National

‘We Support Marital Rape Amendments’

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Anglican Diocese throwing its support behind the proposed changes to rape legislation.

Published

2 years ago

October 20, 2022

Berthony McDermott

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Anglican Diocese throwing its support behind the proposed changes to rape legislation.

The revelation coming from the head of the Anglican Diocese Bishop Laish Boyd who made it clear the decision is a no-brainer, and spouses should have a choice.

Bishop Boyd throwing his support behind draft legislation for marital rape currently out for consultation, admitting rape is possible within marriage.

The Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill 2022, will repeal section three of the current law by removing the words “who is not a spouse” from the definition of rape.

Addressing the 119th Anglican Synod, Bishop Boyd said supporting the proposed legislation is a simple step in pursuit of justice and basic human rights for all parties.

The draft legislation proposes to change the definition of rape to remove the spousal condition, and add the words: “where he knows that person does not consent or is reckless as to whether the person consents.”

This issue of marital rape has sparked heated public discussion in recent months.

In August, Supreme Court Justice Denise Lewis-Johnson ruled that although a woman who filed for divorce claimed she felt like a rape victim “for an extensive period of time when her spouse had sex with her, as it stands, there can be no rape in marriage in The Bahamas according to law.”

Boyd says stressing rape does not show love.