Open door

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has spoken out against a High Court judge’s decision to strike down the buggery laws, declaring it could open the door for legalising same-sex marriages in Barbados and put faith-based organisations in a compromising position.

President of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Pastor Anthony Hall was adamant that the Church cannot support the court’s decision which he is worried could not only lead to the legitimising of gay unions but see religious leaders being asked to officiate weddings of same-sex couples.

On Monday, Justice Michelle Weekes struck down sections of the Sexual Offences Act, including those related to buggery and serious indecency, by declaring void Sections 9 and 12 of the Act which criminalised consensual same-sex sexual relations.

“We understand the rights of the judges to make those decisions. We, however, feel this runs counter to our Biblical and theological understanding which says that the sex act should only be allowed or permitted between a man and a woman who are married to each other,” Pastor Hall, who is also an attorney-at-law, declared during an interview with Barbados TODAY on Thursday.

“And, therefore, because we hold that as a matter of conviction and conscience, we cannot be supportive of what the law has done in terms of striking down the sections.”

Pastor Hall said what was most concerning was that same-sex marriage could eventually be legitimised, which had implications for the Church and its marriage officers.

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned that its marriage officers will be placed in a compromising position where they will be asked to bless, throughout the churches on our normal practice of marriage, such unions which we cannot consent to,” said the head of the denomination.

“Therefore, that concerns us greatly and we are wondering what other steps would be taken. Our position remains that sex in the context of marriage should be between a man and a woman. That is the position going forward where we rather suspect that Christians in society and other religious people who hold similar views will then be placed in compromising positions to accept something that is counter to their conscience.”

Pastor Hall said while one understands the right of the law in society, the Church must still hold firm to its position.

Commenting on Section 12 of the Sexual Offences Act which criminalised serious indecency, including with a person under 16 years of age, he stressed that it did not mean “open season” to have sex with a child as there are other provisions in the same legislation which protect minors.

After the ruling, Attorney General Dale Marshall said he had some “immediate concerns” about that section being struck down and he was awaiting Justice Weekes’ written decision, which is not expected until the New Year, for the state to consider its options.

The local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community, meanwhile, has been celebrating the court ruling.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb