SABBATH PREJUDICE
One was about to commend PNP presidential candidate Dr. Peter Phillips on his call for the enfranchisement of their Sabbath-keeping delegates who will, as is their custom, serve another Master on the Saturday of the party election. Then came Information Minister Burchell Whiteman to do what is most natural for others, that is, to discriminate against Sabbath-keepers.
Despite the constitutional allowance for religious rights and freedom in Jamaica, Sabbath-keepers have traditionally been victimised because of their stand and practice. It is not unusual that Sabbatarians are rejected at job interviews on the basis that they cannot be at the workplace on Saturdays, even where the business operates Monday to Friday. The job application forms asking about religion/denomination is not that companies care about the person's spirituality, or whether they be Christian or atheist. It can be an avenue for screening.
It is going to get increasingly harder, even in this country, for Saturday worshippers. Employers want individuals who will work on Saturdays and even some Sundays.
Unwittingly, Minister Whiteman rejecting the request for Sabbath-keeping comrades to vote in the party election on Friday is a timely reminder of this approaching time.
I commend Dr. Peter Phillips for his effort even though it failed.
Claude Wilson, claudew@cwjamaica.com
RIGHTS OF PRIVACY
The Church has a right to express its opinion, but no right whatsoever to dictate in any shape or form public policy, which is the right of the elected Government.
There can be no doubt that the Church does not have a case against homosexuality by consenting adults in private, which has been the law of England for about 40 years and in increasing number of countries and has been practised from the dawn of time. The right of consenting citizens to have sex in any form in the privacy of their homes must be respected by all. The Church must not only move with the times but support steps that keep Jamaica relevant on the global village while it earns foreign exchange and experience increase in employment particularly of the poor among us through tourism, for example, and badly needed foreign investments which all aid in financing the Church.
I think sodomy can be more justified than Christianity. I must, however, make it clear that I am neither homosexual and never have been (having an undying attraction to women) nor Christian, but I respect the rights of others and expect the Church to do the same, while it resumes its good work especially in the sphere of education since Emancipation as an atonement for its sins to the poor and deal with widespread homosexuality among priests and of children by them and even-wife stealing of parishioners.
Owen S. Crosbie, Mandeville.
