Govt should carefully consider decision

Letters

THE Government’s announcement to declare PNG a Christian state may not be as simple as one may imagine.
Our founding fathers and leaders such as Dr John Momis were wise in allowing time to reflect on implications of such a move.
It calls for a re-visitation and review of all aspects of our legal, religious and socio-cultural system of governance and practices.
One obvious legal dilemma comes to mind is the law on capital punishment.
Is PNG prepared to scrape the legal provisions on capital punishment?
Such a move may not be a cheap way out.
It would require serious reforms of state correctional services as well as Christian organisations to those citizens found guilty of serious crimes.
Another obvious case is the law on PNG cultures and practices, such as the so-called, haus man/haus tambaran practices and beliefs.
Is PNG prepared to scrape legislations that protect these cultural practices?
Is there a legal distinction between a good culture and a bad one? Or a good belief and a one?
And who decides or what makes a culture or belief good or bad?
And how will the state distinguish between Christian theology and perspectives on law and gospel, and its application in real life situations as reflected above?
Issues for serious considerations before we entangle our own necks.

Rev. Kasek Kautil
Senior Pastor
Lutheran Church, Madang

One thought on “Govt should carefully consider decision

Comments are closed.