Jamaica Gleaner

Pastor blasts MoBay Pride organisers

- Albert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer

PASTOR PETER Burnett, the chairman of the St James Ministers’ Fraternal, has sharply rebuked the organisers of the weeklong celebratio­n of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgende­r lifestyles, describing the event, which will kick off in Montego Bay on Sunday, as an abominatio­n to God.

“The gathering of the Montego Bay Pride movement in Montego Bay has come to the attention of the St James Ministers’ Fraternal,” said Burnett in a press release. “As such, we have seen it fit to publicly declare that we regret such a gathering, especially as we have learnt that the aim of it is to mobilise their efforts to get more persons involved in their practices.

“To us, and for us, such a practice is an abominatio­n to God and the increase of it will bring more curses into our already hurting city,” the clergyman declared. “We have further learnt that there will be a ‘march and worship’ service to push for the acceptance and normalisin­g of this practice.

“We put a lot of stock on visibility. We make sure that people know that we are here. We do pop-up protests by driving into town and jumping out with rainbow flags and placards so that people know we are here,” said Maurice Tomlinson, founder and coordinato­r of Montego Bay Pride.

However, Burnett charged that the St James Ministers’ Fraternal supports the Judeo-Christian worldview, which affirms that marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman. He went on to reprimand the authoritie­s for granting approval for the event.

 ??  ?? Maurice Tomlinson, founder and coordinato­r of Montego Bay Pride.
Maurice Tomlinson, founder and coordinato­r of Montego Bay Pride.

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