The Editor, Sir:

History has shown that an effective state must be secular in order to rightly govern its people. For years, we have fooled ourselves in Jamaica believing that we are a Christian country, but actions on the ground reveal ignorance of the mind of God and the proper interpretation of the Bible by those who purport to speak for God.

I note the rights of victims absent from the debates on whether children should have access to condoms or women have access to abortion (not as a birth control).

I wish to recommend to religious groups and civil society the Anglican Lambeth 1988 Conference Resolution 34, No. 3, which states:

(This Conference:) "Noting the gap between traditional Christian teaching on pre-marital sex, and the lifestyles being adopted by many people today, both within and outside the Church:

a) Calls on provinces and dioceses to adopt a caring and pastoral attitude to such people;

b) Reaffirms the traditional biblical teaching that sexual intercourse is an act of total commitment which belongs properly within a permanent married relationship;

c) In response to the international Conference of Young Anglicans in Belfast, urges provinces and dioceses to plan with young people programmes to explore issues such as pre-marital sex in the light of traditional Christian values".

Planning to declare war if the Government legalises abortion on demand, is totally unchristian, based upon the above resolution, the alliance of the Church and groups needs to "adopt a caring and pastoral attitude" if they wish to represent the mind of God in the nation.

I am, etc.,

DUDLEY C. McLEAN II

dcmduart@yahoo.com