KINGSTON, Jamaica — Kingston clergyman, Pastor Kenneth Blake, is now contemplating his next move after a Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test proved that he is the father of the child belonging to a 12-year-old girl he is accused of raping in 2015.

The finding of the test was disclosed in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday when the case was mentioned.

Pastor Blake, who had denied raping or molesting the child, consented to the test to clear his name last August.

The Harvest Temple Apostolic Church pastor was arrested and charged with rape, grievous sexual assault, forcible abduction, sexual touching, and sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16 years old following allegations that he had sex with the child on several occasions in 2015, resulting in her getting pregnant.

It is further alleged that the pastor gave the child, cash and other gifts to keep the matter a secret.

 Attorney for the pastor, Abel Don Foote, who is to take further instructions from his client, when contacted declined to comment.

The matter will next be heard in court on April 16.

In the meantime Joy Crawford co-Founder for Eve For Life, an organisation which champions the cause for victims of sexual abuse said results of the DNA test is a bitter victory for survivors and advocates of childhood sexual abuse.

“It is extremely tragic to watch the correlation of clergy and sexual abuse that is unfolding. This phenomena is not new, or unique to Jamaica however, because Jamaica prides and promotes itself as ‘a Christian’ country, even when it denies the Human Rights of all citizens, including our children. The ‘girl child’ has been demonised in reports of rape, and even when the predators are ‘upstanding men’,” she said.

However, Crawford said, “EVE for Life remains resolute however that these same nuisances are at play when media headlines and the law continue to reference rape as sex with a minor or someone under age 16 years. This very law said, the girl cannot give consent. That means NO. Sexual intercourse without consent is forced sex, and when this happens to our children it should be named rape.”

Tanesha Mundle