By Devon Evans, Contributor
Scene from the mass nude wedding held recently at Hedonism III.- File
ST. ANNS BAY:
FOR THE second consecutive year, a popular Jamaican hotel has facilitated the holding of a mass nude wedding, despite strong condemnation from church leaders and from members of the society.
But while this practice is seen as sacrilegious by members of the local religious community, the Minister, Rev. Frank Cervasio, who conduct these questionable wedding ceremonies, firmly believes that he is not involved in anything ungodly, and is calling on Jamaican church leaders to "re-think their positions."
He is also advising Jamaicans that nude weddings could be a major boost for the country's tourism in the future, if it is properly marketed.
Rev. Cervasio hails from the Church of Florida Naturists in the USA, and he returned to the island last week to officiate at the wedding of eleven nude couples at SuperClubs Hedonism III on Valentine Day, Thursday, February 14. He said nude weddings are spiritually entertaining and represent a holy matrimonial undertaking.
"I believe God will be very pleased with this type of exercise," he said in an interview with The Gleaner. Declaring that there is nothing immoral about nudity, Rev. Cervasio added, "As a matter of fact, I find this to be very consistent with the way we were brought into life. We are created in God's image. We are projected in his image, and right here we are showing the love that he gave to us as mortals."
He went on to point out that couples who decide to get married in the nude have more time to get spiritually in tune with each other just from their naturalness, instead of having to worry about the clothes they want to wear or who should cater for them, etc.,
This view was supported by one of the eleven couples who participated in the rare matrimonial exercise, Buck and Chris Jackson of Alabama, USA. Both were among the 10 nude couples at last year's wedding ceremony, and said they were so excited that they had to return. "Getting married here last year was so wonderful, we decided to do it again," Chris said with a broad smile.
In explaining her reason for a nude wedding, Chris said: "We met each other in the nude, we enjoyed each other in the nude, and so we decided to get married in the nude."
The bearded Rev. Cervasio was the same priest, who conducted last year's Valentine Day nude wedding at Hedonism III, and he admits that this was common practice for him in the United States, where on some occasions, he himself is nude. He also said most of these ceremonies usually involve just one couple, but that this practice was catching on in the United States and could be a major incentive for tourism in the future. "In the States, yes, this is a movement that is catching on more and more. Nude recreation itself is catching on more and more, and I truly believe that maybe in a 5 to 8-year period, this is going to be the mainstay of society," Rev. Cervasio assured.
Vice-president of SuperClubs, Zein Nakash, said undoubtedly, the nude weddings have earned major worldwide publicity for Hedonism III. She said last year's weddings earned for the hotel a Gold Award from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, and that Thursday's weddings were picked up by CNN Headline News, Fox News, NBC and other major networks.
"It definitely increases interest in the hotel, and we might very well see the positive results in terms of booking in the months ahead," Nakash stated.
Expressing his delight to have been given another opportunity to conduct nude weddings in Jamaica, Rev. Cervasio said he wished others, instead of condemning the practice, would take time out to enjoy this wonderful experience so close to paradise. "Whenever I need the ritual healing, Jamaica is my island."
Rev. Cervasio described his church as non-denominational and said it is located mainly at the Canaveral National Seashore in the state of Florida. He has been an ordained minister for over 8 years, and described himself as a true man of God.
