Council of Churches Hopes to Meet With Minister of Religious Affairs

Bishop Phillip Wright

In its release on the cannabis bill, the Council of Churches requested a meeting with the Minister of Religious Affairs, Henry Charles Usher. We asked Bishop Wright for an update on that request. Additionally, Bishop Wright tackled the prevailing debate of the separation between church and state, a discourse that has been raised time and time again during instances where the church opines on matters of national importance.

Bishop Phillip Wright, President, Belize Council of Churches

“We have called for a meeting with the Minister of Religious, because from our vantage point that is why such a portfolio was cleared in the first place so that Cabinet through him could have the dialogue with the church or churches before certain decisions are made. So, yes we are still hoping. No dates have been set yet. But, we are still hoping to have an audience with the Minister of Religious Affairs.”

Paul Lopez

“Speak to the criticism of the wider population speaking to a separation between church and state. I know it is a question that is raised very often. In this case you have a large population that is marijuana users saying if the church doesn’t want to use it don’t use it. But stay out of this discourse.”

Bishop Phillip Wright, President, Belize Council of Churches

“Well, you know that comes up every time there is a ripe situation. The Council of Churches and I will say this quickly: if you remember, the last time we came public and said we hope for greater dialogue, we felt that decisions were being made without proper consultation and then we have to react. In that same moment we also argued for a revisit of the church state relationship, not a doing away with it, not a cancelling of it, but let us revisit it. Is it still what we once intended it to be? Has it changed? Well let us talk about it. And having said that, I think it is important that an organization and institution like the church is kept within the fore because what we do out here that affects the lives of people also translates to what decisions other decision makers make. The decision they make also affects other people’s lives. So, it is hard to say you want to remove the church absolutely.”