Antigua Catholic Bishop not getting support for the decrimilization of buggery

This morning I came across this article related to the Bishop of Antigua's statement that he thinks that buggery should be decriminalized. It is from the "CARIBARENA Antigua" which calls themselves the best Caribbean news portal. It seems that the Bishop has leaders from other churches shocked by his comments:

Antigua St John's - The newly appointed Roman Catholic bishop's call for the decriminalization of buggery is not finding favour with other church leaders.

Since Bishop Kenneth Richards' statement on radio last Friday, at least one church leader, Rev Carlwin Greenaway, superintendent of the Methodist Church, has distanced himself from the suggestion.

Now, chairman of the Provincial Elders Conference of the Eastern West Indies Province of the Moravian Church, Rev Dr Cortroy Jarvis, also wants to disagree.

“I am surprised that we seem to be re-introducing things that I thought we had settled long ago," he said. "I totally disagree with the call to decriminalize buggery, for I feel that once that happens, it would open up the door to a lot of other things."

Rev Jarvis added that should buggery be removed as a criminal act, this would open the door for homosexuality to "raise its head" in the open with boldness.

“You cannot control what happens in a person’s bedroom, but there has to be a moral compass for our society," he said. "People should know what acceptable behaviour is and what is not."

The PEC chairman noted that the Bible is very clear on the issue of homosexuality. “In Leviticus 20 verse 13 it states: 'If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall be put to death: their blood shall be upon them.' While I think the second part of the passage is harsh in today’s context, it shows the seriousness with which the subject is treated from a biblical perspective,” Rev Jarvis explained.

He added that the "real picture," as stated in the Bible, is for a man and a woman, and not man and man. He does not see any justification for repealing the laws.

“I don’t see any open discrimination against homosexuals in the society," the reverend said. "We have been living with them amongst us for a long time. Because adultery was illegal at one time and now it is not, is not a strong enough justification in my view."

According to Rev Jarvis, if the laws against buggery were lifted, this would strike a "serious blow" against morality. “We have enough serious problems to contend with in the country than to consider things such as lifting the laws against buggery,” he said.