Tuesday, September 18 2007

click on pic to zoom in

Legal line: Attorneys (bottom row) from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) line up under the hot son in full regalia outside the ...

THE EDITOR: The Ceremonial Opening of the 2007-2008 Law Term, yesterday began with a “Service of Divine Worship” with members of the Inter-Religious Organisation representatives — Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Baptist, Orisha, and so on – delivering a homily that had nothing to do with law.

The Trinidad and Tobago Humanist Association disagrees with this since it flouts the line between State and religion which is drawn in all modern societies. It is bad enough that religion is allowed to intrude on ceremonies such as the opening of Parliament to staff meetings in Government Ministries, but it is more worrisome that the country’s judicial officers feel the need to have the Law Term opened in a church and to seek “divine guidance” in carrying out their duties. After all, the laws laid down in the various holy books are not suited to a modern society (unless we agree that homosexuals should be executed, as enjoined in Leviticus; or that thieves should have their hands cut off, as laid down in the Qu’ran; or that women should not be allowed to testify in court, as specified by the Laws of Manu).

Moreover, these religious homilies exclude those officers of the court who are agnostics or non-theists and are therefore a form of bias. Why is there no individual included in the ceremony to give a secular sermon on the proper duties of the country’s judicial officers? Such a speech could be given without the need to invoke “divine guidance” which cannot in fact serve as a proper guide to any judge, magistrate, or lawyer. Despite this, we have frequently seen judges citing religious texts, or admitting that they prayed before making a decision, in the nation’s courts. Yet, strictly speaking, judges should use no guide but the law in reaching a decision.

For these reasons, our Association would recommend either that the Law Term opening not include religious homilies or, if such homilies are to be kept, that a suitable individual be asked to deliver a secular sermon. We would also advise that a more suitable venue than a church be used for this important annual event.



TT HUMANIST ASSOCIATION

www.humanist.org.tt