There will be no ?gay bashing? or unfair targeting of anyone at a multi-denominational service that aims to bring all the churches of Bermuda together at the National Sports Centre this coming Sunday, according to United by Faith?s Andre Curtis.

In an immediate response to the Anglican Church?s decision not to support the event because of concerns about what it believes will be the inappropriate targeting of homosexuals, Mr. Curtis stated: ?There will be no gay bashing and no-one is being unfairly targeted.?

However, United by Faith?s desire to bring together the Island?s churches for a single service has been weakened further by the Roman Catholic Church?s decision not to attend the amalgamated service either, mirroring the stance of the Anglican Church as reported in yesterday?s .

When Anglican Bishop Ewen Ratteray made public his reservations he stated: ?Part of the agenda for this service seems to be to target particular members of our society, homosexuals, in a way that is deemed inappropriate.?

He was referring to the inclusion of the Human Rights Amendment as one of three topics to be featured.

Earlier this year an attempt to amend the Human Rights Act so that it outlawed discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation was defeated in Parliament.

Now Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Kurtz has said pastors of the RC Church have discussed the event and decided not to attend and would not be encouraging their congregations to go along either.

Most Rev. Kurtz said: ?I have spoken with Bishop Ratteray and support his position completely even though we have different positions on how we approach the reality of homosexuality in general and within the church.

?I have spoken to the Roman Catholic pastors and we have decided not to participate in the service or encourage our people to go the service, although it is ultimately their decision.?

He said the Roman Catholic Church stance was not a boycott, but added: ?It is too delicate an issue to deal with at a prayer rally. If there is some way of getting the churches together in a forum to talk about it that would be preferable.?

In its submission to the Human Rights Commission in March 2005 the Roman Catholic Church outlined its position on homosexuality, which was that homosexual activity should not be encouraged but equally it was ?deplorable? that homosexuals are subjected to violent malice, both verbal and physical.

The United by Faith group is a collection of roughly 70 percent of the Island?s churches and expects thousands of people, not just church-goers, to attend the service at the National Stadium on October 15 where the Human Rights Amendment, gangs and violence and the role of churches in today?s society will be the three topics covered.

Mr. Curtis expressing disappointment with Bishop Ratteray?s decision, said: ?The Bishop has been invited to the meetings that are being held for the service and chosen not to attend. Had he attended, he would be fully aware there will be no gay bashing and that no-one is being unfairly targeted. He is unfortunately speculating and not speaking from an informed position.?

Government backbencher Ren?e Webb, who tried to have the Human Rights Act amended earlier this year, questioned in yesterday?s why the churches did not make adultery an issue instead, or put the entire Ten Commandments on the agenda.

Mr. Curtis responded: ?Ms Webb refers to adulterers and others who should be targeted by the Church. The Church does not deny that these things go on, both in and outside of its doors.

?The vast difference between their position and hers is that while the Church is the correct healing ground for all spiritual sickness, including adultery, lying, stealing, etc, the people who commit these acts are not petitioning Government to ask that the acceptance of their behaviour be legislated and legitimised. That is the whole point of this stand.?

Mr. Curtis also defended his role with the United in Faith as being an individual choice as a Christian and something completely separate from his professional career in which he is currently chairman of the Tourism Board and the Government?s faith-based tourism initiative.

He added: ?This service is totally church funded. Not one cent of taxpayers money is being used.?

Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said of the controversy: ?I regret that the Anglican Church has decided to boycott the United by Faith service. However, I respect their right to do so.

?There is no linkage between the event and the faith-based tourism initiative in the Department of Tourism other than the involvement of our chairman, who also has a right to his own religious preferences.

?I can state categorically that Tourism?s faith-based program will not be affected by any differences over this event.?

Mr. Curtis said he hoped Bishop Ratteray, Ms Webb and all of Bermuda, whether church-goers or not, would come to the service, which starts at 10.30 a.m. and will feature music, dancing and poetry amongst other items.