Previous notes have informed readers of the progress of the Petition presented on behalf of the Synod to the Public Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament seeking to have that body consider the formal recognition of the Lord’s Day as a day of rest from business and commerce. As already reported, the petition and the petitioners left no one in doubt that the Church’s primary motivation in submitting the petition was religious – the belief that the Sabbath Day is divinely ordained and that its observance by a constitutionally-Christian nation is a recognition of the claims of God, which would honour God and enjoy His blessing. That recognition of the Sabbath as the day of rest which is to be observed follows logically from it being the day appointed in the Bible, the Book which is fundamental to the Christian identity of our nation. In keeping with the teaching that the Sabbath was made for man – for every man and for man as a whole – the aim of the petition was also philanthropic in the widest sense, the benefit of body, mind and human relationships, as well as soul.
The Petition was forwarded to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Scottish Executive but their responses to it were not favourable. The DTI considered that present legislation provided workers with “the necessary protection and flexibility they require, negating the need to appoint Sunday as an official day of rest”. It was considered that “there is no substantial demand for change to the present regime” and that “the current situation strikes the right balance between all the interests involved”. The lengthy response from the Scottish Executive makes clear that “Scottish Ministers do not intend to pursue legislation to regulate retail shop opening hours in Scotland”. The reasoning of the letter does not grapple with the arguments presented in support of the petition but illustrates the mercenary and selfish outlook which informs much of the opposition to the recognition of the first day of the week as “a weekly day of rest from work”. We had the opportunity to comment in writing on these responses, and the letter sent to the Public Petitions Committee should appear in the full Report submitted to the Synod. It was mainly a reiteration of what we had endeavoured to put to the Committee previously.
At the time of writing, no formal communication has been received from the Public Petitions Committee but we understand that at a meeting on 20 March 2007 Mr Michael McMahon, Convener, stated that our petition did not get a warm reception. Mr John Scott, Depute Convener, added that, while they respected the views of the petitioner, the petition did not reflect the views of the country. The conclusion was that “they close the petition”. The outcome is disappointing even if predictable. It demonstrates how closed the minds of those in authority, in our secularised society, are to the claims of God. However, although our Petition has not been granted, we trust that the raising of the issue has stimulated thought and prayer and may have given encouragement to some who witness on behalf of the Lord and His Holy Day. But perhaps it should also make us consider our own ways. Apart from complaining among ourselves about the dreadful state of religion and morals in our nation, what are we doing in the way of praying and speaking out and working in support of feeble efforts made to call our people back to the public righteousness which alone exalts a nation?
HMC