Sunday Protest at Manchester ‘sex’ Pastor’s Church
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A group of women staged a quiet protest at the Nazareth Moravian Church in Manchester during the regular morning service on Sunday, to register their concern about the arrest and charge of Pastor Rupert Clarke of the church. The 64-year-old pastor was charged after being allegedly caught by police personnel on patrol in St Elizabeth, in a compromising position with a 15-year-old girl nearly two weeks ago. Dressed in T-shirts bearing messages against sexual abuse - "I will not be silent anymore" - the group, made up of some 15 persons, attended the church service and took seats in the front rows of the congregation. The women, some of whom were reported to have been victims of sexual assault, expressed anger at the perceived silence of church on the matter of the pastor’s arrest. The protesters said their actions were in support for the alleged victim. One of the protesters, Donaree Muirhead, in a Facebook post, wrote: "Today I journeyed to Nazareth Moravian in Maidstone Manchester said to be the first free village in Jamaica. What I realized was that the congregation was still enslaved. Shackled by religion, held captive by the leaders of the church and brainwashed by a false doctrine. "I saw young girls in the church who seemed programmed. They operated as if nothing happened, I wondered if they watched the news or if they even knew of the betrayal by the pastor," she added. Reports indicate that the protesters were verbally attacked by some church members, but there was no physical confrontation. The ‘visiting’ group was said to have been acknowledged by the church's leadership, and given an opportunity to speak to the congregation. In fact, the President of the Elders’ Council of the Moravian Church reportedly welcomed the group and made an effort to outline the church's strategies to move forward from the unwelcomed development. The president also reportedly indicated that the church was not averse to assistance that could come from external organisations. FEATURED PHOTO: Silent protesters at the Nazareth Moravian Church in Manchester
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