Bishop Hopes Sides Can Come Back to Agreement

Philip Wright

We asked Bishop Wright whether the fundamental differences between the two sides will hurt the Commission, and whether it was all a knee-jerk reaction in the wake of the Section Fifty-three case which is now being partially appealed by the Government. The Belize Council of Churches still has to produce a final position, and so the Bishop told us he does not hope for ‘civil war’ as even within his own denomination worldwide there are differences of opinion. He also feels that the Church can still offer spiritual guidance to the nation even if it is not united.

Reporter

“Does this disagreement shape relationship within – as you said, the Council of Churches still has to meet and come up with a final position. So this disagreement does not influence what the final outcome will be?”

Bishop Philip Wright, Anglican Diocese

“I hope not. I think we are all going to be honest with how we see the issues at play. I don’t necessarily see it as some may want to present it – it’s not a civil war within the Christian community. But I think we have to be honest in our own position and if you feel differently about certain things and you see certain things differently, then I think you need to be able to be honest enough to say I don’t agree with that and therefore I will put out my own position.  I think there was a sincere desire then to be able to come together and discuss these matters and come up with a consensus position, for lack of a better term, that would guide Government’s response and the way it might chart the way forward. So I wouldn’t necessarily second-guess the intentions of those who sat at the table with the Prime Minister that day when the Commission was called into being; it’s just that I think, subsequent to that day, I realized personally that the process forward would not have achieved quite the consensus goal that we thought might have once been possible. And it may have more to do with the issues at hand as opposed to the fact that we can’t do this; and so I look forward to a day when perhaps we can come together and deal with some other issues that are just as important to the country and families and to all Belizeans.”