Church in Dominican Republic warns of ambassador's gay advocacy efforts

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Jun 28, 2013 / 11:04 am

Citing concerns over gay activism, a bishop from the Dominican Republic said that the Church in the country does not approve of the new appointee as U.S. ambassador to the nation.

He urged the government to veto the appointment of James 'Wally' Brewster as new U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

Speaking on behalf of the Dominican bishops, Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Cedano of Santo Domingo said that "the appointment of a gay activist (as new US ambassador) shows a total lack of respect and consideration to our country."

He explained that gay advocacy is "foreign to our culture and values."

Brewster is the National LGBT Co-Chair for the Democratic National Committee and is on the Board of the Human Rights Campaign fund, which pushes to redefine marriage.   

Brewster and his partner, Bob Satawake, worked to raise money for Obama's 2012 election.

"We do not reject Mr. Brewster as a person," Bishop Cedano stressed, pointing instead to the nominee's gay advocacy efforts that "will affect our laws."

"That fact is not irrelevant when it comes to a high ranked official," he said, noting that the United States "may have their own laws, and that's up to them, but ours are very different."

The Dominican Republic's Evangelical Confederation has also released a statement requesting that the government "seriously consider the negative consequences to our country" that may result from an ambassador pushing for a redefinition of marriage.