Church resolute in its opposition to hanging convicted murderers
Leroy Flowers
The House of Representatives met in Belmopan on Friday to discuss a range of issues including an amendment to the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Bill which should see an increase in penalties for gang related activities. Most importantly Prime Minister Dean Barrow introduced the Eight Amendment of the Belize Constitution Bill 2011 which allows for the execution of the death penalty. But while there is public support for the enforcement of capital punishment given the urban warfare, the church is at a crossroads with its flock. The church has fervently opposed hanging as a form of capital punishment despite its followers calling for its implementation in light of the violent times befalling the country. According to Canon Leroy Flowers the church remains resolute in its opposition to hang convicted murderers.
Canon Leroy Flowers, Representative, Council of Churches
“The church will now be faced with a new dilemma because while people are calling for hanging the church has a position and that position never wavered. We do not support capital punishment. So that on one hand it is about the rights and the other hand it is about now the state now taking on and it would be very interesting to see how this would unravel as the days and weeks and months play ahead because while there are many who claim an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth that is the Old Testament but in today’s day and age the Christian Church proclaims the period of grace.
As a matter of fact in the Anglican Church we have just reminded our members what the church’s stand on the capital punishment [is] and this is very important for people to understand. Yes there are members who may, maybe seventy percent of the members may not agree [with the church] and that’s alright but that will not phase the church from its understanding of what its role is [and] what it needs to do. In the same way, on the other side of the coin about the homosexuals; they’ll be those who don’t agree, but that is the stand that is the moral authority which the churches speak on. And to a very large extent at the end of the day members have to expect that the churches have a position whether right or wrong.”
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So much double standards with our churches. They will not hang killers but we can hang homsexuals? Tsk… Tsk… Churches need to get their $#%t in order!
I hope you can minister to some of these wayward souls before they kill someone, so we do not have to pop their necks…. The bible or the hangman’s noose.
The church is not getting involved in the caps going on in Belize they have offered nothing to help curb all the crime the only thing that will is bringing back the hanging penalty I say hang them high tha bridge foot and make sure you have vendors there the sell panades and bar garnaches.
Canon Flowers so what is the Government suppose to do about this crime situation?Any suggestions.
Where was the church when the priests were molesting little boys? I think it is hypocritical of them to not say anything about that homosexual behavior and now condemn non church members for the same behavior and even then there being the big difference that homosexuals do it with concenting partners VS the clergy of the church abusing little boys.
We need the church’s stance on this.
With regards to Capital Punishment, the church is trying to say that we shall not hang because the new testament speaks of forgiveness. Ok let me play devils advocate “no pun intended” so we do not hang the murderers because we shall believe in forgiveness, but how far “where is the meter” that tells us how far shall forgiveness go? DOES THE CHURCH HAVE SUCH METER that tells us you can forgive as far as jailing the person and thats where forgiveness stops and punishment starts….OR DO YOU FORGIVE AND NOT EVEN BOTHER PROSECUTE-PUNISH THE OFFENDERS?
Grace is for Christians, not for evil doers.
Christians sin sometimes too and that is why we need grace.
Evil doers will never become better because of grace
They will continue to do evil until they are convicted.
Hopefully more evil doers will be convicted after they see the consequences here on earth
Seeing the consequence in the after life is too late.
The more people die for justice, the better life will be.
Religion fog’s the way people sees the world. religion is just another thing to make people disagree and hate each other, and it gives people unrealistic reasons to disdain gays. im not trying to put catholics or christians down,but it is wrong to promote hate to other and use God to justify it. If this is what we can expect from the People of God, it is not wonder the last census showed an increase of people that no longer belong to any religion
I think it is time for Capital Punishment. The Government should implement Capital Punishment; however, in order to alleviate some of the “Human Rights” issues an alternative to hanging should be sought such as Lethal Injections. To be honest Hanging is Barberic, but it is important that the country protect it’s innocent people because the bad guys are getting away with “it”. At the end of the day, victims are also paying to maintain the guilty. Do something before there is no Belize left to protect!
We must remember that God created the authorities ruling over us just as He created us. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1-2) 13:3-6 and 1 Peter 2:13-15 it say that government officials, whether elected or not, are ministers and servants of God who punish and restrain wrongdoers and who commend or praise those who do good works according to God’s transcendent moral code revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Therefore it the Government see if fit to punish by Hanging i say go for it. The Church had their mouth closed long enough so continue to shut up and let the Govt do their job….Hang them HIGh.
The Church will not comment on homosexuality and molestation within the Church when some of their own, who are now speaking out on other issues, has done it and might still be doing it.
Capital punishment is not done away with in the new Testament, “Knowing this , that the law is not made for a righteous man………….”. 1st Timothy 1:9
Where were the churches when all these murders were taking place to condemn it?All of a sudden they’ve got voice to oppose the death penalty.
The more people die for injustice, the more miserable and frustrating things will become.
