I remember now, it is the Lord's Day Alliance. They have been operating in the US for decades, and are very staunch proponents for a Sunday Law to be established. That the last two popes have been very busy also in Europe promoting a Sunday law for what they still deem as their "Holy Roman Empire" , along with trade unions and family oriented social groups, is recognised by many as being of a big benefit for society. And I can understand that. Even in Israel, where everything shuts down on the Sabbath and those who are still religious are totally committed throughout Sabbath, are actually in agreement with the Vatican that a Sunday law would be good for them as it will give them some much needed time for family and for lifestyle activities denied to them the rest of the week. So a day to unwind, rest, relax, spend a day with family and take part in activities removed from the constant battle for the "dollar", is seen by many to be of great value, and are in support of such an idea. It is an idea I believe that is now overdue considering the stress of society and the unbalanced lives so many now lead.
That said however, I have a number of questions. First, why Sunday? And why is it that the churches and associated religionists are the ones at the forefront of advocating and promoting this idea? The answer to that is quite obvious. Sunday is traditionally the day of rest for most Christians, and recognised as such by non-Christians as well. The Vatican particularly sees trading and sport on Sundays as a desecration of that day, and believes that governments are his vessels for implementing church dogma and thus has no reservation in approaching the civil institutions in seeking aid and support. This is the similar mindset to the Lord's Day Alliance in the states. The next question is a very thorny one.
Does government have any business in having any part to play in this endeavour? The separation of church and state is a major plank in the US constitution. Or at least so many believe. How strong is that separation? How indelibly printed is the constitution, or is it merely a lightly traced pencil on a paper to be interpreted by the courts as something else when a crisis hits or the next good idea is seen to supersede it?
Then of course one must consider the religious liberty concept. Now I know that proponents of a Sunday law are keeping religion at arms length because of the constitutional issues, but let us be honest. They are promoting Sunday because it is a religious day. That they can call it a family day or something else is fine, but the fact remains that Sunday is and for 1700 year been a religious Christian day of observance and it is that fact that underlies the whole proposal. So what if religious liberty? Is it morally correct to enforce a day of rest upon non-believers who think Sunday is an opportunity to take advantage of people in the parks etc and sell ice-creams for their living? Can we dictate to those who choose to work 7 days a week and impose upon them an enforced loss of income for the sake of someone elses religious views? And what of the Muslim? He works six days a week, and has Friday off. Would it be right to enforse another day off and reduce him to a 5 day working week while the Christian can enjoy his six days? And of course there are the Jews who choose to work Sundays and the Seventh Day Adventist. True, no-one at this stage is suggesting that they cannot continue to observe their respective holy days, but is religious conformity a thing to be enforced upon the unwilling? Is this something Jesus would approve of?
There is of course the Saturday-Sabbath/Sunday issue that some would raise. But I think that such an issue is irrelevant at this stage because you will not find any Adventist or Jew demanding that Saturdays should be legislated for. In fact, Adventists are at the forefront of defending religious liberty for the very reasons I have expressed above.
I am convinced that such a Sunday Law proposal is coming. Time now to settle in your minds whether you would support such an idea, and consider well the ramifications for your neighbours, whether they be secular, Jew, Muslim, or Adventist.
