MOROBE Governor Renbo Paita yesterday asked the Government whether there are plans to establish a separate ministry for religion.
In Parliament, Paita said this ministry would include a board where church workers such as pastors, missionaries and others would be screened on their level of qualification and genuine evangelist status prior to preaching in the country.
“Because now on our streets, we see people who have declared themselves to be prophets and apostles and they are preaching all kinds of doctrines,” he said.
Paita referred to North Waghi MP Benjamin Mul’s speech in Parliament last year on the need for religion to be embedded in the education system and formally recognise the ethics of moral values and respect made aware to society.
Paita said this formed the basis for Papua New Guinea being declared a Christian country which is a highly commended amendment made by the Government.
“We don’t have a religion board that sits and does checks on the doctrines used and what kind of people are conducting preaching, evangelism and others. Its every man for himself preaching.
“So, are we going to continue to allow this to happen? And when we allow these preachers or pastors to continue preaching, they are turning the minds and hearts of the people.
“When we tell our people to go out to the land, hold it and work, these preachers are saying otherwise that you should only pray to God and he will bless you,” he said.
Paita said it was going against the grain of what the Government was telling its people to work hard and get the returns rather than praying and waiting for a miracle to happen.
