Re: 鈥淪eparation of church and state is utter poppycock,鈥� comment, April 12.
Chris Coleman鈥檚 commentary espouses a laudably liberal, open-minded approach to the workings of faith and government, but adopts the same erroneous interpretation of the phrase as those he criticizes. It is not a bar to people of faith working in government. It is an essential protection for individuals and minorities against the imposition of religious law by a majority faith or established church.
The idea that expression of faith should be barred to people working in governmental areas 鈥� be it a clerical collar, a cross, an ankh, hijab or turban 鈥� is an outrageous assault on individual liberty, and it is for this that Quebec鈥檚 rulers should be excoriated. It is of no consequence to anyone if service is provided by a person in a burka, so long as the garb does not affect the service.
Similarly with civic festivities with a basis in faith. I am devoutly non-religious, but I am uplifted by our winter expressions of peace and goodwill to all men, for which the Christians get credit.
To suggest that separation of church and state sets us on the path to media censorship, control of the courts and eventual oligarchy goes beyond reason. That can only happen if the principle is twisted, as so many religions have been, by the power-hungry and the greedy.
Doug Skinner
Victoria
