Pastors Split on Marital Rape Issue

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The issue of marital rape continues to influence the national conversation, with two clergymen now weighing in.

While one says the Davis administration should be careful about legislating rules for the bedroom, another is saying otherwise.

Berthony Mcdermott reports.

As the conversation on marital rape ramps up, General Overseer of the Church of God of the Bahamas Bishop Moses Johnson is cautioning the government against legislating what happens in the bedroom.

His comments come as the gender-based violence issue was once again thrust back into the forefront of national discussions in recent months.

Although state Social Services Minister Lisa Rahming suggested the government will criminalize marital rape.

The issue of marital rape has long been a touchy subject in The Bahamas.

Johnson’s comments come days after Catholic Archbishop Patrick Pinder threw his support behind criminalizing marital rape noting that forced sexual activity within a marriage is a “distortion” of the biblical understanding of marriage.

Attorney Marion Bethel who serves as The Bahamas representative on the United Nations committee on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against a woman who recently said she does not support calling marital rape anything other than rape.

It’s a sentiment Bishop Johnson says he shares.