Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported this week that in the Southern Pacific island nation of Samoa, with a population of 220,000, religious liberty is being threatened. According to ABC’s report:
… [T]he country’s prime minister has thrown the future of its religious minorities into doubt after flagging potential restrictions on non-Christian faiths last month.
Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Fosi Schmidt said he wanted to stop Samoa encountering the same religious divisions as “neighbouring countries”, and in the Middle East.
“It may not be happening now, but there will come a time when a large number could gather under a non-Christian religion in Samoa. Then we will face what we do not wish to see,” he said….
Laaulialemalietoa has asked the nation’s peak Christian body, the Samoa Council of Churches, to advise him on the country’s religious freedom laws….
“I am prepared to take the necessary actions on what Samoa decides — perhaps through a referendum or national discussion — to consider amending the constitution regarding the freedom of religion,” he said.
The prime minister, who has gained a loyal voting base with his devout Christian public persona, is moving quickly to stamp his religious agenda on other parts of Samoan society since his August election victory.
His government has made weekly fasting and prayer mandatory for public servants. …
And as the prime minister raised the potential restrictions on non-Christian faiths last month, he announced a ban on construction work on Sundays….