People must speak out on what London did

Nov 17, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
It is with great indignation that I am penning this letter to condemn the obscene and vulgar conduct of Guyana’s self- proclaimed “Pope”, Philbert London of the Beacon Ministries, whose sexual exploits went viral on social media last week.
As a political and cultural activist my concern is that London’s actions are not only an embarrassment to the Christian community but more importantly to the African community in Guyana. For me this is a matter of dignity and respect for our women. His conduct is an abomination and strikes at our collective sense of self-respect, decency and how we project our self to the world.
Given the fact that we are waging an intense struggle, both at home and aboard for recognition and to be treated with due respect, we must, in the face of London’s atrocities against members of our female community and the ridiculous postures assumed by some who see nothing wrong in London’s ridiculous behavior ask ourselves – what are the values we want to impart in our vulnerable youth population? We keep preaching in their ears about the need for a better life style, and the virtues of church and religion.
Yet, in the face of existing sex videos of an Elder who (has declared himself to be the most highly placed of “men of the cloth”) is engaged in sexual misconduct with female members of his church, we are being asked to forgive his criminal conduct. London’s exposed sexual acts are lethal poisons that have the potential of corrupting our young peoples’ minds in unimagined ways. If London’s sexual exploits are emulated and become a way of life among our young people, those practices which are clothed in a religious ideology that says, “the High Priest, Bishop or Pope are right in spite of their wrong doings”, will condemn our young people to the savagery of the Stone Age.
I believe that some anthropologists will take offence at this description on the grounds that it insults men of that period who were victims of their natural conditions. I am sure the anthropologists will say that the same argument cannot be made for a twenty first century man of the cloth. It is true that two clergymen of the Christian community have publicly spoken out against the self-proclaimed Pope, breaking what was emerging as a pronounced silence of the Christian hierarchy on this matter. Most notably are Bishop Juan Edghill’s comments on the matter. The Bishop, when cornered by journalists for a comment condemned London and apologized to the nation for the actions of the self-proclaimed pope.
While this gesture was welcomed, I do not believe it went far enough in underscoring the gravity of the situation and to my mind should be taken with a pinch of salt. To all appearances Edghill, at the time of commenting on the matter, was setting the stage for the rehabilitation of London, even before the fallen pope had confessed his sins and asked for forgiveness. I do not want to go into Christian/religious niceties including the role of an intercessor. However, it should be noted that London surfaced on the same day that the goodly “Bishop” had set the stage for his “premature rehabilitation”. The man was arrogant and non-repentant –”I have nothing to say” – “Speak to my attorney”. Since then we have had a long missive from his lawyer in what is not yet a legal matter but a religious and moral issue.
This attorney’s involvement in the matter at this juncture strikes at the integrity of the profession. Is money the only thing that matters to members of the profession? If the self-proclaimed man of God was facing criminal charges, my position would be different since he is entitled to a legal defense in a court of law. His trial in the public domain is legitimate and morally correct. After all he is a public person who doesn’t confine his preachings to the walls of his church. In disseminating information and in his quest to institutionalise his image as Guyana’s supreme religious leader, London has made use of the electronic media and the television on several occasions. The reference by his council that his behaviour is a matter for his church and not the public is hogwash and, dishonesty. And shows the lengths he and his council are prepared to go to in order to deceive the flock.
When I read in the newspaper the defense of the “immoral Pope” by women of his congregation I asked myself – How ridiculous are some of the “faithfu”? Their behavior raises a number of questions which I will not get into here. One defender invoked the “Biblical” scriptures; “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. It is time African Christians return to the sense of “Balance” we had before our enslavement. In the Mother Land, before foreign domination, we understood scriptural matters differently.
I am also concerned that to date not one African cultural organization has come out denouncing the “so-called Pope” and his demeaning behavior. I repeat this is a matter of African dignity, respect for our women and our collective sense of decency. London’s shame is our shame. We must condemn his abomination. African Leaders I call on you to “Break the silence and end this Cultural Heresy”. London’s recent apology on face book was far from convincing and should in no way sidetrack us from condemning him.
Tacuma Ogunseye

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