Are Sarah and archbishop at odds over local gay laws?

The recent death of Gervais Emmanuel, who allegedly identified as gay and may have paid the ultimate price, has sparked another wave of discussions centered on gay rights in Saint Lucia. Senator Hermangild Francis, also justice minister, was first to suggest officially that the island’s buggery laws should be revisited—especially if that’s what Saint Lucians want.

He added: ”Too many young people are being maligned because of their sexual orientation. I don’t think that’s right. Everyone should be entitled to his or her own sexual, political and religious beliefs.” However, the laws that protect citizens’ right to free expression and association are not as kind to those considered other than heterosexual.

External affairs minister Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, for one, seems not to share Francis’ views on sexual rights. Last week she focused on health risks that she associated with homosexuality. “There’s no need to be emotional about it,” she said, “no need to be one-sided. Let the facts contend and let us make the best decision for our country.  HIV/AIDS is serious. We do not have the kind of money to invest in secondary health care and tertiary health care. What we need to do is encourage healthy lifestyle choices.”

So-called “Christian values” have long had a major influence on Saint Lucia’s lawmakers. Archbishop Robert Rivas spoke for the island’s Roman Catholics. “Whoever said the church is against [homosexuals] is probably misinformed about the church today,” he said. “I have never said that in my preaching in Saint Lucia. I’ve been here eleven years and a bishop for 29 years. I’ve never preached that, and I’ve never heard our archdiocese preach that.”

The archbishop said the Catholic Church is not against gays and lesbians, only the actions that make them so. “The church today is learning and is listening,” said Rivas. “The church will always love the person and care for the person as Jesus did. Jesus did not accept adultery, but he accepted the adulteress.” Nevertheless, he agrees with Hermangild Francis, that the time may be right to revisit the island’s buggery.

“In so many developed societies,” he said, “it has gone beyond debate.  If it is a law that is distressful and it’s not a law that has been serving its purpose the way it ought to have served its purpose in the past, then it has to be reviewed and updated as necessary. I hope that our governments in the region will look at all the situations and do the right thing, but always maintaining a high standard of morals and values for our people.”

Pope Francis, has expressed views similar the archbishop’s. He seems now to be preoccupied with homosexuality among the clergy. A spokesperson for United and Strong was at time of writing not available for comment.