Posted April 1, 2005
Fiji Times
(Sunday, March 27, 2005)

Christians can only accept other religions in Fiji if their right of worship is not enshrined in the Constitution, the Methodist Church in Fiji says.

The most powerful of all Christian denominations in the country, the church was reacting to statements by Vice President and acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi on Good Friday at a Sangam function in Suva.

Ratu Joni said crimes against the Hindu religion in Fiji began after the Methodist Church's endorsement of Fiji becoming a Christian State after May 1987 coup.

"Because if God does get angry with the heathens, Christians will be punished because they allowed the worship of idols and other lesser gods in Fiji," Reverend Ame Tugaue said.

"Sodom and Gomorrah were only destroyed after the Lord removed the faithful from there and not because of a few would we allow God's wrath to befall the whole of Fiji," he said.

He said it was clearly stated in the 10 Commandments that God gave to Moses that Christians were not allowed to worship any other gods and not to worship idols.

"One thing other religions should be thankful for is that they are tolerated in Fiji as it's naturally a peaceful place but their right of worship should never be made into law," Mr Tugaue said.

It was the Methodist Church, which championed the nationalist fervour, which followed the coups of 1987 and this led to the establishment of the 1990 Constitution, which legally preserved Fijian supremacy.

Since then, the Methodist Church has remained active in national politics.