Religious Leaders on the Warpath

El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) ^ | June 27, 2003 | Maricarmen Rivera Sánchez

[Ebenezer]

(English-language translation)

Facing the United States Supreme Court's decision to strike down any law which prohibits sodomy between two consenting adults, religious groups [in Puerto Rico] have placed the fight against homosexuality on the same level as the battle they wage against abortion and against the death penalty.

Angel Marcial, bishop of the Church of God Mission Board and president of the Puerto Rico Pentecostal Fraternity, said that the decision nullifies discussion of the issue from a legal standpoint, but not from a moral one.

"For us, abortion is constitutionally acceptable, but it's immoral, just as the death penalty is," the Reverend indicated. "The church will continue preaching forcefully against the homosexual lifestyle. With respect, obviously, but we have to point out that that lifestyle is not right."

The Supreme Court's decision is the second blow to the island's fundamentalists, who also opposed unsuccessfully the repeal of [anti-sodomy] Article 103 of the Penal Code. Despite strong lobbying by religious leaders in the [Puerto Rico] Capitol, the Senate voted to repeal the article. The bill now goes to the House [of Representatives], where discussion will turn academic in light of yesterday's Court ruling.

However, Marcial repeated to House members the warning [the religious leaders] made to the senators following approval of the Penal Code on Sunday.

"The Legislature has to be made aware that the church will be vigilant," Marcial stated, and added that they will not lose sight of the representatives while they discuss the Code during the next session.

Milton Picón, spokesman for the group Morality in Media, described the Supreme Court's decision as "regrettable" as he echoed the dissenting opinion of Antonin Scalia, the most conservative justice in the Court.

"As Justice Scalia put it, the Supreme Court's decision puts a stamp of approval on the gay agenda," Picón pointed out. "There has been a clear agenda on the part of those groups. The gay agenda marches on and the church has to ponder that it would affect them."

Picón emphasized that efforts will now go towards preventing the House from approving other articles such as the one that reduces the age of consent for sexual relations.

He [further] stated [that] the Supreme Court's decision closes the door on requests to representatives not to eliminate Article 103.

"The legislators are going to shield themselves behind the Supreme Court's opinion, just as they have shielded themselves on other occasions when we ask them to add restrictions to the abortion laws," Picón said. "In terms of the Article [(103)], the Supreme Court's decision carries so much weight that they will not even consider it."

[Ebenezer]

The religious leaders in Puerto Rico have it right, with the exception of their opposition to the death penalty.