Religious leaders ‘offended’

A COMMISSION tasked with investigating the commercialisation of religion and the abuse of people’s beliefs will hold a hearing in Port Elizabeth today.

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Communities will meet at the Radisson Blu hotel.

About 30 people from various religious groups were among those summoned to appear at an information session yesterday at the Pieter Rademeyer Community Hall in Algoa Park.

Word of Faith Christian Centre pastor Jimmy Crompton said he was offended by an instruction to appear and have any of his church affairs regulated.

“Economically we are accountable to SARS. Go to those snakeeaters,” he said.

“I want to treat you with respect, but I am a very upset man. Nobody can tell me how to worship God.”

Commission spokesman Mpiyakhe Mkholo said: “This [the hearing] in no way insinuates or suggests any wrongdoing on the part of some of the leaders.”