<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="update" width="81%">Friday, 10th July 2009</td>
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<td colspan="2" class="lead_title">Religious leaders react to draft bill</td>
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<td colspan="2" class="lead_title"><img src="http://www.newtimes.co.rw/photos/13952-religious.jpg" border="1"><br>
<div class="pic_caption" style="padding-right: 8px;">L-R: Mufti saleh Habimana, Bishop Emmanuel Kolini</div>
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<td colspan="2" class="lead_title">BY EUGENE MUTARA</td>
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<td colspan="2" class="lead_body"><p>The
draft bill governing religions that was tabled before parliament’s
political affairs committee last month has been described as “delicate”
by the several religious leaders.</p> <p>The bill that was drafted by
the Ministry of Local Government contained articles that the leaders of
different religious denomination contested saying that it infringes on
their freedom of worship.</p> <p>The civic leaders have called for amendments in articles 21, 32, 35, 36 in order to facilitate their operation in the country.</p> <p>In
a statement released by the religious leaders, it makes it clear that
the contested articles make it difficult to start a religious group and
maintain it. </p> <p>The bill states in article 21 that in case one
does not have 100 members as required by the draft bill to start a
religious denomination, he/she can be authorised by the sector to start
gathering for worship until the required number is attained. </p> <p>The
same applies to the application requesting for legal personality which
can only be done after nine months, article 25 indicates.</p> <p>Another
controversial article, 32 clause 4, suggest that a legal representative
of a denomination should be with at least a bachelor’s degree which has
been also contested.</p> <p>Pastor Joel Sengoga of Devine Destiny
Church and Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini of Anglican Church say starting a
church does not require someone to be academically qualified but it’s a
calling. </p> <p>“Law makers must have amended the bill basing on
weaknesses that befell the church but that is making biased laws, the
number does not matter but quality matters a lot, the bible says where
2 or 3 will gather God will be in their midst,” Kolini said in an
interview. </p> <p>Rwanda’s Mufti Sheikh Saleh Habimana sees things
differently saying there is no problem with the bill because Rwanda
needs educated religious leaders to prevent future human debacles.</p> <p>“It
is a disaster to lead people when you are not educated but the only
problem with the bill, it does not verify which kind of a degree, but
most preferably it should be theology. Even if one has a different
degree, one should go for theology,” Habimana said in telephone
interview.</p> <p>Recently religious leaders drafted a statement to be
presented to the local government ministry and the Speaker of
Parliament for possible amendments.</p> <p><strong>Ends</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br>
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