The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL) is adamant about regulation of the sector. However, religious leaders have called for the commission not to meddle in their affairs. This was the message that emerged from the first-ever religious summit held in Johannesburg.
Religious leaders have also questioned the validity of the summit and the appointment of a task team.
The meeting was a result of a study into the commercialisation of religion and what the CRL believes is the abuse and exploitation of people’s religious beliefs in South Africa.
They all seemed to be singing from the same hymn book when the convenor of the religious summit, Pastor Ray McCauley, opened the meeting.
“And as religious leaders, we should unite and speak with one voice; come up with a plan that will mitigate or eliminate all these abuses. I believe the church must never be in a position to follow the government, but the government must follow the church. I hope we can find common ground so we can chart a way forward. We’ve taken too long to speak. We have taken too long to respond. By our silence we allowed these things to continue.”
However, in no time things went pear-shaped.
“We cannot proceed with content here going forward. We are saying to you, you will not get us to endorse this programme today (Wednesday) unless you allow us to construct the programme,” said one of the people attending the summit.
The summit ground to a halt as disgruntled members continued to argue.
“This meeting must be abandoned. That’s one option; the other option is to say take on all those issues and raise them in smaller groups and you can find some solutions,” said South African Council of Churches General Secretary, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana.
Delegates voted for the breakaway sessions.
Meanwhile, CRL Rights Commission Chairperson, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva has called on the leaders to tidy their house.
“So, I’m hoping we are all here with one agenda and one agenda only: how do we save the face of the religious sector in SA? This is the most challenging time, I think, this sector has ever faced.”
According to Advocate Nadene Badenhorst from Freedom of Religion, the outcomes of Wednesday’s meeting will not be legally binding.
#ReligiousSummit the program for today pic.twitter.com/N1EdSJHoRY
— Tshegohaco Moagi (@TshegoMoagi_) February 13, 2019
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