RETIRED Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez.
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
RETIRED Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez yesterday criticised some religious leaders for using “suspicion and fear” of same-sex marriage to “mislead” the public and campaign against the fourth Constitutional Amendment Bill.
In a statement, Archbishop Gomez said these church leaders allege, without offering any factual corroboration, that the use of the word “sex” in amendment four can provide a legal “back door” for the authorisation of same-sex marriage in The Bahamas, despite the fact that marriage does not, on any logical reading, form part of the rationale spelt out so clearly in the four amendments.
The archbishop said he supports all four proposed amendments to the Constitution and “strongly” urged all Bahamians to vote in favour of them.
“All right thinking Bahamians should therefore oppose legislation that authorises discrimination on the basis of being male or female,” he said.
“In addition, a ‘yes’ vote on amendment four cannot provide a legal authorisation of same-sex marriages in The Bahamas because our present Constitution at Article 26: 4, (8), authorises Parliament to enact legislation that discriminates in the spheres of marriage and family life, and the present Marriage Act passed by Parliament restricts marriage to a union between a man and a woman whose status as ‘male’ or ‘female’ is determined at birth. Consequently, well-thinking Bahamians must conclude that the obvious fear of same-sex marriage in The Bahamas as expressed by these church leaders is both unfounded in Bahamian law and in logical factual reading,” Archbishop Gomez said.
“Indeed, these church leaders are in my opinion obliged to present the Bahamian populace with an unequivocal legal path that leads from amendment four to the passage of legislation authorising same-sex marriages. Suspicions and fears are no substitute for legal evidence to support their claim.”
Archbishop Gomez also said the “fear of foreigners” should not prevent Bahamians from doing the right thing in support of equality for all Bahamians under the law.
“Some Bahamians have in the public discussion of the amendment bills, expressed support for the principle of equality before the law or all Bahamians, both male and female, but they feel compelled to vote ‘no’ because of the benefits that will be afforded to persons who are not Bahamians at birth by a ‘yes’ vote,” Archbishop Gomez said.
“In fact, these persons are being motivated by a fear of foreigners which clouds their reasoning. In the first place, since 1973 the foreign wives of Bahamian males have received citizenship and have been eligible to hold political office. This eligibility has not created any social dislocation.... there is an obvious, unfortunate need for the general public to be reminded about the sterling contributions made by so many non-Bahamian born persons to the development of the Bahamas especially in the areas of education, the judiciary, law enforcement, sports, religion, and commerce.”
Archbishop Gomez also urged Bahamian men to “study the facts and be guided by your conscience and not be influenced by any extraneous factors.”
“Please note that if you vote ‘no’ you will be telling the world that you are happy and content to be the recipient of certain constitutional rights while your Bahamian sister is denied these same rights under identical circumstances,” he said. “Surely, your conscience should lead you to recognise that such a position is unfair and unjust.”
He also warned Bahamian women that a “no” vote is a vote “against your own self-interest.”
“In so doing, you will be depriving yourself of the legal right to equality before the law. If you are not sufficiently concerned about your own status before the law, I urge you to give serious consideration to the status of your children with special reference to your female children who will, by your ‘no’ vote, continue to be discriminated against and denied equality under the law simply because they are female.”
Last month the Save Our Bahamas committee, made up of a group of pastors, launched a campaign against the fourth bill.
The group is urging people to vote “no” to question four in the June 7 gender equality referendum.
The committee has called on the electorate to “vote their conscience” on bills one, two and three; but urged voters against being duped by the government’s “diabolical” plot to allow for same-sex marriage under the guise of gender equality.
The committee said it was convinced, given the precedent set in other countries, that the fourth bill would open the door to legalising same-sex marriage in the Bahamas despite the government’s continued assurance that it would not.
The fourth bill seeks to end discrimination based on sex, which has been defined as being male or female. The other three bills deal with matters of citizenship.
