Gay Marriage Coming? P.M. Says Section 53 Decision Won’t Cause It
DEAN BARROW
Does the reading down of Section Fifty-three open the figurative door to gay marriage? It’s a widely held belief among many, including the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, its premise for seeking an appeal of the controversial Supreme Court decision is hinged on that very notion. Government, on the other hand, does not believe that the effect of the judgment will necessarily result in a move toward gay marriage. Here’s how PM Barrow responds to the church’s concern.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“They are saying that it is imperative that an appeal be lodged. Why? Because in every part of the world where criminalization has been successfully challenged it has been swiftly followed by the passing of gay marriage laws that seriously violate a child’s right to a mother and father, restrict freedom of conscience and religion and impose a Draconian gender agenda in the school system. Now, I don’t agree that that’s an inevitable or even necessary consequence of the Chief Justice’s ruling. In fact, I hold the opposite view and Cabinet is also so convinced that this does not open the door to gay marriage. Nothing can stop the people who believe in that from agitating, from taking legal action, but it is not fair to the Chief Justice’s ruling, in my view, to suggest that that ruling in any way opens the door to that. This was a matter of striking or reading down a section of the Criminal Code that imposed criminal sanctions on what was even if, on actions that were consensual. That’s a far cry, it’s a huge leap to go from there to suggest that somehow the door is open to gay marriage and I will tell you that Cabinet is absolutely clear, based on the advice from the lawyers, that that is not the case. But because the gentlemen of the cloth feel so strongly that that is what the ruling does, please by all means go ahead and appeal and seek to vindicate your position.”
DEAN BARROW
Does the reading down of Section Fifty-three open the figurative door to gay marriage? It’s a widely held belief among many, including the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, its premise for seeking an appeal of the controversial Supreme Court decision is hinged on that very notion. Government, on the other hand, does not believe that the effect of the judgment will necessarily result in a move toward gay marriage. Here’s how PM Barrow responds to the church’s concern.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“They are saying that it is imperative that an appeal be lodged. Why? Because in every part of the world where criminalization has been successfully challenged it has been swiftly followed by the passing of gay marriage laws that seriously violate a child’s right to a mother and father, restrict freedom of conscience and religion and impose a Draconian gender agenda in the school system. Now, I don’t agree that that’s an inevitable or even necessary consequence of the Chief Justice’s ruling. In fact, I hold the opposite view and Cabinet is also so convinced that this does not open the door to gay marriage. Nothing can stop the people who believe in that from agitating, from taking legal action, but it is not fair to the Chief Justice’s ruling, in my view, to suggest that that ruling in any way opens the door to that. This was a matter of striking or reading down a section of the Criminal Code that imposed criminal sanctions on what was even if, on actions that were consensual. That’s a far cry, it’s a huge leap to go from there to suggest that somehow the door is open to gay marriage and I will tell you that Cabinet is absolutely clear, based on the advice from the lawyers, that that is not the case. But because the gentlemen of the cloth feel so strongly that that is what the ruling does, please by all means go ahead and appeal and seek to vindicate your position.”
