Dear Editor,
Please allow me some space in your newspaper to reply to Wycliffe Smith’s piece on separation of State and Church.
Mr. Smith, I was very disappointed with your article on separation of Church and State. First of all you try to obfuscate the issue with a distinction between Government and State; there is very little distinction really. Yes, Religion and State should be separated. Our forefathers have fought very hard for that principle.
John F. Kennedy, “I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish - where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source - where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials – and, where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.”
I know you to be a very principled man, and I respect your sincere wish to work on behalf of the St. Maarten population. As the leader of a political party your certainly have the right to your beliefs and value system, and I certainly believe in Religious liberty.
However, as a liberal-minded person, I am in favour of Women’s rights, Gay rights and Euthanasia. When it comes to legislation, I believe that you will not be on the same side as me on these issues; your religious principles will not allow you to vote that way.
The SMCP should be honest with voters and not facilely explain matters away with whatever is printed on coins or how many ecumenical services are planned, or whatever phrases are in the constitution or oath of office.
Government is for ALL the people: Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Atheist...all! Yes, I sincerely believe that we can and should, separate God from Government.
J. Rijnboutt
