7 News Belize

PM Will Meet Churches, Discuss “Range Of Options”
posted (September 1, 2016)
Government's position on the Section 53 judgment is clearly evolving. First, they said that there would be no appeal, and the judgment would stand. Then on Friday at the House Sitting, the Prime Minister indicated that he would be willing to appeal the Chief Justice's interpretation of the word "sex" in the constitution to mean "sexual orientation". And now latest reports say that Cabinet is considering an amendment to the Marriage Act to make it only between a man and a woman. Today at the Press Conference the Prime Minister only announced that he and the Attorney General would be meeting with the Churches on Monday:...

Rt., Hon, Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"It is clear that opinions on a particular issue of whether government should appeal are sharply divided even among the churches. The Belize Evangelical Association, one of the interested parties to the action has indicated to me its position that there should be no appeal. That according to the pastoral letter written by Canon Leroy Flowers also seems to be the position of the Anglican Church, another interested party before the CJ. But then that leaves the Roman Catholics and the other evangelical associations. On Monday morning I and the AG will meet with all the churches in order to try to talk through these disagreements. Cabinet has considered a range of options that should inform the discussions."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Will you amend the marriage act to make it as between a man and a woman?"

Rt., Hon, Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Aye....."

As you heard, the PM didn't want to answer that question but we are told that is one of what he called a range of options that cabinet has given him.

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