A.G. Scolded for Attack on Churches
Lance Lewis
On Friday, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte called into question the moral authority of the church on the issue of marijuana since it has been accused, and in some instances found guilty, of a number of atrocities. Nonetheless, its representatives firmly believe that within a democratic society they ought to be able to enjoy the freedom of voicing their support or discontent with the new law.
Pastor Lance Lewis, President, NEAB
“We should be free to view our opinion about certain legislation and disagree. You cannot have all the people agreeing with you, that would not be right. And so for him to make that very serious statement against the church is just part of…”
Brian Christopher
Fr. Brian Christopher, Member, Jesuit Community
“It’s just laughable.”
Pastor Lance Lewis
“It’s pathetic.”
Fr. Brian Christopher
“I mean, come on, yes I’m not a policy expert. I’m not a policy wonk and I don’t pretend to be, but for politicians to pretend that this issue doesn’t have a moral dimension, I’m sorry. Are politicians now the moral voice of the nation? I mean no offense, but I mean, come on. I don’t believe that the church is a representative institution. We are not a democratic institution and we’ve never made that claim at all. I think that, I understand my role. Pastor Lewis, I don’t know that you’d say the same thing, I understand my role as a Catholic priest as one of helping people from their conscience. So helping people ask the questions that they need to be asking, adults we’re talking, adults ask the questions they need to be asking. Helping adults go back to the sources, going back to scripture and going back to tradition to really discern what God’s will is. That’s my job, it’s not me to say, “Well ninety-five percent of my parishioners think this, therefore I’m going to support this issue.” No.”
Pastor Lance Lewis
“In my case, this came out of the National Evangelical Association of Belize. A document is there to show that over two hundred signed on to this, so in a sense I’m representing the views and the feelings of NEAB and to some extent the greater part of the church, I would think, because the church is concerned about what happens to our society.”
