The lawsuit against the anti-buggery and gross indecency laws in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a challenge against God, says a lawyer for churches suing for the retention of the laws.
“It’s a challenge against God himself because in the essence of this challenge, we are called upon to call a wrong right and to call what is wrong permissible and allowable in the guise of human rights,” Mandella Peters told a rally held by Christian churches in Kingstown on Thursday.
Gay Vincentians Sean MacLeish and Javin Johnson are asking the court to declare unconstitutional, the two sections of the Criminal Code that criminalise buggery and gross indecency.
Peters said that while the lawsuit is a constitutional challenge, “the essence of it, I believe it is a challenge against morality”.
Under the Criminal Code, any person who commits buggery with any other person, commits buggery with an animal, or permits any person to commit buggery with him or her is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for 10 years.
The Criminal Code also says that any person who, whether in public or private, commits any act of gross indecency with another person of the same sex, or procures or attempts to procure another person of the same sex to commit an act of gross indecency with him or her, is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for five years.
Peters said that contrary to some comments, the laws are not colonial, having been enacted by an independent St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“These claimants and others who support this position would have us to believe that these are draconian, archaic laws which are just a relic of our colonial past.
“But I will ask them to do their research properly. Because when our Criminal Code was enacted in 1988, we [had] been an independent nation since 1979, England [had] repealed their buggery laws already in 1967. Yet, the independent parliament of St. Vincent and the Grenadines chose to let buggery remain on our law books.”
Peters’ father, Parnell Campbell QC, was attorney general and Minister of Justice in 1988.
Campbell was among hundreds of persons, most of them wearing white, which attended the march and rally in Kingstown.
Peters noted that the claimants are arguing that the buggery and gross indecency laws are unconstitutional, illegal, null, void, invalid and of no effect to the extent that these laws criminalise any consensual conduct among persons above the age of consent.
She said she believes this is because they see the legislation as a moral law.
“This was a righteous law, this is a health law, but now moves are being made to strike these laws down from our law books so that immorality will prevail, so that unrighteousness will come into our country,” she said.
“They are seeking a declaration that these laws violate their rights guaranteed by the Constitution and they are seeking to strike down those laws or to modify as to bring them into conformity with the Constitution, the very Constitution that says that our nation is founded upon the belief in the supremacy of God, the very Constitution that says that our rights are not absolute but they are subject to the interest of the public, they are subject to public morality, public health and order.
“They are saying throw morality out the door, they are saying that morality has no place in this debate and we are saying no, that is not so, we will stand up for morality, we will stand up for righteousness in this land, for righteousness exalted a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Peters said a lot is being said about love.
“But it is not true love if you know the truth and you fail to educate others and you fail to tell them about the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ that has the power to transform their lives. That is not love. We will not be spreading lies. We need to say the truth about what buggery is. Buggery is anal penetration and God did not design the rectum for sexual intercourse,” she said to loud cheers.
She said that outside of Christian beliefs, a case is made out against buggery.
“Even if you put the Bible aside, look at our bodies, look at our anatomy, look at our physiology, nature itself tells you that the rectum was not designed for sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse is between a male and a female and God blesses it when it is in the context of marriage.”
Peters said a lot of health risks are associated with using the anus for sexual penetration
“But that is not going on the media. Is it? They are not promoting that because they are just talking about rights and rights but we need to get down to the very act, the very behaviour, that is very unhealthy, it is dangerous, it is immoral, it should not be promoted at all.”
Peters said some persons would want to say what she is saying is hate speech.
“But it is not hate. It’s love because I am telling you the truth; the rectal tissue with its thinner walls is more vulnerable to tearing than the vagina during intercourse.
“The larger surface area of the rectum and colon, with their rich blood supplies provide more opportunity for viruses to penetrate. There is more bleeding and laceration involved in anal penetration.
“There is damage to the anal sphincter muscles, so sometimes over a period of prolonged anal penetration, some persons who practice that, lose control of their bowels and have to wear diapers, but that truth is not being told,” Peters said to loud cheers.
