Elders in Council,
Before we weigh accusation against conviction, we must first determine the nature of marriage itself, for every judgment rests upon the definition of the institution under scrutiny.
The matter before us is no novel matter. However, it has become sacrosanct that much attention be given to it in order to preserve the sanctity of families and, by extension, the church. Sometimes, I seek in vain to find the issues that have taken preeminence in the women’s conferences and retreats when matters such as this have become prevalent. Could it be that the older women have failed in teaching the younger women? Or is it the younger women who have refused to heed instruction? Whatever the answer may be, posterity will not forgive us if we idly move on in childish hope.
With that said, marital rape is a myth, a lie spawned by the 1970s Second-Wave feminist movement in pursuit of chaos disguised as liberation. nevertheless, I do not wish to hide under the cloak of priesthood to make assertions that can’t be questioned, which is a natural response of the Pew to the pulpit. As such, I will enjoin this counsel to allow the chronological presentation of my argument, bearing in mind that the ultimate goal here remains the unmasking of this wolf-in-sheep-clothing idea which has permeated the mind of the church
More so, as we seek to prosecute the case of my lord, Bishop Amukwe, a man of strong convictions whose works are visible to the blind, it is not prideful to remind this honorable council that half of its members received the baptism of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hand of my lord, the bishop. From his youth, he has propagated the gospel of Jesus, drawing no attention to himself, ill or otherwise. He is a man with one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; and his children love the Lord and serve even in the ministry. Had God not been more generous than my lord the bishop, he would have had nothing because he keeps giving it all away because of the kingdom.
Honorable members of Council, it is utterly ridiculous that we sit here debating whether my lord the bishop is guilty or not of marital rape, having been accused of the same by his once-thought-to-be-beloved wife. I, amongst many, considered her to be a mother in Israel. Perhaps it goes to show that even he who thinks he stands should indeed take heed lest he falls. This is not to say that, should it have been any other man, short in character, he would hang. No!
Members in Council, marriage is an irrevocable sexual consent for either the man or the woman. Contrary to the aforementioned is an attack on our faith. “How?” one may ask. Before I furnish this honorable council with a reply, I would like to establish that unbalanced teaching on the subject matter of sexual pleasure in marriage has contributed in part to the frustrations that are now communicated through these diabolical accusations called “marital rape.”
Is this an excuse that I present before this honorable council? No! Nothing, absolutely nothing, could excuse the infantile behavior of the women accusing their husbands of allegedly being nourished by the breasts of the wives of their youth without consent. It is not a sin to initiate sex in marriage as a woman. Sex is to be enjoyed. Sex is not only an activity to facilitate the biological process of reproduction.
However, a married couple seeking to enjoy themselves under the sheets should not become pleasure-seeking zombies bound for hell. Emphasis must be made on the sinful nature of consensual extramarital affairs; the only threesome married couples need is sufficiently provided by the Trinity. Likewise, being married does not excuse masturbation. It goes without saying that sodomy is still sodomy, a bondage experience leading only to hell. I digress.
Bishop Amukwe stands here accused of marital rape. In The History of the Pleas of the Crown, published in 1736, Sir Matthew Hale wrote, “the husband cannot be guilty of rape committed by himself upon his lawful wife.” This, honorable members, became known as the Hale doctrine, forming the legal basis for the marital rape exemption in Britain and later in the United States, as well as other common law jurisdictions. As such, under the Hale doctrine, this was legally impossible to prosecute.
If you would kindly turn to our Constitution. According to Section 1 Corinthians, subsection 7, paragraph 5, it states thus: “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” The only reason provided for a couple to stay away is fasting and prayer, which we clearly find must be agreed upon. In other words, the only “consent” sought here is the “consent” to not consent for a period of time as agreed because irrevocable consent was given at the altar before God and man. The bishop and his wife are one. The marriage covenant equates the unity of flesh.
Hence, each one of us ought to remember that, despite our titles, we are here today because we believe in our Constitution. It is the code that we live by. It dictates our lives, and will continue to do so till he returns or we are called home. Consequently, we must recognize the devices of the enemy fashioned to tear apart family and homes, by extension, the church.
If any man or woman has a grievance against their spouse, for which has snuffed out the flame of desire, settle it. I dare say that sex is not only for when you are supposedly in the mood; sometimes, you need to have it to be in the mood. The basic need of a male is sex.
A revered patriarch of the kingdom, Dr. Myles Monroe, of blessed memory, once said, “The first basic need of a male is sexual fulfillment; for a female, affection. The second most basic need of a male is recreational companionship; for a female, communication and conversation. The third basic need of a male in a relationship is an attractive woman; for a woman, honesty and openness. The fourth basic need of a male is domestic support; for a female, financial support. The fifth basic need of a male is admiration; for a female, family commitment.”
Upon the above premise, I submit that Bishop Amukwe is not guilty of any crimes and should be reinstated at his parish. I so submit.
Defense counsel,
Bishop Otuodi, Esq.
