CBC PNGSI President: The Catholic Church opposes the constitutional amendment

Port Moresby: “It was a sad day for Papua New Guinea when the parliamentarians emended the constitution to recognize PNG as a Christian Country and I proudly say that the Catholic Bishops Conference opposes the amendment, and we are not afraid to say that we do not agree with the amendment”

CBC PNGSI President His Lordship Bishop Otto Separy speaking during the Press Conference

This was the statement from the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands His Lordship Bishop Otto Separy at a press conference held on Tuesday March 25, 2025 to give the voice of the Catholic Church opposing the constitutional amendment formally recognising the nation as a Christian country.

Bishop Separy based his talking points on the Impact of Declaring PNG a Christian Country on Religious Freedom and Equality, stating that the Catholic Church recognizes and upholds the Christian values that have shaped our nation and also affirmed that true Christianity embraces freedom, respect, and love for all people, regardless of their beliefs.

Key points highlighted by Bishop Separy include:

1. Faith must be a choice, not a law: Christianity teaches that faith is a personal decision, not something to be imposed by the state. The Bible emphasizes free will, where individuals must choose to follow God out of love not compulsion. Amending the Constitution to enforce Christianity contradicts this fundamental teaching, as faith loses its true meaning when mandated by law.

2.Respect for Religious Freedom: the PNG Constitution protects freedom of thought, conscience, and religion under Section 45. Declaring PNG a Christian state could undermine these rights, creating an environment where people of other faiths or different Christian denominations feel excluded. The principles of religious freedom are rooted in Christian teachings, where Christ Himself welcomed all and never forced anyone to follow Him.

3.History Warns Against Religious Authoritarianism: History shows that when governments enforce a state religion, it often leads to oppression, division, and even persecution. From the medieval inquisitions to colonial religious conflicts, the fusion of church and state has led to corruption and abuse of power. The early church thrived because it was independent of political authority. PNG must learn from history and ensure that religion remains a guiding moral force, not a political tool.

4.Unity in Diversity: PNG is home to various Christian denominations and religious minorities. If Christianity is declared the state religion, which church will represent the nation? Different groups may claim legitimacy, leading to religious conflicts instead of unity. The current constitutional framework allows for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, ensuring that all citizens are treated equally under the law.

5.True Christian Leadership Upholds Justice for all: Christianity calls for love, justice, and fairness. Excluding or marginalizing others based on religion contradicts the very essence of Christ’s teachings. Our role as Christian leaders is to promote a society where faith is freely practiced and respected. The best way to honor God is not by enforcing religion through law but by living out Christian values in our daily lives.

Bishop Otto also expressed concern on how majority of Papua New Guineans are living in oblivion not knowing the changes and amendments being made in parliament to change laws that will have a direct impact on them in the long run.

“Amendments are supposed to be made to address an issue. For example, when parliamentarians are debating about Gender Based Violence (GBV), Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) and other social issues, the public is aware of these debates because they are trying to address an issue, however, the recent amendment of the constitution to formally make recognize PNG a Christian Nation didn’t raise much concern from the public because there is no issue to address as we have always been a Christian country”