Comments
jacko 7 years, 11 months ago
the people are voting NO because yall lie to them the last time !SMT
newcitizen 7 years, 11 months ago
So you bite off your nose to spite your face?
John 7 years, 11 months ago
Do these people sleep at night? Or at all??
JohnDoe 7 years, 11 months ago
The utter disdain for decency and the unapologetic hypocrisy of this supposedly religious leader, the government and all of the other opportunistic 2002 vote "No" antagonists is the primary reason why most persons are having such a difficult time embracing these questions. Most people are finding it incredibly difficult to believe that the fervor and raw conviction with which these same persons urged us to vote "No" in 2002 was nothing more than a game of self-interest and deceit. Is it any wonder why our society is the way that it is when the persons in our society who are suppose to be our moral compass are as morally pliable as a blade of grass in a hurricane. Good Archbishop, more than anyone you should apologize for your behavior in 2002 before proffering any advice on this subject in 2016.
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
It was deceit in 2002 and nothing more than a game of self-interest and deceit now!
EasternGate 7 years, 11 months ago
I am ashamed that you were once my Bishop. Go and sit your hypocritical behind down!
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
Is Drexel Gomez really serious??????? ............... are we to be led down the path of destruction by a religious leader??????........... I cry shame on these high priests of Baal
OMG 7 years, 11 months ago
Good heavens a religious leader speaks common sense and gets lambasted . Maybe these detractors should direct their "path of destruction" to stopping the incest, wife beating,child abuse so rampant in our society but is quietly ignored.
JohnDoe 7 years, 11 months ago
If this is indeed his true position then, as a "religious leader" he should simply apologize for intentionally misleading us in 2002 and the operative word being intentionally.
newcitizen 7 years, 11 months ago
Are you more interested in getting an apology for something that happened 14 years ago, or are you ready to make woman equal in this country?
JohnDoe 7 years, 11 months ago
You seem to suggest that the two are mutually exclusive. You have ascribed the false moral equivalence to persons who may consider a no vote to ignorant bigots. But, is it not reasonable for a person in good faith to ask, if I am minded to be guided by the learned Archbishop's opinion should it be his opinion in 2002 or 2016 because he has expressed both a no and a yes vote position with equal fervor without repudiating the earlier position. If such a honorable and learned man is having such difficulty in deciding his position on these issues why is an average man a bigot or ignorant for struggling with the same issues.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 11 months ago
Bahamians had better mark their "X" on the ballot next to the picture of the gate, as it represents (1) the gate to keep thousands of foreigners (wanting Bahamian status) out of our country and (2) the gate to keep same-sex marriages from happening in our country! The corrupt Ingraham-led FNM and Christie-led PLP governments of the past three decades think we are all fools. Even though many of us are either unemployed or under employed, our corrupt government is now hell bent on granting thousands of foreigners Bahamian status in exchange for their vote down the road. We can't afford to let this happen. Bahamians must show up at the polls on June 7th and vote a resounding "NO!" to all four of the proposed amendments to our constitution. Remember....just mark your "X" next to the picture of the gate on your ballot. We must all vote "NO" otherwise we and our families will really be sorry when the wave of foreigners come to our shores to take our jobs for less pay!
newcitizen 7 years, 11 months ago
The ignorance and bigotry you express is what's eating the country alive. The society in the Bahamas is going to sink below the waves long before rising sea levels swamp us.
Reality_Check 7 years, 11 months ago
Ahhhh.....now you succumb to playing the "bigot card". Weak minds play this card almost as much as they play the "race card". You clearly have a lot of growing up to do "newcitizen".
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
Comrades government alone should use taxpayers moneys trying to buy the upcoming constitutional referendum victory, so it’s up to the "NO" side to push back - without taxpayers funding. It's enough for government to use taxpayers moneys to spin any "lie" they wish. Not to also fund the "NO" lie.
