Bishop Delton Fernander, President of the Christian Council. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Christian Council will send Attorney General Carl Bethel recommendations for outlawing marital rape on Monday, BCC president Bishop Delton Fernander said during a press conference yesterday.
He said the decision to send Mr Bethel amendments to the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act was made last week Tuesday during a vote, although he didn’t reveal how many people voted.
The council's religious leaders did not specifically vote on whether they supported the proposed amendments disseminated by Mr Bethel.
That amendment would criminalise the act of sexual intercourse with a spouse without consent, or where the actions of the defendant spouse is such a kind or in such a manner that, if the defendant spouse had used reasonable caution and observation, it would appear to the defendant spouse that there is no consent or that there would be great risk of there being no consent, he shall be presumed to have intended to have sexual intercourse without the consent of the other spouse, until it is shown that he reasonably believed that the other spouse gave consent, commits an offence and is liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding ten years.
Bishop Fernander said: “We’ve had a meeting last week Tuesday in our annual session where we took the vote after hearing the presentation of our legal team. We allowed a few days to tweak; comments to be sent. And we’ve decided and voted that the council will present our amendments to the attorney general on Monday. We will go in person and meet with him and go over the presentation of our amendments that we would like for the Sexual Offences bill. It is our hope that in the spirit that it was given to us it will be received. After we meet with the AG that bill would become public.
Comments
Porcupine 6 years, 8 months ago
This "council" would only bring us closer, as they have in the past, with their unenlightened interpretations of a written text, to something akin to sharia law.
Chucky 6 years, 8 months ago
The "Bahamas Christian Council" , this is a council united by one common theme / viewpoint; that being believing in a fairy tale god, and all the associated texts.
Anyone and everyone who shares this delusional belief should be marginalized in society, not given a platform or voice of any sort; and definitely not be allowed to speak to, and certainly not allowed to influence public policy or laws.
This is a disgrace to all thinking people; the dinosaurs are dead and gone, and so should be the dogma of religion.
Shameful and embarrassing, one of the greatest stains on modern societies.
joeblow 6 years, 8 months ago
Because atheism is so enlightening??? Amazing to me how the "intelligentsia" endlessly conflate issues. Religion and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ are NOT the same thing! Many evil acts have been perpetrated not only in the name of religion, but in the name of Communism, Democracy and money as well! I can assure you there are many who would exceed your IQ who believe in God! It all a matter of choice!
TalRussell 6 years, 8 months ago
Ma Comrades, hello, and expect consistency position on martial rape - same kinds as when they met to advise PM Christie on the Numbers. Somebody, please go reposes all their purple robes and unread bibles.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 8 months ago
How can 30 Council members speak for 5,000 churches and 300,000 church members???? It is almost as ridiculous as the 39 MPs who are trying to speak for "fellow Bahamians".
Giordano 6 years, 8 months ago
This sound little crazy,the mutual consent was written,confirmed & signed the day you married. BCC needs to put their heads in order. What they should do is: to talk much more about human values like morality,accountability,civic and what humans must look like in terms of behavior. They should democratized the church's teachings or service by observing,watching,monitoring all preachers member's behavior,following their move. Many of them have illegal and sometimes unconsent Sexual intercourse with the church's Secretary,Janitors,church's pianist or quaier director,beautiful women in the congregation of the church and in the church even though such Minister or Preacher have their Wife. When Is Not In The Churh,they Travel Abroad,In The church's name And fund,not in Jesus name, And Still satisfied their illegal,unconsentsexual demonic desires. Why they don't use some of their funds and put hidden cameras in every church 's office to catch the minister flagrant in the act? why Not to Follow Them,in a secret way,when they travel with part of the congregation? Churches have enough,great resources to do that & more.
hrysippus 6 years, 8 months ago
The issue of intoxication remains unaddressed. A woman cannot legally give her consent if she has drunk alcohol and is considered intoxicated. The reality in many relationships is that consensual conjugal relations occur after a drink or two. Each of these encounters will leave the husband liable to prosecution with no available defence. Perhaps the government just ban sex completely, add a little fricassee to it all?
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