Christians take a stand

By Christopher Tobutt

Several hundred people representing a wide range of churches gathered together to demonstrate against the Domestic Partnership Law, on Saturday 22 August, forming a long line all the way from the Government Administration Building to the Legislative Assembly Building. They were making a stand, they said, for the Constitution, and also for the Word of God.

Katina Anglin, Public Relations Officer for the Christian Association for Civics, which was organizing the demonstration, said, “This afternoon we are out here as members of the church, undertaking our civic duty, and upholding the word of the Lord, and the constitution of the Cayman Islands. We are not receptive to any legal framework that is outside of the ordinances of the law of the land, and the law of the Lord, which is the union of one man and one woman together as husband and wife…we have no exclusion in our hearts for any part or for any person. The LGBT, we love them, but it is our mission to preach true love, true faith, and true mercy.”

As they gathered on the grass beside the Glasshouse, all the demonstrators were being encouraged to sign a petition to the Government and they were also being asked for donations that would go to pay costs associated with a possible legal challenge to the new law. The petition included questions such as, “Do you support the DPB should be passed into law without a public referendum?” and, “Do you think that the UK should impose such legislation without first hearing from the people of the Cayman Islands?”

Taking the platform, Pastor Christopher Rose explained that the basis of the gathering was love for the LGTB community, “We love you and we want to see you change,” he said.

Holding up a big sign which said, “I stand for God, God is Love, God is Good, God is Jesus,” Bill Jackson explained, “I am here standing for God and for the word of God. I believe that the Domestic Partnership Law is wrong, because soon they are going to add something else onto that, and then there will be more and more and more. That is the way the devil works.”

Pastor Myles of the West Bay Church of God Chapel said, “This (demonstration) is important because Cayman is my home. I am talking about changing our constitution, changing our laws. and I am talking about the overthrow of the family, because that is what I feel that it is. I feel that the children are in danger.”

Another demonstrator, Corinne Glasgow said, “I am standing for family, and for God’s absolute laws. It says that marriage is between a man and a woman. We actually love all people because Christ died for all of us, but we just don’t want to legislate any wrongdoing. All of us have sinned, that is what the bible says and the antidote to any sin is to ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins.”

Romellia Welcome, from the Church of God Universal said, “I am here to stand up for the word of God. God made Adam and Eve, and he said to go forth and be fruitful and multiply. He did not say Adam and Steve or Eve and Jean. So it’s against God’s word and I sand for God’s word.”

15-year old Cathy Myles was making a stand for God, too, “I am here today so my voice can be heard as a Christian, as a child, and as a Caymanian Citizen. I want to stand up for the word of God and what it says. I’m not ashamed of the gospel, and I’m ready to do what it takes, and if this is what it takes then I’m going to stand,” she said.