Believer1 7 years, 11 months ago
Here's a legal path: two men apply to The Regstry for a Lcence to get married. They are refused. They immediately file a Complaint in the Court, statng that the refusal by The Registrar is unconstitutional because they have been discriminated against based on their sex. They do not succeed. Then they Appeal to The Privy Council, and win their Appeal. They return to The Bahamas with the PC Ruling. They get married. Same sex marriage is here.
Believer1 7 years, 11 months ago
Here's a legal path once the Constitutional Amendment has been passed:
Two men apply to The Registry for a Marriage Licence. They are refused. Immediately, they file a Complaint in The Court claiming they have been discriminated against based on their sex ( male) and that the refusal by The Registrar is unconstitutional. They lose. They take their case to the Privy Council...and win ! They return triumphant and wave their PC Ruling and get married. Same sex marriage is here.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
But that is what the YES vote crew are not telling the Bahamian people ...... I am still waiting for "Ruby of 45 years experience" to answer the simple question: Why is the PLP government unwilling to insert in the Constitution the definition of 'marriage' as a legal conjugal contract between a natural born male and female ...... ???????
The PLP refusal to define 'marriage' ....... is he reason why we should vote NO, NO,NO,NO!!!!!!
newcitizen 7 years, 11 months ago
It's already in the constitution to discriminate in marriage you bigot! None of that is changing. You will still be able to be a bigot should this pass.
newcitizen 7 years, 11 months ago
Oh god forbid! Now your going to have to participate and become gay yourself. Nothing in this world will ever be right again. Oh dear God!
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
............. 2016 Constitutional Referendum True Unabridged Translation ...................
Bill one would give Haitian Bahamian women who are married to Haitian men the right to pass on their Bahamian citizenship to any number of Haitian children of that union no matter where those children are born.
The Constitution currently says that only Haitian Bahamian male citizens by birth have that right.
Bill two would allow a Haitian Bahamian woman married to a Haitian man the right to secure for her Haitian husband the same access to Bahamian citizenship as a Bahamian male has in relation to his Haitian wife.
Bill three would grant any unmarried Haitian Bahamian man the right to pass on his Bahamian citizenship to any number of Haitian children he claims to have fathered with any Haitian woman claiming to have proof of paternity regardless if the Haitian children are those of relatives, friends or paid guardians.
Bill four addresses deviants based on unnatural sexual appetites, which has been defined as being gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.
This clearly translates into 100's of 1000's of new Haitian Bahamian citizens with absolutely no love for our people and culture, no respect for our laws and not an iota of allegiance to the Bahamas or care for future generations of indigenous Bahamians!
VOTE "NO" AT THE GATE!
newcitizen 7 years, 11 months ago
What the hell does having Haitian ancestry have to do with anything. In all of your examples the person who you say is 'Haitian Bahamian' is BAHAMIAN. No one is actually from here! We are all Something Bahamian.
You are simply an ignorant bigot. The world has long ago passed you by, and will have no concern for you outdated beliefs, long before you leave this life.
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
..........Your ignorance is only exceeded by your stupidity! .................
I can ignore your arrogant ignorance, as clearly you are unread.
What made Portuguese the official language of Brazil? Ever wondered exactly how did this happened?
Read and be edified for a change before opening your mouth spewing that which exposes your limited intelligence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazili...">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazili...
Your LORD, Archbishop Drexel Gomez is aptly described in below verse of Scripture:
1 John 4:1- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
The Gate in the refreendum ...............is to keep the illegals and the sissies OUT
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
Don't forget to throw the lousy ass corrupt politicians OUT the gate along with them too!
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
Just tune into CNN and see what is going on in the USA ........ Obama made it legal for a man to use a woman bathroom and a transgender to use any bathroom ......... and high school children can declare themselves to be of another sex and choose the bathroom of their choice ....... is that what we want after we pass this Sissy Referendum?? ....... that is what Drexel wants
newcitizen 7 years, 11 months ago
You're such a bigot, do you openly say these things in public? The best part of free speech is that you quickly see who the most ignorant and uneducated ones are among us. Enjoy your narrow view point while the rest of the world passes you by!