Peters spoke of anal sores, warts, haemorrhoids, and great exposure to faecal matter.
“And once there is the tearing of the rectal tissue and the blood is exposed to the faecal matter, there is another issue of blood sepsis. Go and research it and let it be known. There is an increased risk of anal cancer, increased risk of contracting a number of dangerous STDs, including HIV and AIDS. They will not tell you this but anal penetration is the easiest way for HIV and AIDS transmission.
“Yet they say let’s repeal the buggery laws to deal with HIV and AIDS. Does that make sense? Promoting the very behaviour that causes increase in HIV and AIDS? It made no sense whatsoever,” Peters said.
Peters is one of the attorneys representing the Christian Coalition, which has asked the court to allow them to join the government in defending the lawsuit.
The court will rule on Nov. 20 whether to allow the 10-chruch coalition to join the lawsuit.
We have this white Gid and more churches than people yet crime is out of control and buggery is rampant…who are we fooling with this March…or are we just appeasing the white god who was given to us..we are a lost people.
The Bible states that Christians should love as he loved us and gave Himself for us. So because we love you we say to you that homosexuality is against the nature of God. The book of Romans states that though it is a sin just as murder is, it is an UNNATURAL act. You see, when God made man in the garden of Eden one of his first commandments was for them to procreate and replenish the earth. That is why you are on earth because a man and a women came together to create you. A man and a man, neither a woman and a woman can do that,
A union like that cannot obey God’s nor fulfill his plan to create and replenish. That is why it is UNNATURAL
Just stop a while and seriously think about it. If we all follow your lifestyle very soon life as we know it will come to an end. So do not get angry and call us homophobic when we tell you what our God says. We would not call you heterophobic either. We are free to make a statement. Just as you are free to choose your life style and speak about it
MRS Petters you have said it all.My wife for years have been saying everything thing that you spoke about.Your husband is a blessed man to have you.And this country for the past 18 years l have been waiting for the new leader of the NDP and finally I believe GOD have heard the crying of his people and send you.l know that is not your ambition or your mission.But l believe in my spirit That The TRUE AND LIVING GOD Have Blessed You And Sanctified you Before you Were Born For Wat Ever He Have For you.And no buller man or woman in hell can stop you.They will mark you people in high placeses May try to hamper your family and your job appertunites . But Man shall not live by bread alone.So let me pray for you.Father GOD In Name Of JESUS l PRAY FOR THIS YOUNG LADY AND HER HUSBAND THAT YOUR WILL BE DONE IN THERE LIVES.And your glory and Love for this country will manifest in there lives give them a double posion of power to fight with the rest of the churches and blessed them from there head to there feet AMEN.
Well done to Mandela Peters, her team and the Christian coalition for standing up. In an age where it seems, to be a Christian, is to be silent, let their voices be heard. In the West (and spreading to our small nations) it appears that if you don’t embrace homosexuality, you are called homophobic. Everyone can voice an opinion but a Christian. Why? Where is our conscience? I know the West with their strong-armed, blackmailing attitude will want to have a say in this. They use “human rights” as an excuse to control and oppress nations.
‘Buggery is anal intercourse between a man and another man, a woman, or an animal.’ It is unrestrained act which can happen through genuine emotional happenstances or through malicious experimental deeds.
To be honest, I am very confused as to the role the Churches are playing in this protest. This entire rampage is like the blind leading the blind due to the ongoing contradiction in the discernment or refining of the Bible.
If,the Most High forbid, anyone is attacked in Vincy for his or her lifestyle;is the Church willing to take some of the blame ? The church is setting a wrong precedent in Vincy.My 2 cents.
The Bible ELMA GABRIEL could be said to have given us most of the trappings and benefits of our modern civil society and have given us them throughout the whole of this modern world. Benefits and institutions such as Universal education, accountable governments and the rule of Law, were all fought for by and implemented through the instrumentality of the Church militant.
