For Afoafouvale Mark J. Moors, a Village Matai and president of U.S. Veterans of Samoa, the right to choose to be a person of faith is a deeply personal thing.
Moors told the Government’s Commission of Inquiry into religious freedom recently that “religious belief, or non-belief, is a very important part of every person’s life,” and that “freedom of religion affects every individual.”
He further explained why freedom of religion is so important to him by quoting the 11th Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
“We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship, how, where, or what they may.”
Moors said that: “Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights.”
He recounted to the Commission how he and others in his family have served in the military, motivated by a desire to protect the personal freedoms of his family and fellow citizens.
“I spent a full military career as a guardian of freedoms and justice, freedom of religion being one of these,” he said.
“As a military serviceman I willingly sacrificed valuable family life, precious time I will never have with my wife and children, and would have given both life or freedom so my family, children, grand children and others may be endowed the liberty to enjoy the exercise of these freedoms. The same freedoms so many take for granted.”
He then asked the members of the Commission: “What is key amongst these freedoms?” And his response, quoting Thomas Jefferson:
“The constitutional freedom of religion [is] the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights… and... if any act shall be... passed to repeal [an act granting those rights] or to narrow its operation, such act will be an infringement of natural right.”
Other excerpts from his submission to the Commission follow:
This Sunday, April 25th, is a day of remembrance, ANZAC Day. ANZAC Day, Memorial Day and other such days allow me to take time in my busy life to stop in solemn remembrance and respect, for those who paid the ultimate price and unselfishly gave their lives so my family and I can enjoy the freedoms we have in Samoa and elsewhere today. So it is with a great measure of gratitude to our fallen great-grand-fathers, grandfathers, fathers and brothers that I am here today to do what I must to safeguard the freedoms, secured with their blood and ultimately their lives. To this end I hope to be able to greet them in the hereafter, after giving an effort worthy of their sacrifice.
Feedom of Conscience/Religion is sacred and private in nature. Again I echo the sentiments of Thomas Jefferson when he said:
“I have ever thought religion a concern purely between our God and our consciences, for which we were accountable to Him, and not to the priests."
I have always been most carefully reserved on the subject of religion, as I have considered it mostly a matter between every man and his Maker, and in which none other, and far less the public, has a right to interfere. However I will clarify this… My relationship with my Father in Heaven is precious and my worship of him is sacred and dear to me. And I will execute this worship according to the dictates of my faith and none other.
Sharing the message with the world is every Christian’s calling. As brothers unto Christ I have a spiritual obligation to share the doctrines of love that have brought great joy into my life. Therefore it would be wrong for me to endorse an act that would hinder freedom of religion rights to any degree, especially when we are trying to gain access to our brothers and sisters in countries where religious freedom is restricted. It would be terribly hypocritical of me if I were to do so.
Restrictions are walls, and walls have a dual function; on the one hand they keep others out, but then on the other hand they lock us in. Sharing doctrines of love and truth cannot be done hiding behind a wall, or by keeping those we are looking to share with on the other side of that wall.
I pray that this short submission has clearly stated my position in regards to Freedom of Religion. And I sincerely hope I have not offended any of you, as this is not my intent. I thank you for giving this submission a measure of your precious time, and I hope it has some use in your deliberation. May the good Lord bless and inspire you in this extremely important work you have been called to take part in. The result of your deliberation and recommendation affects all Samoans past, present, and future. Families are forever from our forefathers through to our children’s children and future generations.
