Church defiant, rejects Govt law
The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) is standing its ground in the ongoing dispute with the Government over the law requiring the Head of State and Church Ministers to pay taxes on their alofa.
“The decision from the Fonotele remains the same as in 2017 and that is to reject the law requiring Church Ministers to pay taxes,” said the C.C.C.S. General Secretary, Reverend Vavatau Taufao.
“Keep in mind that in the C.C.C.S., there is no such thing as one’s discretion. That is why I have pride in my church because we practice the true meaning of democracy. We are a democratic church, the decision was not decided by one person, rather the entire church.”
The General Secretary made the comments during a press conference held minutes after the closing of their annual conference at Malua yesterday.
Rev. Vavatau said about 90 per cent of the church leaders reject the law.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi made it clear that any Church Minister, including the C.C.C.S., who refuses to pay their taxes will face the full force of the law.
“This law is the same as the law governing murder,” Tuilaepa said. “Once you violate that law, you alone will be criminally charged. And if you conspire with someone else to murder another person, you’ll be charged as well.”
Reverend Vavatau said the issue was put to a vote during the General Assembly.
“It was way over the majority who rejected it, approximately 90 percent of the attendees who voted. So the decision is not by Elders of the Church, it is the decision by the Fonotele.”
Asked about the way forward, Rev. Vavatau said they would seek a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Tuilaepa.
“The Fonotele has agreed for the representatives of the Church to meet the Government because in the past there was correspondence going back and forth. “Today, the Fonotele has decided to seek an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister to officially inform him of the decision by the Church.
“The decision by the Fonotele is a decision by the Church members who are attending on behalf of their respective parishes, not the Church Ministers.”
The General Secretary maintained that church members want to understand the rationale behind the law.
“The reason has to link to church beliefs. There is no teaching by Jesus that points to the taxing of Church Ministers.” According to Reverend Vavatau, “Jesus teachings is clear, what belongs to God, give it to him.
“And the common belief among church members of their alofa to the Faifeau, is that they give freely with the notion this is their way expressing of their love for God. That is why they give and more reasons why they do not want the Church Ministers to pay taxes.”
Rev. Vavatau said it is the right decision. “For me personally, I am very proud of my church, they stand by their faith and I am very proud of that,” said Reverend Vavatau, while fighting back tears.