CRL Chairperson Casts Dark Cloud Over Entire Faith Community
The CRL Chair is again using horrific crimes to argue for State control of religion. But Pastor Bert Pretorius argues that the law already provides the means to address every concern she raises. What is needed is proper enforcement of the law.
The Chair of the CRL Rights Commission has cast a gloomy shadow over the entire religious community. Ms Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva has warned that a convicted paedophile could emerge from prison, relocate to another province, and establish a new church without anyone knowing. She argues that religion is the only profession in South Africa not regulated, stating that an independent Church is crucial for a healthy democracy.
She contends that religious ministry is a distinct profession, akin to free media, requiring freedom from undue influence to challenge injustice and hold authorities accountable. The CRL Chair asserts that the State cannot be both a subject of the Church's scrutiny and the authority that determines who may lead religious congregations.
She argues that a coordinated effort to regulate the Church could create a sense of deliberate control. However, existing laws already address this issue, with two national registers for sex offenders and unsuitable individuals to work with children. These registers, accessible through the National Child Protection Register, prevent individuals from working with children, regardless of their location.
The CRL Chair's proposal for a council of ethics would not deter a criminal already disregarding existing laws. The Church's role is to report crime, cooperate with authorities, screen personnel, and confront misconduct within its ranks. The Commission itself provides a platform for addressing concerns about religious, cultural, and linguistic communities, with extensive powers outlined in the CRL Rights Commission Act.
The Chair also claims that there is no way for the public to know the number of churches or religious leaders, yet the Act empowers the Commission to establish and maintain databases of such organizations. The CRL Chair appears to disregard these powers, suggesting that the Commission should not exploit the crimes of a few to justify State control over thousands of law-abiding congregations.
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