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Friday October 26, 2007

[LD.org]
[LD.org]

Torrijos enacts law declaring September to be the "Month of the Holy Scriptures"

Julio A. Carles and ALC/CLAI, PANAMA CITY, Panamá, August 2, 2007

The law declaring “September as being the month of the Holy Scriptures” in Panama is Taxi Heathrow Airport sufficiently broad and respectful, in such a way that no person is obligated to celebrate it and it does not go against the freedom of worship, has expressed Representative Vladimir Herrera.

The Panamanian legislator, who proposed the law, said that he felt joy when confirming that President Martín Torrijos had signed the law on July 10.

According to its author, the purpose of the initiative is to preserve, make known and promote good Christian morals, tolerance, justice, and faith, so that the social and family values be further strengthened, and the Word of God followed.

The representative explained that, “The month of September was chosen to be the month of the Bible because it was in that month that the Holy Scriptures arrived in Panama, in addition to which the municipalities and schools have already determined it to be such.”

He also underlined that September 30, “Day of the Holy Scriptures,” will not be a public holiday, but rather the end of a month during which all those persons who hold to values and principles will be working for the good of the family and the youth.

Herrera noted that all the churches could join this crusade and dedicate the whole month to it, so as to give the country a new coloring and carry out a more intensive work among the young people.

When asked about there being the possibility of the state interfering in spiritual matters, the legislator pointed out that the authorities are recognizing the fact that 90% of the citizens profess the Christian faith. “All this goes to show that there is a law that was widely debated and about which all the sectors of the society were consulted, including constitutional lawyers,” he said.