Dear Editor,
I write to respond to the Editorial in your Wed. Dec. 21, 2011 Issue. It said “The irony of our counsel today is that, fundamentally, we have always had a problem with homosexuality at this newspaper. But, especially in the third millennium, we have directed our anger at pedophilia, not adult homosexuality.” It also subtly chided the Church for being silent on pedophilia while vocal on homosexuality.
I am a deacon at an Evangelical Church in Belize City and speak from that perspective and that of a member of Belizean society. The Church has in fact been speaking out against pedophilia, adultery and other forms of immoral, sinful and selfish behavior. The Church has many avenues by which it speaks including meetings, seminars, and sermons. The life of a Christian also speaks volumes. This is why the child molestations by Catholic priests and recently by some village missionary workers right here are so repulsive. The Catholic Church has gone on record to apologize for numerous child molestations involving some of its priests and has handed out over a billion US dollars in jury awards, settlements and legal fees. (I believe that if the priests were allowed to marry they would have had a lot less incidents and would attract even more upright men to the priesthood. God allowed Old Testament priests to marry. Much of the harm men bring is of their own doing because they are following the traditions of men rather than God’s word.)
Recently a US Penn State sex abuse scandal broke out in which former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with 42 counts of child molestation. He is accused of molesting underage boys while working with children in various youth programs. Several high-level officials there have been charged with perjury, suspended or dismissed for covering up the incidents or failing to notify authorities. This information is all over the international media.
Pedophilia is terrible and made even worse when it is perpetrated by persons in positions of authority who have been given sacred trust and who are looked up to for guidance and protection. Even though Penn State is one of the largest football enterprises, it would be unfair to label the entire football community as corrupt because of what took place there. Likewise, it would be unfair to label entire Christendom by what took place by a “relatively” small number of leaders. Whatever notable organization you can consider, because of the involvement of the human element, it is vulnerable to wicked act. To name a few, you have the scouts, YMCA, YWCA, US Swimming Community, and the list goes on. This is why laws exist in a society. To maintain moral order, protect vulnerable members like children, and protect society from overall decay.
At this time there is great discontent with a Judge’s comments and decision to grant a pedophile bail in Belize. Christians call both secular and Christian talk shows flooding them with calls expressing displeasure with the Judge’s decision and its ramifications for future child molestation cases. Currently there is an abstinence ad campaign airing during primetime on Channel Seven encouraging young people to refrain from sexual activity until marriage. Then thousands who attend weekly meetings and services hear many messages against child molestation and other forms of abuse. Even when it is felt that enough is still not said concerning pedophilia, that does not negate the responsibility to talk against the homosexual agenda. The church should not be silent. Some groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses have made it part of their doctrine not to speak out in the media. However, the Church has a responsibility to help society maintain good moral standards wherever possible. Without that influence we would all be pitiful.
Both pedophilia and homosexuality are detestable and if you study carefully you will see that many of the same groups pushing for the homosexual agenda are trying in some countries to reduce the age at which minors can give sexual consent, essentially legalizing pedophilia. Thus, the one who speaks out against homosexuality also speaks out against pedophilia.
Essentially, everyone agrees pedophilia is wrong, but some people see homosexuality as a not so clear area. It is when morality issues seem grey that the Church needs to bring clarity. This does not mean that every individual in the Church is perfect – if that were possible there would be no need for a Redeemer or the Church – but it means that as a body the Church tries to maintain a standard of righteousness.
There is a law prohibiting pedophilia and it is strongly enforced to the extent that the accused almost never gets bail the first time in court, and this is good. A law also exists prohibiting homosexuality, though it is not enforced. At this point it is not the law prohibiting pedophilia that is being challenged: it is the law prohibiting homosexuality that is under attack. If one day a twisted group gets up and tries to change our laws to legalize pedophilia, you will hear a similar outcry to what you are hearing now.
This big push to decriminalize homosexuality although no one is ever arrested or charged should cause us to wonder: why all this? So the intended must be symbolic and/or door opening. Symbolic because it seeks to make homosexuality a household term, more mainstream. Anything that is accepted as mainstream becomes more widespread.
It is door opening because their plan must be to open the avenue for more “rights” to be fought for and legislated. If a big-buff-openly-transvestite-cross-dresser male is interviewed for a job as a primary school teacher and is refused, he would then be able to sue the school claiming gender discrimination. Currently he cannot bring such a case forward because the judge will remind him that homosexuality is illegal in Belize.
The push for legalization is also aimed at opening the door to bring legislation to allow same sex marriage. This is not a farfetched idea; they have already accomplished this in 5 of the 52 states in the US. New York was the most recent, effective July 24 of this year.
Much innocent blood has been shed in the streets of Belize. It is not only the youth who pull the trigger that are guilty of that blood. It is the fathers who walked out of their homes or those who failed to provide a home for children they bear. It is the sweethearts who mash up homes. It is all those who consent to them or turn a blind eye. Some of that innocent blood is crying out to God for justice. Is that not enough against us that we should further provoke and test God by embracing this thing which we know is detestable to Him?
Will we fill up the measure of our sins by setting the trend in the Caribbean and CARICOM for legalizing homosexuality, swallowing and sharing the poison of the LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, questioning (queer), intersex) community? The choice is ours. In Belize we have great influence in this and we will be judged as a nation based on the choice we make as a nation. Then we will also be judged individually based on how we each use the influence we have; whether we promote righteousness or we promote transgressions.
I say, for the love of God, our children and our country we will do what is right and fight for what is right. Let history record us as a nation that stood up for righteousness that our children may be blessed.
(Signed) Leslie Lamb