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
Are you Ruby or one of her surrogates??????? .......... I invite you to Vote NO for the best future of our country
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
I second your gracious invitation for "newcitizen" to "VOTE NO" regardless if she is a parasitic "paper Bahamian" that just reach having fraudulent documents!
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
I hereby exsert my right of freedom of speech, newcitizen need to STFU!
Believer1 7 years, 11 months ago
So if we do not want same sex marriage forced upon us, it makes us a bigot? Is God a bigot? Do not insult our intelligence and try to make it seem as though we are out of step with the rest of the "gates of hell.". Same sex marriage is unnatural and some of us want no part of bringing it here.
Believer1 7 years, 11 months ago
"Otdated beliefs?" It was unnatural five thousand years ago, as it is today. Nothing has changed, only some would try to insult and intimidate us to believe otherwise. It did not work five thousand years ago and it will not work today, no matter how much you rant and rave.
Believer1 7 years, 11 months ago
"Outdated beliefs?" It was unnatural five thousand years ago, as it is today. Nothing has changed, only some would try to insult and intimidate us to believe otherwise. It did not work five thousand years ago and it will not work today, no matter how much you rant and rave.
Emac 7 years, 11 months ago
A guy lives here for 10 years, pays into NIB, pays taxes through duty and now VAT. He commits no crimes other than entering illegally, yet you want to now throw him in jail and kick him out of the country. The statute of limitations applies to how long it has been since illegally entering the country till he is charged. Not how long it takes once he is charged, that would be due process
Above is a quote from newcitizen. If you read the above carefully, you can deduce that this person, newcitizen, clearly wants all illegals that enter this country to be naturalized by some means, no matter how detrimental it is for the welfare of the Bahamas. I never hear this newcitizen person speaking out against the abuse of Bahamians or all the other ills of society. No folks, this newcitizen person is a true advocate for the documentation of ALL illegals. This person's favorite word is 'ignorant' and 'xenophobia' . Yep, newcitizen implies very strongly that the Bahamas is fully responsible for all these poor illegals that entered this country. And if we do not accept, we are simply xenophobic. (LOL). He/she gets mad whenever people disagree with anything it says...Hmmmm....sounds like one a dem plantain to me. Thanks new citizen for showing us what you and your tribes' true intention are for being so supportive of this so called. referendum. I Can't wait to vote!!!
EasternGate 7 years, 11 months ago
Vote No!
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
INDEED!
viewersmatters 7 years, 11 months ago
don't know if its my selfishness or ignorance but i had been reading these 4 supposed to be constitutional bills from since they were exposed publicly and I have yet to see how these bills gives Bahamian men and woman equal rights but yet many views on these bills are equal right for our children and future, clearly these bills aren't benefiting Bahamians but these bills to me sames to gives foreigners easy and better lives while our country in a a low level state that hundreds of thousands of people are struggling to make ends meat and only left to feed from the scrap our Government leaves behind after feeding foreign people.
viewersmatters 7 years, 11 months ago
if Government really wants to talk about equal rights put Bahamians first and give us equal rights to major and big projects just how the foreigners are giving opportunities to all majorly big Government contracts, gives us right to getting land and opening business just how foreigners are giving easy access to, when the Government creates 10000 jobs give us Bahamians at least 5000 instead of 500 jobs. We the Bahamian people barely have any rights in out own country we are being band from our own beaches and land we soon won't be able to enjoy the site viewing of our own home land. take a stand Bahamian we need to be treated equally by our own government and giving good and fear opportunities just how the foreigners have. These bills are already in the constitutional laws leave the law as it is and focus on better the Bahamian people living conditions and educational system.
Emac 7 years, 11 months ago
AGREED!
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