Clerical abuse ugliness revealed as antigay religious voices barely respond

As the nation is almost in a tailspin given the rapid succession of cases of allegations of inappropriate sexual assault if not rape by pastors and church leaders one takes note of the fact that there is a slowness and certain less impactful response to the unfolding by certain antigay groups and voices. Strangely the accusations have now gone beyond the usual suspects in terms of denominations notably the Catholic Church, whose longstanding cover up of such matters is well known, in rapid succession the Moravians, the Seventh Day Adventists, Church of God as shown on CVM TV news last evening and also the Pentecostals as well which clearly to me suggests this was going on all along and that someone knew of all this but kept it quiet. Why would all this be happening with some accused having multiple accusations over their heads and someone not know outside of the victims given the grapevine culture in if nuh go so it go near so (if it does not go as is it is near the accusation) yet when it comes to homosexuality these churches are quick on the draw to the point of very slow responses to issues of tolerance and mass meetings to oppose the mere mention of buggery law adjustments, yet no such mass meetings for this far more egregious matter.

two of the accused Pastors from the Moravian Church (Gleaner photo)

This blog has been watching some of this ugly business of clerical abuse for some years now and I have gone to pains to point out the selectivity and or hypocritical morality, the antigay groups in particular make the rest of the church body look really stupid on many fronts as they shout over sensible Christians but if those sensible Christians do not speak up and out clearly to distant themselves and take the punches then those misguided groups will always dominate, then there is the business of a ignorant willing population who do not at least question or make their heads function to think for themselves as they gobble up the vomit they are fed and simply regurgitate the digested nonsense. Some years ago for example the leader locally of the Catholic church claimed there were no reports of any such abuse of boys as seen elsewhere to so many hundreds of years now there are rumours out there now coming through which if true can only serve to reinforce an old misconception that tends to feed a entrenched homo-paedophile construct whilst reducing the credibility of church (via denomination) and the LGBT lobbyists as well wherein the latter already has a weak hand in that department.

The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS), Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship and Lovemarch (all linked) who were responsible for the mass meetings opposing buggery law reform, implying the aforementioned homo-paedophile constructs, misuse of studies to push their agendas and so on are the main voices yet they have barely come forward to call out those who are in the faith and positions of power who abuse psychologically weak and the young. Apart from Betty Ann Blaine’s Sunday Gleaner piece in the Gleaner’s In Focus section, other half hearted letters in the printed press, a typical statement sounding the rights tones from the JCHS and some other radio interviews when the news first broke not much has followed, one would have expected a stronger call seeing they claim they are Christians to such persons to give themselves up or offer prayer and or reconciliation. One bets that if the case had a male as a victim though that it would have been used to great effect to prop up the case for any sensible discourse on LGBT rights.

Apart from Reverend Clinton Chisholm who is also aligned to the JCHS in spirit at least and who has dedicated much radio time co-hosting a show to call out pastors who abuse while looking at the psychology of same from a clerical perspective or Reverend Marvia Laws who hosts the Morning Watch Show hardly anyone of the other pastors including the convicted Reverend Al Miller linked to the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship and the JCHS have come out with the same stridency as when it comes to matters on homosexuality. But if they cannot or refuse to speak on corruption in any meaningful way, integrity, true tolerance then why should we expect any more as such virtuous ideals should be some of the pillars to carry out God’s mission to win souls.

The previously mentioned CVM TV news clip on the latest case was a little balanced to digest as a leader of the church spoke on camera and advised the accused to turn himself to the police while declaring his denomination does not support sexual assault of any kind. But the JCHS via its frontman Dr Wayne West is busy supporting Donald Trump’s presidency linked to some antigay suggestions and supposedly addressing the now legal gay marriage while ignoring the fact Supreme Court rulings are not overturned so much. Other ultra conservative radio stations such as the TBC have been avoiding any prolonged discussion on the issue and have also barely called out such church leaders and pastors who commit sexual offences.

The Seventh Day Adventists have since put out a statement claiming they are distancing themselves from the accusation thrown at one of their own which is the typical knee-jerk reactions similarly to the Jamaica Council of Churches, JCC (also known as PNP at Prayer) who seem more concerned about Jamaica’s position on Israel given last night’s statement and the Umbrella Group of Churches also churn out releases from the press release conveyor belt. Bearing in mind the SDA has been also strident in opposing any LGBT push by way of a still standing position statement that they refer to from time to time. 

Homosexuality

Oct 17, 2012 |

The Seventh -day Adventist Church recognizes that every human being is valuable in the sight of God, and we seek to minister to all men and women in the spirit of Jesus. We also believe that by God's grace and through the encouragement of the community of faith, an individual may live in harmony with the principles of God's Word.

Seventh- day Adventists believe that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman. 

This was the design established by God at creation. The Scriptures declare: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Gen 2:24, NIV). Throughout Scripture this heterosexual pattern is affirmed. The Bible makes no accommodation for homosexual activity or relationships.  Sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden (Lev 18:5-23, 26; Lev 20:7 21; Rom 1:24 27; 1 Cor 6:9 11). Jesus Christ reaffirmed the divine creation intent: 

"'Haven't you read,' he replied, 'that at the beginning the Creator "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?" So they are no longer two, but one'" (Matt 19:4 6, NIV). For these reasons Seventh-day Adventists are opposed to homosexual practices and relationships.

