In last week’s Gateway News, we reported on the recent meeting with religious and traditional leaders to discuss the outcome of the CRL Rights Commission’s investigation into the ‘commercialisation’ of religion and abuse of people’s belief systems, and in particular the Commission’s proposed regulation of religion.
At the meeting, the Commission undertook that it would send the Report to religious and traditional leaders within 2 – 3 days (i.e. by last week Friday). Following a query by Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) earlier this week as to when the Report can be expected, the Commission advised that “the reason behind the delay, is to effect some of the proposals raised during the meeting. We hope that the Report shall be sent to you before the end of this week. Kindly remember that the three weeks for further comments only commences on the day that we would have sent you the Report.” As of publication of this article, the Report has not yet been made available.
Pursuant to its article on the proposed regulation of religion in Gateway News a week ago (referred to above), FOR SA has been inundated with e-mails from religious leaders, expressing their concerns about the proposed regulation of religion in South Africa and giving their support to the organisation, so that we can speak as a strong and united voice on this issue of regulation which will radically affect and alter the religious landscape of our country. As the proposals of the Commission will affect (the institutional freedom of) every church, and every pastor, in South Africa, we need every church and every pastor to stand with us for freedom (from State interference).
Again, given the tight timelines involved in this matter and the urgent need for religious leaders to mobilise on this issue, we would appreciate it if you were to contact us at legal@forsa.org.zaand let us have your contact details (your name, the name of the religious organisation that you are representing, telephone number and e-mail address) as soon as possible, so that we can send you a copy of the CRL’s Report as soon as we receive it and engage you in the discussions thereon.
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