Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be a mix of church services. For example, Saint Martin’s Parish will be convening its service at the Swift Hall in Belize City to accommodate one hundred and fifty persons. Elsewhere, within the Anglican Diocese in Belize, there will be both virtual and in-person congregations as churchgoers will […]
Tonight we end the newscast on a positive note. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize and Belmopan have released a song in commemoration of its Synodal Journey. The music video features two real life testimonies. Jackie Castillo wrote and recorded the song and Sister Mary Rachel joined the performance. The single is entitled, “Call to […]
Tonight on COVID Chronicles, we look at the role of the churches in abiding by the existing COVID-19 regulations, as well as the impact of the pandemic on the religious community and the ability of the churches to serve the less fortunate. We also get a multi-denominational perspective from the Catholic, Methodist and Evangelical churches […]
Last week Anglican Bishop, Reverend Phillip Wright said the Anglican Church in both Belize and the region is pushing congregations get vaccinated against COVID. One of the points of contention across denominations, however, is that while some church leaders say they will abide by the fifty percent maximum capacity for assembly, they view checking vaccination […]
On Tuesday, we heard Internist, Dr. Fernando Cuellar say that members of the medical community were calling for mandatory vaccinations in Belize after several of their members, the most recent of whom is pediatrician Dr. Cecilio Eck has become infected with COVID. BMDA President, Dr. Uldine Wright told News Five today that their two hundred […]
The controversy over the reopening of churches continues as church leaders in Belize have called for another meeting with Prime Minister John Briceño to further discuss how Statutory Instrument 119 will be applied as it pertains to reopening even to the unvaccinated. Anglican Bishop, Philip Wright explained there will have to be more analysis of […]
Prime Minister John Briceno says that his Government has agreed to not enforce the vaccination requirement for Churches in Belize as is stated in Statutory Instrument 119. The Prime Minister informed News Five today via text message that while the Government agrees with the Churches on the points they have put forth on the matter […]
Tomorrow the Government will put for a bill on new industries, including those that utilize cannabis products. It is a controversial topic that has some in Belize divided. The churches have held one position against the passage of the Bill and today Vice President of the National Evangelical Association of Belize, Pastor Lance Lewis explained […]
The National Evangelical Association of Belize has written to Prime Minister John Briceno objecting to the vaccine mandate imposed on churches. The letter dated October 15 states that NEAB was surprised to learn about the stipulation being placed on churches when it was, quote, “not discussed or agreed upon,” in a meeting NEAB says it […]
The Sisters of Mercy, the St Catherine Academy student body and the Lawrence family are mourning the passing of former SCA Principal, Sister Caritas Lawrence. She passed away on Wednesday night with close relatives around her. She served as principal of SCA from 1984 to 1997. During some of those years, current Principal, Salome Tillett got […]
The Belize Council of Churches has come out with a position in favor of COVID vaccinations. In a recorded statement, the heads of various denominations, including Bishop Lawrence Nicasio of the Roman Catholic Diocese, share a unified message urging all eligible Belizeans to get inoculated. Rt. Rev. Philip Wright, Bishop, Anglican Diocese “We long […]
As we reported earlier this week, the Belize Council of Churches has taken a stern position on the proposed legalization of marijuana. It was expected since the religious community has staunchly opposed the decriminalization of a small quantity of cannabis for personal use. While the church has criticized government for not being consulted on an […]
According to Minister Musa, passing legislation would establish a system that can be controlled, in order for everyone, including government, to benefit from the new industry. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs “The whole point of this is to create structure and regulation and so, of course, the church’s perspective will be one that […]
Education Minister Francis Fonseca is setting out to clarify recent comments made by Prime Minister John Briceño regarding the implementation of the ten percent salary cut for teachers. That is because the Belize Council of Churches has taken umbrage with what was initially mentioned. In responding to a statement issued by the Council on Tuesday, […]
The Belize Council of Churches, having consulted regionally with its counterparts in the Caribbean, has put forward a definitive position on the proposed legalization of marijuana. The religious organization is steadfast in its stance against government’s decision to eventually allow for the cultivation, trade and consumption of cannabis. On Tuesday, the representative body issued a […]
The ongoing discussion on marijuana legalization has led to progressive views being shared in the public discourse. As open-minded as those opinions may be, the Council of Churches maintains that there should be certain constraints. Bishop Moses Benguche explains. Bishop Moses Benguche, Belize Council of Churches “Liberalism has its dynamics but also its limitations. […]
The Council of Churches was equally vocal on the issue of the ten percent pay cut that teachers and public officers will be getting for the next three years. For them, the bone of contention with the Briceño administration is that it appears to have been disingenuous when it stated recently that the deduction from […]
Government’s move to ultimately legalize marijuana raises serious concerns in various sectors of Belizean society, including the religious community. The economic benefits, as well as the purging of criminal records for persons having been taken to court for marijuana-related offenses, have been put forward as part of the Briceño administration’s position. The Council of Churches, […]
There was an ordination ceremony held earlier today at Sacred Heart parish in Dangriga where Brother Mateo Salam was ordained as a transitional deacon for the diocese. Salam, a proud Q’eqchi Maya from San Pablo, Toledo, entered the seminary in 2013 where he pursued priesthood. He studied for three years at Sacred Heart Junior College […]
And finally tonight, as Belizeans prepare to observe the Easter holidays, whether by travelling somewhere in the country, or staying home with family and friends, we thought it fitting to share a special Easter message by Father Jeremy Zipple, the associate pastor of Saint Martin de Porres parish in Belize City. He reminds us that […]
While it is not yet official inauguration of the mosque, today, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Belize officially opened its new house of prayer and headquarters at mile one and a half on the George Price Highway. Starting today, the facility will be available for use by not only members of the Muslim community, but […]
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, through its community service arm, Humanity First, has been helping a number of families with pantry since registering as an N.G.O. last year. But there are many other social programmes, including sports, which is used to engage the youth across the country. Naveed Mangla, President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Belize, […]
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Belize is also getting a new home. Over on the George Price Highway, near mile one and a half, a mosque and its new headquarters is being erected. It’s about two or so months from completion, but Local Missionary Gabb gave News Five an update about the progress. Ata’ul […]
A church service of approximately two hundred congregants ended in several arrests on Sunday afternoon during a testy situation with armed police officers who had been called to Blue Creek to follow up on a report regarding a large gathering. Statutory Instrument 136 issued on October sixth, limits church services to no more than ten […]
In standing in solidarity with the local church community, Evangelical Pastor John Krahn also says that his church has a capacity of over four hundred persons but since March, due to the COVID-19 regulations, they have been following the protocols but are asking government to reconsider its position on reopening of churches. Blue Creek Mayor […]
