Churches support Leeflang’s
appeal on same-sex marriages
~ Signed and sent support letter yesterday ~
PHILIPSBURG--Backing Health Minister Omayra Leeflang’s appeal against the court decision that same-sex marriages performed in the Netherlands must be recognised in the Netherlands Antilles, representatives of St. Martin United Ministerial Foundation, the St. Maarten Council of Churches and the Seventh Day Adventist Churches signed and sent off a support letter to the Minister yesterday.
This stand comes after the recent court verdict concerning a lesbian who requested that her partner and one of her children be included in her health insurance policy. BZV in Curaçao turned down her request, claiming that same-sex marriages were not “socially” accepted in the Netherlands Antilles. However, the court ruled in her favour, stating that gay and lesbian couples had the same rights and obligations in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba as they had in the Netherlands.
St. Martin United Ministerial Foundation Chairman Pastor Wycliffe Smith, who represents the Baptist, Pentecostal and Independent churches and signed the letter, said as Christians, the churches believed it was a duty to let society and government know that in no way would they support this type of institution. “The stand of the churches is from the Bible, where homosexuality and same-sex marriages, according to God, are a sin,” he said.
The churches stated in the letter sent to the Minister, “In addition to your statement that same-sex marriage is socially unacceptable, we would like to point out that it is legally and morally unacceptable as well. In the Antillean Civil Code, ‘marriage’ is still defined as a ‘union between one man and one woman.’
“Furthermore, since we boast that our nation is a Christian nation, we must therefore also live up to the fundamental moral principles laid down in the word of God. One such principle is the concept of marriage which was instituted by God the Creator and affirmed by Jesus Christ as a lifelong union between a man and a woman.”
In addition, the churches stated in the letter that they agreed with the Minister’s interpretation of article 40 of the Kingdom Charter, which reads that legal certificates of the countries of the Kingdom “can be executed in the whole of the kingdom with respect for the laws of the land where the execution takes place.”
In connection with this article, St. Maarten Council of Churches Chairman Reverend Lloyd Brisette, who also signed the letter, said the problem was created where in view of cultural stance and Christian conviction in the Netherlands Antilles, Antilleans could not support homosexuality or same-sex marriages.
“The Bible – the Word of God – is supposed to be our guide as Christians. It is our blueprint, our constitution. If we are to be true to our calling as Christians and as Christian leaders, we must take a stand against instituting same-sex marriages in the Netherlands Antilles,” he said. “It does not mean that we hate homosexuals, because as Christians we must love everyone. God’s love is extended to everyone, but as the saying goes, ‘you have to love the sinner, but hate the sin.’”
Pastor Royston Philbert of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, who also signed the letter, commented that while currently the church was not able to totally eradicate homosexual practices and malevolent behaviours in society, it must take a stand in trying to dispute these immoral practices.
“If we are seeking to build country St. Maarten and uphold moral integrity within society, it behoves us as responsible citizens to take our stand and outcry.
“We are not a political organisation to make political decisions, but we would wish that based on what we are saying, those who are responsible for speaking and setting the guide for moral practices in society would at least hear what we are saying and allow consciences of those who sit within the organisation to be guided by the Christian values and principles that are supposed to be upheld within society,” he said.
During the press conference to witness the signing of the letter, the representatives were questioned on the next step they would take if the appeal was not won. The representatives shared the position that the court ruling on the appeal would not change the stand of the Christian community expressed in the letter.
It was noted during the conference that letters expressing the churches’ grievances on the subject had been sent to the Executive Council, which said the matter had been discussed and sent on to the Central Committee, which had promised to meet with the churches. Meetings were called on several occasions, but later postponed. Therefore, the churches are still awaiting this meeting.