Jesus affirmed the dignity of all human beings and reached out compassionately to persons and families suffering the consequences of sin. He offered caring ministry and words of solace to struggling people, while differentiating His love for sinners from His clear teaching about sinful practices. As His disciples, Seventh-day Adventists endeavor to follow the Lord's instruction and example, living a life of Christ-like compassion and faithfulness.

This statement was voted during the Annual Council of the General Conference Executive Committee on Sunday, October 3, 1999 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Revised by the General Conference Executive Committee, October 17, 2012.

Yet rumours have always abound from ever since I know myself to understand things that many especially in the upper echelons of leadership do fool around with not only young victims but adult women an indeed in homosexual liaisons and again the (if it nuh go suh it go near so) closeness to truth but unproven rumours obtain. One can recall the cheerleading fiasco some time ago at the Northern Caribbean University involving a young lady who in routine played the part of a man as the original actor could not make it and the other males were too heavy to place in the choreographer but it ended up with a backlash from the associated leaders tried to pressure the young lady in question to leave the institution and punished her for speaking out, she eventually left the place to pursue her education elsewhere while the NCU was condemned for fearmongering and selectivity.

It is understandable that victims who have been suffering in silence for years seeing the major Moravian pastor’s case that sparked this new wave of incoming many are coming out to make reports which is good but persons cannot be forced to come out as some misguided activists seem to want to suggest that they should merely call their names, the naming of folks such as that is one thing then there is defamation to think about as an ongoing matter in the sea of them shows us; when the appropriate channels were not employed before launching the online campaigns such as #saytheirnames.

Sad that what common sense should obtain has in its place misguided rhetoric and theocratic mumbo jumbo when children are being abused, church sisters taken advantage of while consenting LGBT adults cannot live in peace because of some fanatics.

The Gleaner had some of this as well, Trust Betrayed - Policemen, Pastors Main 'High-Profile' Sex Predators, CISOCA Head Tells Committee - a point in fairness Betty Ann Blaine has been saying this for years and indeed others including LGBT voices, The head of the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), Enid Ross-Stewart, told a committee of the nation's Parliament yesterday that pastors and policemen - two groups in which the nation places great trust - are among the main 'high-profile' perpetrators of sex offences against children.

This revelation, according to a senior Christian pastor, is another example of the breakdown of values in Jamaica.

The disclosure comes as public spotlight remains on the church community following the recent arrests and charge of three pastors from the Moravian Church in Jamaica for alleged sex offences.

"We have constantly arrested high-profile members of the society, and, in particular, the Church. The Church and policemen are really our two highest, high-profile persons. The Church and police. Yes, my colleagues," Ross-Stewart, a superintendent of police, yesterday told a resurrected joint-select committee of Parliament that is reviewing Jamaica's sex laws.

For Gender Affairs Minister Olivia Grange, "it's distressing but not surprising".

Ross-Stewart did not give much data on the number of cops and gospel preachers implicated in the sex offences, and the Reverend Garnet Roper, president of the Jamaica Theological Seminary, says that the data are necessary.

But he said that the abuse of children requires attention. "Sexual abuse of minors is a deeply entrenched social and psychological problem. It reflects a deterioration in the family structure; it reflects a deterioration in the psychology of men." But, he said that the police should not "cherry-pick" cases to pursue.

The CISOCA head said that last year, her office received 1,094 reports of alleged sexual intercourse involving underage persons. Of that number, 664 reports came from Kingston. Most of the perpetrators were adult men.

However, she lamented that the conviction rate was among the lowest compared with other categories of sex offences. "We have a very high rate of arrest and conviction for rape. But the under-16 sex - the young girls, really - they are into the sex, for whatever reason, and so they mislead the police. The rape, they tell you everything about it because they feel they were properly abused, but the under-16 sex, they really do not."

She also said that there was a lack of supporting mechanisms and coordination among government agencies to respond to the situation. Under-reporting and family members being complicit in the abuses were also noted as hindrances.

Yesterday, the United Nations Country Team presented 11 recommendations for how to improve the four laws under review. On the age of consent, the UN team, led by Mark Connolly, said that it did not see the need to modify the age of consent, which is at 16 years.

"Raising the age of consent may not necessarily have a preventive or deterring effect on perpetrators and victims as the current situation proves, among other reasons, because the enforcement presents numerous difficulties."

The UN has also sided with the Office of the Children's Advocate for the decriminalisation of "sexual experimentation" among underage children, especially those who are close in age.

Prayer indeed

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

Anti gay religious voices where are they? .... Pastor charged with sexual assault 

Northern Caribbean University female Cheerleader Suspended After playing male role

Church Cherry Picking on Issues again, Western Jamaica Bain Protests .........

More Pastoral Inappropriateness & Under-aged Victims... Silence from The Selective 

Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ........... Where are Anti Gay Religious Groups

I Bet Deafening Silence from Religious Anti Gay Voices ...... Preacher served summons for sexual assault 

Tension at Riverton SDA Church board as member accused of sexual assault is still active

Is this a joke .... Church group denies gay bias

Silent on murders, vocal about gays 

Is the pope serious about confronting child abuse? .... the question of the age

Woe unto you ye Pharisees, Saducees & Scribes & your righteous hypocrisy

Impossible to be gay & Christian? 

I don’t want to peep in your bedroom ... oh really now 

Reverend Al Miller has no moral authority (yet again) to speak on flags & correctness

Levitical imperatives in the age of ‘grace’ instead of ‘law’ & the new covenant

Anti gay pastor and restorative therapy advocate in trouble with the law again