Christian groups laud government’s stance in US/JA diplomatic row
Jamaica’s decision to deny the U.S. government’s request for diplomatic immunity for the same-sex spouse of a U.S. foreign service officer slated to be posted in Kingston, is being commended by local Christian advocacy groups who are appealing to the North American country to respect Jamaica’s laws.
The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS) has described the recent development as an attempt at bullying and intimidating a sovereign nation. The group saluted the Jamaican Government for its stance in rejecting the attempts by the US government to impose LGBTQ+ culture upon Jamaica.
“This attempt at cultural imperialism is in defiance of our national laws against buggery and same – sex “marriage”. These practices are both contrary to nature and inimical to human flourishing and cannot serve as a foundation on which a healthy society can be built,” the faith-based organisation stated in a press release.
The JCHS noted that the embracing of LGBTQ+ political ideology in the USA has not been in the best interest of children who are being exposed to pornography, disguised as comprehensive sexuality education.
“Further, children are being deliberately confused about the binary nature of human sexuality and the role that the two sexes play in society. The result of this deliberate confusion of children is resulting in abuse, harmful medical interventions, and mutilations of healthy bodies of young children. This must never become a feature of Jamaican life.”
According to media reports, the US State Department has reacted to Jamaica’s decision by refusing to extend the stay of at least three Jamaican diplomats whose five year diplomatic visas are set to expire this year.
The Association for Christian Communicators and Media (ACCM) has hailed the Jamaican government’s decision as a defence of the constitution.
“The Jamaica Constitution is explicit in the rejection of same-sex marriage, and the act of buggery. Marriage in Jamaican law is between one man and one woman, which is based on the Judeo-Christian foundation of our country,” said the ACCM.
“Like Jamaica, the United States is governed by the rule of law and the Constitution is supreme. So, we expect the US Government to respect the laws and mores of our country,” said the advocacy group, which comprises christian media workers and owners from Jamaica, the region and the diaspora.
The ACCM pointed out that Jamaicans have been clear in their opposition to same-sex marriage and the offence of buggery, and thanked the Jamaican government for respecting the views of the people.
“ACCM continues to call for the establishment of a Ministry or Commission for the Family to focus on a deliberate process to rebuild our communities and our nation on a firm and righteous foundation,” it said.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith, has denied that there is a “diplomatic row” between Jamaica and the United States, over Jamaica’s alleged refusal to grant diplomatic privileges to the spouse of the gay diplomat. She noted that both country’s continue to enjoy strong and positive diplomatic relations.
However, the unusual sight of Prime Minister Andrew Holness entering the United States recently, without the customary benefits generally afforded to heads of government and other diplomats have further fueled speculations that all is not well between the two countries.
Senator Johnson-Smith acknowledged that the Prime Minister did have to go through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at an airport in Florida, but she insisted that this was due to an internal error within the Jamaican embassy. She said the matter was being taken seriously.