Indeed ELMA, God’s declared “10 Commandments” as a basis from which most Countries laws are structured, has and could never be superseded. There too, were also formed the exact basis for our moral laws.
We therefore abandon our “moral laws” at our peril. The Churches ELMA are not there engaged in a defence of God, for sure God is the all mighty one, he is sure big enough and powerful enough to defend himself and his issues. He needs no one to do that for him! We therefore, and the Churches on the other hand however, are always in need of good defence from those with questionable moral values. Those who would destroy any good society and our way of life.
That said however ELMA, if understanding the Bible, God’s doctrines and Christians is your problem ELMA, it is always recommended to get to reading. http://www.the-highway.com/ultimate_questions.html
If on the other hand ELMA you desire to live in a good and ordered society, governed by good laws and acceptable morals, then always compare the society’s enacted laws, with those that have never been superseded, the Laws of God.
A rose by any other name… A retained colonial law doesn’t stop being a colonial law just because of independence. Ms Peters argument is pure semantics. She exaggerates the risks and consequences of anal sex which, anyway, is practiced by almost ten times more women than men!! There are precautions that can and should be taken, but who cares when the only objective is condemnation? A large minority of gay men don’t indulge in anal sex anyway. I wonder why only the morality of gay sex is of such concern when the law of St Vincent allows all manner of other immorality, eg divorce. What did Jesus have to say about homosexuality? Nothing. What does the Bible have to say about committed same sex relationships? Nothing. It is ridiculous to argue that gay sex will result in reproduction ceasing. It hasn’t yet and never will! The idea that retaining criminalisation of homosexuality somehow protects society is simply not true. Marginalised people are far more at risk of disease – as is the rest of society as a direct result. Societies that scorn difference perform far less well economically than those that embrace it – also to everyone’s disadvantage. This is St Vincent’s real choice.
Why is there no law criminalizing sex out of wedlock? Why is there no law criminalizing cheating on one’s husband or wife? Why is a woman speaking in authority regarding the laws of men? 1 Timothy 2:12 “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence”. What a hypocritical and ignorant sounding ppl… Not even following their own Bible but want to deny ppl they know and grew up next to rights. Lawd have mercy.
Well FRANK MCMULLAN it would appear that your only contribution to these exchanges is only to add nothing but bunkum!
You ask “What did Jesus have to say about homosexuality?” and then add “Nothing”. But that is far from the case. As scriptures would tell us. The Mosaic laws were quite prohibitive against acts of homosexuality and the man Jesus affirms the Mosaic laws to the letter. In fact he further added that he came to fulfil them!
FRANK MCMULLAN you further ask, “What does the Bible have to say about committed same sex relationships?” and again you add “Nothing.” But that is not true. The Bible is indeed quite condemning about such relationships.
Your knowledge of the Bible Frank appears to be exceedingly poor, for you further add that “the law of St Vincent allows all manner of other immorality, eg divorce” I have no idea what manner of immorality that the law of SVG allows, but you see the Bible does not disallow divorce at all. Far from it!
This indeed was clarified by the man Jesus. In his words, in the beginning, God through Moses did not permit divorce but because of the hardness of man’s heart, in order to avoid great harm to Wives, Moses permitted divorce. One take it Frank that you cannot be in any way accusing Moses of permitting immorality.
Your argument that “The idea that retaining criminalisation of homosexuality somehow protects society is simply not true.” This too has to be false again Frank, for one would argue the opposite and say, that scriptures and past societies are quite clear on this and such perversions harms society generally, as such behaviour, is but an indication that the wrath of God is thus being revealed and rest with that nation.
Frank, again you write “Societies that scorn difference perform far less well economically than those that embrace it – also to everyone’s disadvantage. This is St Vincent’s real choice.” But Frank you adduce no evidence for that claim!
I would say rather, that our choice here in SVG, should we follow the rest of the western world in their debauched ways, is to go our own moral way or follow the rest and receive upon ourselves the penalty of Sodom and Gomora?