Retired Archbishop Drexel Gomez yesterday criticized church leaders for what he described as their "unwarranted and misleading" claims about the potential impact of the word sex into bill number four, which has sparked public controversy.
"Unfortunately, some well-intentioned pastors have utilized the appearance of the word 'sex' in the text of [question] four to make an unwarranted and misleading insertion into the publicly released narrative thereby creating much confusion in the public domain," Gomez said in a press release.
The first three referendum bills deal specifically with citizenship issues. While bill number four, which would make it unconstitutional to discriminate based on sex, has been the most controversial.
Many who oppose it fear it would lead to same-sex marriage in The Bahamas.
"These church leaders allege, without offering any factual corroboration that the use of the word 'sex' in amendment four can provide a legal 'back door' for the authorization of same-sex marriage in The Bahamas," Gomez said.
Gomez added: "Despite the fact that marriage does not, on any logical reading, form part of the rationale spelt out so clearly in the four amendments."
To make his case, Gomez referenced the Matrimonial Causes Act. It states a marriage shall be void if the parties are not respectively male and female.
Members of Save Our Bahamas, a group formed by pastors in opposition to bill number four, said while they will encourage their congregants to vote against question four, they also urge Bahamians to vote their conscience on the other three questions.
"The reason why we're focused on bill number four is because we feel that it opens the door to same-sex marriage, and as a result of that, this is a moral issue as such. And because it is a moral issue, we feel that it's important for the church to voice their concern, and so that is what we are doing," said Pastor Mario Moxey of Bahamas Harvest Church.
Gomez countered in his release: "Consequently, well-thinking Bahamians must conclude that the obvious fear of same-sex marriage in The Bahamas as expressed by these church leaders is both unfounded in Bahamian Law and in logical factual reading.
"Suspicions and fears are no substitutes for legal evidence to support their claim."
Parliament passed the four constitutional referendum bills in March, paving the way for the long-delayed referendum scheduled for June 7.
In 2002, Gomez opposed the referendum. He reiterated that he did so because the right process was not followed, he said in a recent interview with National Review. This time around, he said, stakeholders were properly consulted and the Constitutional Commission has covered a lot of ground.
Gomez also addressed concerns raised by some in the public that the passage of bill number two would allow for an influx of foreigners into the country through marriages of conveniences.
"In the first place, since 1973, the foreign wives of Bahamian males have received citizenship and have been eligible to hold political office. This eligibility has not created any social dislocation. No reasons, other than the 'fear of foreigners', have been offered for withholding this same eligibility to males," he said.
"Secondly, membership in the House of Assembly is not by appointment but by a democratic electoral process. Similarly, the office of prime minister is bestowed upon the democratically elected member of a political party. If we believe in democracy we should respect the democratic election process.
"Thirdly, there is an obvious, unfortunate need for the general public to be reminded of the sterling contributions made by so many non-Bahamian born persons to the development of The Bahamas especially in the areas of education, the judiciary, law enforcement, sports, religion, and commerce."
Gomez indicated the 'fear of foreigners' should not stop Bahamians from supporting equality.
Referring to scripture, Gomez said: "I can categorically state that I am unaware of any element within that sacred teaching that can be construed to support inequality, unfairness, and injustice in any shape, form, or fashion.
"I remain convinced that a yes vote is totally consistent with the ethical teaching of Jesus as contained in holy scripture."
Gomez encouraged Bahamian men to consider the implications of a no vote.
"Please note that if you vote 'no' you will be telling the world that you are happy and content to be the recipient of certain constitutional rights while your Bahamian sister is denied these same rights under identical circumstances," Gomez said.
He also argued that a no vote by Bahamian women would be a "vote against your own self-interest".
"In so doing, you will be depriving yourself of the legal right to equality before the law. If you are not sufficiently concerned about your own status before the law. I urge you to give serious consideration to the status of your children. With special reference to your female children who will, by your 'no' vote, continue to be discriminated against and denied equality under the law simply because they are female," he said
Gomez added that a failure to successfully pass the constitutional amendment bills would be an "approval of the continuation of discrimination on the basis of being male or female".
"I therefore strongly recommend a 'yes' vote to each of the four amendments," Gomez said.
The referendum will cost $1.57 million, according to Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage, who has ministerial responsibility for elections.
Don Alleyne, Guardian Staff Reporter
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