Local Pastors Pose Moral Questions To Candidates:
By Juan McCartney -
Nassau, Bahamas:

With only two weeks left before the next general election, a coalition of local pastors is asking political candidates to answer questions regarding morality.

The coalition has composed a list of moral questions it intends to forward all 110 candidates in the May 2 election.

The survey asks the personal opinions of candidates on a number of hot button issues. The questions cover issues ranging from gay marriage and "homosexual tourism" to stronger sentencing for sex offenders and capital punishment.

The group, headed by Grace Community Church senior pastor Lyall Bethel, will also forward the questionnaire to the chairman of each political party.

At a press conference held at his church Monday, Mr. Bethel explained that the committee will collate the data on the candidates’ positions.

"We feel that these particular issues are often overlooked because of their controversial nature," Pastor Bethel said. "We want to create a tool to help people understand their (candidates’) convictions."

"We believe that the 148,055 voters are very much interested in what the 110 candidates [who seek to represent] the 41 constituencies have to say."

"We believe that the political parties have gone to great extent to put forward candidates that people can say ‘ I know them; I know what they stand for’," Pastor Bethel said.

"We want to know that these people are not just PLP, FNM, BDM or independent. The candidates should want to be seen as individuals with convictions, beliefs and a system of values."

Pastor Bethel is joined in his quest by other clerics like pastors Cedric Moss, Deanza Cunningham, Gil Maycock, Jay Simms, Myles Munroe, Perry Wallace, Richard Pinder, Shelton Beneby, Vaughn Cash and Andy Knowles and Allan Lee.

"Our concern is more of a spiritual and moral one than it is political. I think if you look at the issues, they reflect more on the morality of our (Bahamian) people and of the candidates," Pastor Lee said.

"We have a rich history as Bahamians. Our history reflects a Judeo-Christian culture. We have been seeing that this history is slowly being taken away."

The questionnaire asks the following questions:

Are you in favour of the preserving of the words "Christian Values" in the preamble to our constitution or replacing it with "Spiritual Values"? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of or opposed to a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of or opposed to granting same sex couples some form of legal recognition or status under law? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of or opposed to recognizing same sex marriages/unions, even if they were performed outside of The Bahamas? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Do you support increased efforts to enforce our environmental laws through stricter fines and additional funding for educational efforts, or do you feel the current laws and enforcement efforts are sufficient? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of returning the age of sexual consent to 18 or should it remain at 16? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of or opposed to increasing the mandatory minimum sentencing for sexual offenders? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are in favour of implementing "pro-choice" laws in terms of abortion, or would you like to see stricter enforcement of the current laws? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of or opposed to amending the Constitution of the Bahamas to make capital punishment the mandatory sentence for murder convictions? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of or opposed to abolishing the capital punishment laws? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of or opposed to organized groups of homosexuals, swingers, swap marriage partners, and nudists being allowed to visit the Bahamas under the umbrella of promoting their cause? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of or opposed to the strengthening and stricter enforcement of public decency laws to address topless/nude sunbathing on public beaches, strip clubs and public profanity, or do you feel the laws should be changed to allow more freedom of expression? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

Are you in favour of or opposed to the stricter enforcement of decency in broadcasting laws to address such incidences as lewd and suggestive images on cable television, profane lyrics on the radio and semi-pornographic images in the newspaper, or do you feel the laws should be changed to allow more freedom of expression? If you feel otherwise, please explain?

Are you in favour of or opposed to establishing a national lottery?

Are you in favour of or opposed to legalizing privately owned gambling businesses?

Are you in favour of or opposed to amending the laws to allow Bahamian citizens and residents to legally gamble in local casinos?

Are you in favour of or opposed to using a Judeo/Christian Value system in our public schools? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

As a matter of conscience would you be willing to vote against your party?

Do you feel that after expressing your opinion following fair discussion, that it is your duty to always support your party? If you feel otherwise, please explain.

The coalition expects to have answers returned to it by next week Thursday.

The results of the questionnaire will then be published in the local newspapers on Monday, April 30, according to the pastors.

There is no indication yet as to how political candidates will respond to the challenge.

17 April 2007