that view in the same way that others say otherwise, especially when I do not degrade others while expressing my view?
Emac 7 years, 11 months ago
Pastor Moss, for the record, this is my true name. Further, you are free to do as you wish. Your beliefs are just that, your beliefs. I do apologize for calling you and the others closeted sissies, but when I used the term, I am merely referring your blatant homophobic stance. The record will show that most outspoken ministers who lobbied against homosexuals, were themselves practicing this "act" behind closed doors. And the preaching against it were simply just a way to deflect from themselves. But again, I do apologize for making that statement and I am not saying that you fit in this category.
But let me say this, when you claim to be a man or God and a watch dog of the moralities of society, people begin to see your hypocrisy when your public outcries are lopsided to one so called sin,homosexuality. Why is it that we never hear from your crew when real tragedies are taking place in our society??? Where was your voice during the last few months when our citizens were slaughtering each other almost on a daily basis??? Did you know that Child Abuse is up by 22% In The Bahamas from Last Year??? Isn't that a more pressing matter to be writing to the government about???
By no means am I saying that you do not have the right to protest against whatever issues you wish. What I am saying is that you are the one who claim to be a pastor. The difference is it is YOUR JOB to speak out against ALL immoralities. But this group of pastors seem to be obsessed with just the act "gayism", which in the public eyes make all of you seem to be insecure about your own masculinity, just saying. But whatever, I must tell you to your face that the Bahamas Christian Council is not an effective organization, because it misses so many opportunities to reach out to the many lost souls that wander our streets at night. How many of these lofty churches are being used for community outreach programs for troubled youth or battered wives, drug addicts and the list goes on??? When this group of men who call themselves the BBC begin standing up for ALL citizens of the Bahamas then they will get the support of the wider community, believers and non believers. -:)
Pastor_Cedric_Moss 7 years, 11 months ago
I accept your apology, Emac. Very humble of you to apologize.
I'll share some additional thoughts.
First of all, I am not a member of the Bahamas Christian Council; I've never been and never will be. However, I'm regularly lumped in with them, and it takes too much time to correct everyone.
Further, I am not a watch dog for anything, and I've never referred to myself as such. In addition, it is not my job to speak out all against immoralities, and I would add that it is no preacher's job to do so. My job is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, which I do. But I am also citizen of The Bahamas. As a citizen, like other concerned citizens, I am concerned for the direction of my country, and I espouse views that are in keeping with my worldview, which is a biblical worldview. This is the way it should be in a democracy. Those who are secularists have the same right to espouse their secularist views about how our country should go. In the end, the majority view should prevail.
You asked where was my voice during the last few months on issues like murder and child abuse. We have laws against both murder and child abuse, but you seem to be saying that I should still be speaking. But when I speak out what am I to say? Pastors Stewart, Bethel, and I have publicly spoken out on numerous occasions and called for the government to lead the process to amend the constitution to ensure that the death penalty is carried out on convicted murderers, and we have decried light sentences for sex with minors. Would you acknowledge that you do not hear or know everything that we do, including how we reach out to battered women, drug addicts, the homeless, and the unemployed, and yes, Hurricane Matthew victims!
I'm privileged to serve as the senior Pastor of Kingdom Life Church. Our church does not call the press or send out press releases about our good works. Jesus said in Matthew 6 that the hypocrites do that. So you will not ordinarily hear about how we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, fight for justice for the poor and marginalized. Nor will you hear about our ministry to those who struggle with same sex attraction or who are trapped in a homosexual life style and are seeking freedom. I've mentioned these things generically and anonymously only to make a point, not to boast, because all that we do is because of Christ at work in and through us. So the glory is all His.
Pastor_Cedric_Moss 7 years, 11 months ago
But Emac, you also seem to miss the difference between the UN vote over which we expressed concern and the aforementioned crimes for which we have laws, and about which you've accused us of not speaking out. The difference is that the UN initiative is seeking to normalize the abnormal, sinful conduct of homosexuals and their allied groups. No one is trying to advocate for murder and child abuse to be normalized. Also, while there are people at the UN who don't care if I call adultery and fornication abominable sins, which they are, they take grave exception if I call the conduct of homosexuals and their allied groups abominable and sinful; and they are trying to take steps to prevent me and others from being able to say so. This is the case right now in places like Canada and the United Kingdom. Pastors are being charged with hate speech before the courts because they preach messages calling homosexual conduct sin. Here is one example: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religio….
I trust this gives you a better perspective of my ministry and the church that I'm privileged to lead. I trust that it also helps you not to broad brush pastors, churches, and those who profess to be Christians.
Economist 7 years, 11 months ago
I agree with most of what Emac says.
In addition it is interesting to note that the Church says nothing about all the "sweet hearting" that goes on in this Country........Minister it is called "Adultery" and I believe you will find it breaches one of the 10 Commandments.......when you argued against the Numbers you did not protest outside the places where you knew were numbers houses.........but you were happy to take some of the winnings in the collection plate.......they say that cleanliness is next to Godliness but I don't see you taking your parishioners, instead of a Sunday service, out to clean up the neighborhood around the church.....
And then there are the robberies and murders that Emac refers to. These are societal problems that, if the church weren't so busy worrying about LGBT, they could focus on.....
By and large the churches in The Bahamas are now out of touch and irrelevant.
Pastor_Cedric_Moss 7 years, 11 months ago
Economist, you wrote:"in addition, it is interesting to note that the Church says nothing about all the "sweet hearting" that goes on in this Country." That is not a true statement. I and many other pastors preach against all sexual immorality. And yes, you are correct that the proper name for infidelity in marriage is "adultery."
If you are referring to me as "Minister" and "You, then you are making a false accusation. I have never and will never knowingly accept money from anyone that has been or is suspected to have been gotten illegally or immorally. Sadly, I will admit that not all who call themselves pastors or something similar have the same view. I know one 'Bishop' whose recording went viral as he called those in his 'church' to bring him some of their gambling proceeds. That's abominable! So I can't fault you if you say some; but I know you cannot honestly say all because I know that I am one pastor who is NOT in that category.
Again, I can only speak for myself and Kingdom Life Church, and I'm not sure what you mean by out of touch and irrelevant. I know that I and Kingdom Life Church are very relevant to to this world that is lost and without hope and in need of being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
Pastor_Cedric_Moss 7 years, 11 months ago
Strong
Alex_Charles 7 years, 11 months ago
Honestly, I only ever hear about the BBC when women's rights and something to do with homosexuality comes up. I'll never forget the BBC's stance on marital rape in 2009 and the Bullshit arguments that were used. We to this day are the only nation, aside from Haiti, on this side of the globe that marital rape is not legally recognized as a crime.
I can't support the BBC, I sum that entire grouping up as irrelevant.
Alex_Charles 7 years, 11 months ago
Correction BCC
banker 7 years, 11 months ago
Interesting that the pastors should take it upon themselves to meddle in the works of the government. After all, their own texts preach separation of church and state -- rend unto Caesar what is Caesar's etc.
The pastors represent but one brand of religion. There are many. And then there are the atheists. We are not a theist government -- we are a democracy with freedom for all to practice religion or non-religion as they see fit. The pastors for example, seem to think that they have moral authority over people like the Pope or the Dalai Lama or other religious leaders. The fact is, that they have the freedoms to believe and practice what they believe, but they do not have the right to impose it on a civil government. As for a Christian country, they haven't done a very good job of imposing a moral code -- with over 75% of the households in the Bahamas are of single mothers with kids from more than one father.
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