RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 253, 13 July 1918, Page 8

RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE

Sir,—Your correspondent, < "Guy Porter," asks me a. question. It is easily ' answered. No one would have a right 1 to prosecute him for turning Moliannne--1 dan, as everyone has the right to any J religion, ha enooses; for religion, being a \ matter of conscience, lies outside ttw legitimate jurisdiction of civil jjovernnient, which kws to do with the affairs between mai> and his fellow-man, not with those that lie between man and ' God. Regarding your correspondent [ being impelled by conscienco to beconio ' a bigamist, 1 should say it would bo a very spurious kind of conscienco that is found in conjunction with, tliu breaking ' of Ihe Sevejjth Commandment. Mok- : over, lie would be invading the rights of the true wife, as well doubtless as those of the second woman, and ho would thus J come within the purviow or jurisdiction of the State, a prime duty of which is to proteot the rights of each member of the community and prevent their invasion ' by other The Stato, thereI fore, could legitimately act in the matter, and your correspondent be restrained from his evil-doing. (Romans XTTI, 3, f). J There is certainly a limit to tho authority of civil government when it comes io conccienci, but true conscience will hl- [ ways respect the rights of others in the . community.-1 ani, etc., A. L. KING. t July 13. Sir,—l would suggest to your corres- • pondent, Mr. Guy Porter, that he con- ' fuses the action of a roue with the ims probable 'behaviour of a religious con--1 vert. I appp.il to his sense of decency not to belie the tenets of a, religion he v knows nothing about.—l am, etc., 1 • . ■ S.B.S. Wellington, July 12.