THE EDITOR, Sir:
WITH THE recent upheaval concerning the Church Dayton's deacon and the assault and videotaping of the teenage girl, the church on a whole has been bashed and rightly so. A Gleaner article on June 10 reported that church founder Ruby Kelly chastised whistle-blowers in her congregation for making known the sexual molestation case of the 14-year-old schoolgirl and that is what I believe the public has found very disturbing.
Ian Boyne in Sunday's Gleaner wrote on the issue and tried to articulate the fundamentalist and traditional theocracies that account for the remarks made by Ms. (or Mrs.) Kelly. It is true, there are many churchgoers that esteem the church's image more highly than the interest or welfare of others. However it must be understood that denominational doctrine and the authentic principles of the Bible are not the same thing, hence the many sects in Christianity.
TRUE RELIGION
True religion does not admonish believers to be sworn into secrecy and condone criminal acts. Neither does it endorse the establishment of laws at the expense of the neglect of the pain of others. In fact, true religion is measured by what it makes you do for others. That said, it must be clear that the effort to protect the image of the Church should not stand in the way of justice. The deacon allegedly acted as an accessory seemingly before and after the fact and the law must treat him as it would a non-Christian. Christian or atheist, we are all subject to the law of the land (once it does not contradict God's laws). The act was not a tort, it was criminal, and so it exceeded the jurisdiction of the church's board or penal system. This is not a society in which the Church exercises both judicial and religious power, as was Israel.
Church bashing is not a new phenomenon. One may even argue that Jesus started it himself. However, it was not because he hated the church, but because the traditions and doctrines it advanced contradicted biblical principles and truth. Looking at Jerusalem, he bemoaned the fact that it rejected its own and killed the prophets.
WE ARE ALL HUMANS
The Church is not perfect. If the critics take the time to study history and scripture, they would discover that the Church, acting on non-biblical doctrine, has executed the most martyrs in the name of Christ. I am not saying the deacon is a tare. Certainly his act (or omission) is not beyond God's grace and forgiveness, but he has committed himself to 'Caesar's' punishment and Sister Ruby and other fundamentalists must accept that. It is often said, 'The Church holds the morality of the people,' and so I agree. If the Church decides to condone sin it should be bashed.
I am, etc.,
LEON FERGUSON
thegreat1_9@yahoo.com
NCU Mandeville
Via Go-Jamaica
