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RASTAFARIANS who are members of the Church of Haile Selassie I have encountered yet another setback in their petition for the incorporation of their church in Jamaica.
The Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Private Bills which met Wednesday with church representatives at Gordon House, again placed the group's request on hold, citing the need for further deliberations.
The committee's decision came following a spirited debate sparked by a presentation by Lord Anthony Gifford, the group's lawyer, in which he explained the church's burning of incense as a substitution for herb as one of the sacraments used during worship.
"<span style="font-weight: bold">When the prayer of the herb is said, it is accompanied by the burning of incense, not the burning or smoking of ganja. The church in other words respects the law," </span>said Gifford to an obviously surprised committee chairman Marisa Dalrymple- Philibert.
However, an extremely guarded Opposition Senator Norman Grant said the committee needed to tread very carefully <span style="font-weight: bold">to ensure beyond any doubt that what was used in the sacrament was not construed as illegal.</span>
"There is a perception that what is used in such a sacrament is the use of herb which could be defined as a substance that is illegal. I just raise it a real and genuine concern from where I sit," replied a cautious Grant.
But Church of Haile Selassie I spokesman, Abuna Fox, said the misperceptions over what constituted a herb stemmed largely from ignorance.
"<span style="font-weight: bold">Herbs, such as frankincense, myrrh, and cassias are all herbs grown on trees. If you use the word herb in a statement some have a perception of ganja," </span>said Fox.
However, Grant, while not doubting the accuracy of Fox's statement, reiterated that Parliament had a responsibility to ensure any law passed was not seen as supporting an illegal action. He also suggested the committee amend the present bill rather than seeking a definition of herb in seeking to determine what the church used in its ceremonies.
The church of Haile Sellassie I, which has been pressing for incorporation status since 1994, last appeared before the committee nine years ago.
Minutes presented from that committee meeting revealed controversy between committee and church members on whether the church burned ganja as part of its religious rites.
Incorporation status, if granted, would give the church legal recognition via Parliamentary approval similar to that accorded to other church denominations practising in Jamaica.
That recognition would facilitate tax benefits, in addition to enabling the church legal rights to property ownership.
RASTAFARIANS who are members of the Church of Haile Selassie I have encountered yet another setback in their petition for the incorporation of their church in Jamaica.
The Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Private Bills which met Wednesday with church representatives at Gordon House, again placed the group's request on hold, citing the need for further deliberations.
The committee's decision came following a spirited debate sparked by a presentation by Lord Anthony Gifford, the group's lawyer, in which he explained the church's burning of incense as a substitution for herb as one of the sacraments used during worship.
"<span style="font-weight: bold">When the prayer of the herb is said, it is accompanied by the burning of incense, not the burning or smoking of ganja. The church in other words respects the law," </span>said Gifford to an obviously surprised committee chairman Marisa Dalrymple- Philibert.
However, an extremely guarded Opposition Senator Norman Grant said the committee needed to tread very carefully <span style="font-weight: bold">to ensure beyond any doubt that what was used in the sacrament was not construed as illegal.</span>
"There is a perception that what is used in such a sacrament is the use of herb which could be defined as a substance that is illegal. I just raise it a real and genuine concern from where I sit," replied a cautious Grant.
But Church of Haile Selassie I spokesman, Abuna Fox, said the misperceptions over what constituted a herb stemmed largely from ignorance.
"<span style="font-weight: bold">Herbs, such as frankincense, myrrh, and cassias are all herbs grown on trees. If you use the word herb in a statement some have a perception of ganja," </span>said Fox.
However, Grant, while not doubting the accuracy of Fox's statement, reiterated that Parliament had a responsibility to ensure any law passed was not seen as supporting an illegal action. He also suggested the committee amend the present bill rather than seeking a definition of herb in seeking to determine what the church used in its ceremonies.
The church of Haile Sellassie I, which has been pressing for incorporation status since 1994, last appeared before the committee nine years ago.
Minutes presented from that committee meeting revealed controversy between committee and church members on whether the church burned ganja as part of its religious rites.
Incorporation status, if granted, would give the church legal recognition via Parliamentary approval similar to that accorded to other church denominations practising in Jamaica.
That recognition would facilitate tax benefits, in addition to enabling the church legal rights to property ownership.
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