Sin and Crime

THE EDITOR: Sin is the focus of religious bodies while crime is the responsibility of the state. Where we have a theocratic state, the laws of religion are the laws of the citizens. But where there is separation of religion and state, as in our case, sin and crime may be different.

For example, adultery used to be both a sin and a crime. While it remains a sin, it is no longer a crime. Similarly, our laws used to discriminate against children born out of wedlock (as the result of the sin of adultery), but they no longer do that. Both sins and laws change over time. Some of our political leaders seem to miss this basic distinction between sin and crime and between the role religious bodies and the domain of the state.

For example, in spite of the overwhelming evidence of the harmful public health consequences of our restrictive abortion law, our Minister of Health has declared that he will not enter any discussion of its revision because it is “too controversial.” He made special mention of the strong position of the Roman Catholic Church. In determining public policy, no minister of the state should be bound by his or her personal religions values or driven by his or her religious community. Decisions should be predicated on what is in the best interest of the state and should be developed through a process that is transparent, consultative and evidence-based.

MAUREEN T SMITH
Tobago