Bishop Simeon Hall yesterday called on Bahamas Christian Council executives and other religious leaders to "sheath their swords" against the regularization of web shop gaming and redirect their efforts towards crime and other areas of national concern.

"For the past two years, web shop gambling has been a priority for the Christian Council," Hall said in a statement.

"Other areas such as education, family life, public heath, job creation and crime have fallen below the concern of this august body."

When contacted yesterday to respond to Hall's statement, Christian Council President Rev. Ranford Patterson told The Guardian not to ask him to respond to Hall.

Meantime, Hall, a former president of the Christian Council, said while he appreciates the council's position on the issue of gambling, he said some of its "proponents were un-Christian in their stance on a matter that calls for personal conscience".

"The present executive of the council is aware that there was no unanimous vote held by the Christian community," Hall said.

"I was astonished that in this critical era in our nation's history, the Christian community can gather 78 church leaders in a meeting to protest web shops, but cannot get 12 of the same members to address crime or other more vexing issues which face us."

The Christian Council campaigned strongly against the regularization of web shop gambling in the run up to the January 28, 2013 poll, holding several mass prayer meetings on Rawson Square.

The body also held a service of thanksgiving and a call to action on Rawson Square earlier this year. Hall noted that regularization of web shops will not introduce gaming to The Bahamas but would rather "normalize them and tax them for the benefit of all".

"The council must not be so absorbed in one issue until other issues go unnoticed," Hall added.

"This body must be more socially conscious and ubiquitous in its approach as a national body." The majority of people who voted in the referendum last year voted against the regularization and taxation of web shops.

Despite the failed referendum, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said last Wednesday that he intends to present a proposal to Cabinet in the next two weeks for the regularization of web shops.

Wilchcombe said if his colleagues accept the proposal, web shops would be regularized by July 1. Following Wilchcombe's announcement, Patterson said the government would set a dangerous precedent if it chooses to ignore the results of last year's gambling poll.

By going against those results, Patterson said the government would effectively be calling the thousands of people who voted against the regularization of web shop gambling "stupid".

"As a matter of fact, why come to me for my advice then you come to me and say my advice isn't worth anything?" Patterson said. "I prefer you not to come to me. Just do what you want to do."

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian