And what accounts for the reversal of position from then to now? Maybe we can call it the moral suasion of the various church bodies: between the mainline churches and the evangelical groups, they used both soft and hard power, public demonstrations and quiet diplomacy to bring the government around. And today, these Christian soldiers cheered the government for making the compromise:...
Bishop Philip Wright, Anglican Diocese of Belize
"The Anglican Diocese, we were an interested party in the whole case and perhaps one of the ways to understand why we're where we are is because we were interested party, we recognize the implications of the verdict of a case such as this. Our church does not intend to appeal the decision of the Chief Justice in total. But in saying that we also made known that we continue to have an interest in parts of that decision."
Pastor Lance Lewis, President - NEAB
"The government will appeal section 53 in the area of 'sex equals male and female and not sexual orientation', but the big thing for us is that we agree with that. But now he has opened the door for the Roman Catholic Church and we are an interested party too to appeal section 53. That was a very big opening because we have always wanted the case to be appealed, I don't know if the government will provide the money, but we are glad that it is open now for us."
Patrick Menzies, President - Spanish Church's Alliance of Ministers and Leaders
"We expected a better result from today but the appealing opens some good doors that will give opportunity to clarify a lot of things to include who decides morality and stuff like that in the country."
Rev. Roosevelt Papouloute - Methodist Church
"Legally speaking, the Methodist church was not an interested part in the case because at the time, we're not in a position to do that but of course the Methodist church is an interested part in it and has to do with the well-being of the community. following the ruling of the Chief Justice, the Methodist Church has decided, based on proper advice, that we will not encourage our support in the appeal of the case, but of course like some other branches of the church, we also have a concern if the definition or interpretation of the Chief Justice in relation to the word 'sex'."
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