‘We’re defending marriage between a man & a woman’- Premier Wheatley
‘I’m against cultural imperialism’- Premier
“One thing that I’m certainly against in our community is what we call cultural imperialism. This is where one culture wants to force their culture on somebody else’s culture. And we in the Virgin Islands, we have a strong culture, we have a strong belief in God, we assert that we’re a Christian community,” Premier Wheatley said when asked to give his reason for recommending a referendum on the matter of same sex marriage and to state his position on abortion.
Dr Wheatley was at the time on the forum “A Response” hosted by the Community Worship Centre Church of God of Prophecy in Long Look on March 12, 2023.
“And while we accept others, and while we certainly don’t advocate for violence or discrimination against others, we are certainly firm in what we believe and what we want our culture to be,” Dr Wheatley added.
Defending marriage between man & woman
The Government is currently the respondent in a case currently before the High Court, where a same sex couple, both Virgin Islanders, were married abroad, and have mounted a legal challenge to have their union legally recognised in the [British] Virgin Islands.
Dr Wheatley, in a statement on December 19, 2022, had said if the couple is successful, section 13(1)(c) of the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act, which provides that marriage is void unless the parties are respectively male and female, would be declared unconstitutional and, therefore, be null and void. As a result, same-sex marriage would become legal in the Virgin Islands.
“Of course, we know that we have a legal case, and part of the purpose of this case which has been brought against the Government, which we are defending vigorously, we’re defending marriage between a man and a woman”, the Premier continued during Sunday’s forum.
Referendum is to ‘send a message’
In a special meeting of the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands held on Friday, December 16, 2022, Cabinet decided to refer the matter of same-sex marriage to a referendum, so that the electorate can consider and decide on the question of whether same-sex marriage should be legal. The referendum is expected to be held after the 2023 General Elections.
“What has been recommended to me, as a means of strengthening our case is to be able to allow the people of the Virgin Islands to make their views known and clear as it pertains to their belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman. And the referendum allows you the opportunity to…send that message to the court system, to the United Kingdom and to whoever else, in terms of what we want to see our community to be”, Dr Wheatley said.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Christian Concern and UK lawyer Mrs Andrea M. Williams has said the VI, being a nation based on a belief in God as stated in its constitution, should not even consider a referendum on same-sex marriage.
‘I am not one to be judgmental’- Hon Marlon A. Penn
Meanwhile, Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) was asked his stance on the world embracing the LGBTQ+ community given that the VI is termed a “God fearing country”.
Hon appeared to choose the path of being politically correct.
“I think that has to be consistent with the way that we govern, the way that we legislate. And I think it is not our responsibility to put our personal preference on the people of BVI.
“My opinion should not govern, should not dictate the way how I legislate and I believe that just how we’re doing the referendums on these issues, the people have spoken very loudly…I am not one to be judgmental but I believe that the principles of the law of the land and society should obtain”, Honourable Penn said.
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44 Responses to “‘We’re defending marriage between a man & a woman’- Premier Wheatley”
Human rights are human rights!
Entertaining, liking social media posts, encouraging homosexuality including because they’re your family or friend IS WRONG.
You made a choice to defend what God says is wrong over defending God’s Word.
“We live in a world that increasingly strives to promote the idea of tolerance but actually becomes intolerant of Christian absolutes as it does so. Whether it involves religion, behavior, or human sexuality, there is a growing anti-Christian sentiment.
Ultimately, built into this “tolerance” is the concept that truth is determined by each individual, not by God. This has led many people to conclude that making judgments on anyone (especially coming from Christians) is wrong because the Bible says “judge not”” (Matthew 7:1).
Interestingly enough, those who reject the notion of God or the credibility of the Bible often attempt to use God’s Word (e.g., by quoting verses out of context) to excuse their actions when they are presented with the gospel and the plight of sinners for rejecting it.
Now, people often take Matthew 7:1 out of context and claim we are not to judge but when you read the whole passage carefully, Christ is actually warning believers against making judgments in a hypocritical or condemning manner.
Jesus also stated in John 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Notice the Lord’s command to judge. Before we make a judgment, we must make sure we are judging righteously from God’s Word and not relying on our own opinion.”
Romans 1:24 - 32
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve death, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
WHO DO YOU CHOOSE - GOD OR THE WAYS OF THE WORLD FOR THE SAKE OF PLEASING SELF AND OTHERS?
More evil is done in the name of god than for anything else.
It's possible to be religious without being a Christian
It's possible to believe in a higher being or Spirit without being bound by a set of man made books
It's possible to live with love as being your mantra and not judge everyone else
It's possible you are horribly wrong and will be damned for your ill treatment of people different to yourself.
Who knows? Not you, not me. So in the meantime, love your fellow man and bestow equal rights on all.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) was asked his stance on the world embracing the LGBTQ+ community given that the VI is termed a “God fearing country”.
Hon appeared to choose the path of being politically correct.
“I think that has to be consistent with the way that we govern, the way that we legislate. And I think it is not our responsibility to put our personal preference on the people of BVI.
“My opinion should not govern, should not dictate the way how I legislate and I believe that just how we’re doing the referendums on these issues, the people have spoken very loudly…I am not one to be judgmental but I believe that the principles of the law of the land and society should obtain”, Honourable Penn said.
This is TYPICAL MARLON PENN. Always straddling the fence, never want to make a decision on anything, always playing it safe. And this is the man we supposed to have as Premier in these times? Sowande answered straight up, that is a MAN!
Leviticus 18 and 20
"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." Chapter 18 verse 22. "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them."
You said the we, Virgin Islanders are a Christian Community (believe in the principles of God). Allowed me, if you please to explain what a Christian Community mindset is. A Christian Community mindset is the daily practicing of love for God, our heavenly Father and Creator selflessly and to love our neighbors as we love selflessly. Is this principle being practicing daily by the majority of us daily? No! Deceitful actions are being practice daily "Guilty or not guilty?"
I hate same sex marriage, but not people that have been deceived, and held hostage to it's deceptive illusionary power.
God is willing, and able to do far and exceedingly above what we are able to think, and ask of Him. For a better future, genuine repenting is a must, not an if.
Hmmm
Article 73; UN Charter
to ensure, with due respect for the culture of the peoples concerned, their political, economic, social, and educational advancement, their just treatment, and their protection against abuses;
Is this even a discussion??????
No to ideological colonialism. Your definition of human rights is way off. Two men have the right to enter each others bodies but yet they literally police what joyful substances goes into other bodies.