Policing
and Crime Bill: Legislative Consent Motion
On the 28th November, the above titled motion
was brought before the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The motion stated
–
That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to
Northern Ireland of a number of provisions within the Policing and Crime Bill,
by amendment at Lords Committee and Lords Report stage, in so far as they
related to UK maritime enforcement powers; UK cross-jurisdictional arrest
powers; anonymity for victims of forced marriage and pardons for convictions of
certain abolished offences.
The final part of this motion included “pardons for
convictions of certain abolished offences” and was an amendment that had been introduced
to the Policing and Crime Bill at the committee stage in the House of Lords by lord
Sharkey of the Liberal Democrats. This amendment appears to have been fast-tracked through the Justice
Committee to be presented before the Northern Ireland Assembly.
In light of this plan
to posthumously pardon those convicted of homosexual offences the following statement
was issued-
On Monday, the issue of pardons for those convicted of
homosexual offences was brought before the Northern Ireland Assembly. While the
Justice Minister Claire Sugden may
view this as “an opportunity
for the criminal justice system to try and right the wrongs of the past”, the Bible
makes it very clear that homosexuality and all sexual relationships outside the
pattern of Biblical marriage of one man and one woman are forbidden by the Law
of God.
This policy
has been introduced to appease the LGBT community, but we fear they will never
be satisfied until they have everything their own way.
The truth is that while some may be happy with a pardon
from a government, the question of eternal forgiveness and pardon still needs
to be dealt with. This is something no government can offer no matter how
powerful they deem themselves to be. Our sin is an offence before God and as
such can only be pardoned by Him.
We are told in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The motion on the day was opposed only by Mr Allister of
the TUV while sadly many others remained silent.
Five attempts have been made in Northern Ireland to redefine marriage and
make it that which is repugnant to a Holy God. We thank and commend all who have been instrumental in defeating these plans and acknowledge the bad press they receive for doing so.
Given the
track record on this issue we have to wonder at the silence of the 28th
of November and state –
The Government and Morals Committee of the Free
Presbyterian Church of Ulster is deeply grieved and bitterly disappointed by
the failure of MLAs at Stormont to oppose the passing of the motion granting a
posthumous pardon for those convicted of historical homosexual offences.
This has saddened and grieved many Christians, but most
of all grieved the God of heaven in whose eyes this is still a heinous sin.
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness
exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.