CANON FLOWERS LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT, IT USE TO BE AND EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH, RIGHT, GOD SEND HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO SAVE THE WORLD, RIGHT, THAT IS JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, OK, NOW IF YOU ACCEPT HIM AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND REPENT FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS, THEN YES THERE IS FORGIVENESS, RIGHT CANON FLOWERS, THEN YOU CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND SIN NO MORE.
NOW WITH ALL THE MURDERS TAKING PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY, YOU THE CHURCHES HAS BEEN TAKING ABOUT REPENTANCE, TELL ME CANON FLOWERS HOW MANY MURDERERS HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST IN THEIR LIVES, HOW MANY MURDERERS HAVE CHANGE THEIR LIVE?? ACCORDING TO THE NEWS THE KILLING IS INCREASING AND THE SAME PEOPLE ARE KILLING OVER AND OVER, SO WHAT DO YOU EXPECT CANNON FLOWERS. THESE MURDERERS DON’T WANT JESUS CHRIST IN THEIR LIVES, IT HAS BEEN OFFER TO THEM FREE OF CHARGE, THEY WANT TO CONTINUE THEIR KILLING SPREE. WELL IN THAT CASE LET GO BACK TO THE LAWS, I SAY “HANG THEM”
Honestly i don’t know why the churches don’t get their teachings right. Jesus never said that he came to change the laws of old or of Moses but he came to fulfill them so why is it that these so called God believers feel like the laws of the Old Testament don’t apply. the Christian Religion is so confused that they even keep on digging to find more books to compare their present bibles to see if they are right. come on people open your eyes.
And while we’re on the topic of SIN, let’s discuss the SINS OF THE CHURCH like neglecting the poor, fatherless, widows, homeless, destitute, mentally ill and hungry. Then let’s move on to the more pressing issues that you hope will go away like the molestation scandals, whoremongering, adultery, rape and gruesome murders and robberies, while we’re at it let’s not ignore the gross corruption by the government and the judiciary, pilfering of the public purse and everything that the church refuses to condemn that ” Tears away at the core fabric and moral of society”,….shall I go on Oh Holy man of God???
THE CHURCH HAS A POSITION THAT NEVER WAVERED. Which church?; because the Catholic Church is responsible for the countless christain martyers of the dark age including the inquisition. And the Church of England, has it’s hand all blooded. Remember the Mayflower?.
People when sin entered the world we became imperfect – yep we are all sick sinful-sick. So that is why Christ came that we may have a second chance. Now every sin does not go unpunished God forgives but our consequences are still there to be paid. That is how God kept Israel clean. Did He not allow many nations to be wiped out completely? He said that if man does not want to listen then let him go. All we can do is pray, pray for each other. We will be restored to perfection by Christ Himself. Grace is for Christians and who can be a Christian anybody just repent and accept Christ as your LORD and Savior. For by grace you have been saved not by works…dont think you gonna enter heaven by feeding the poor, clothing the naked etc…its part of our job but not our ticket.
God Bless
THE CHURCHES HAVE FAILED US……..
THE CHURCHES HAVE FAILED US……..
THE CHURCHES HAVE FAILED US……..
but……..ALL THINGS ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH GOD………no need for a middle(HOLY)man.
Dean Barrow should step it up a notch and have priests hanged for molesting little boys!
I say hang the criminal, what is the church doing to help reduce crime? Any proposal?
Until you have a plan to reduce crime, hang them
The farms are a good idea, for non-violent criminals, I agree with that. In my day we had listowell, which worked. But, for these murderers it won’t work, lethal injection mention above would be another way instead of hanging. Belize has to do something.
Quite frankly according to some of the crack pots of Mr Harp, those in America and their followers by tomorrow midnight we should be lining up to be judged. Well Its Judgement Day apparently, either I am ready. Somehow I have a sneaky suspicion well discuss this on Monday, as no one knows the hour, so as long as I live every day as its your last then I am happy.
Canon too long the church as sat in silence as the crime got out of control in Belize. I hope you and your fellow clergy men ( RC, anglicans, methodist, muslims etc) have taken on it board. I am not personally singling you out anyone.
Grace is for anybody, but if the person is not living in the experience of grace, grace will not come!! Remember the law?? The law is for people that come under the law, which means if you do something that crosses over the law, you shall be treated according the law. But as normal Christians(Not talking about any particular group) we live a way higher lifestyle. We live a life that has very much higher level. I will not hang anybody but the government has the responsibility and pray that they can make a good choice. About gays? Same principle, and in the Bible it says “In the beginning it was NOT SO !!”
*I sternly support the LAW,& CONSTITUTION, where offenders who are not LAW ABIDING, must be brought to JUSTICE, and face the CONSEQUENCES; I however, still maintain that HANGING, is not the right RESOLUTION, to resolve this CRIME-WAVE, that is sweeping, the Jewel of BELIZE. “Yes,” we support the DECISSION, in SCHOOLS, not to Physically Discipline a CHILD, but we HANG-THEM, when they GROW-UP, & being DISORDERLY, ROGUE, & RENEGADE:*