Diakonia Council of Churches slams use of religion to justify racism
The Diakonia Council of Churches says it's worried about the messages that are being passed on to congregants and other members of the public.
Reverend Ian Booth has been commenting following controversial remarks made recently by Pastor Andre Olivier during a sermon at the Rivers Church in Sandton.
He suggested that black people are lazy. Olivier has since apologised for his remarks.
Booth says racism has reared its ugly head this year.
Last week, there was outrage over Sodwana Bay Guesthouse owner Andre Slade's refusal to accommodate black people or government officials. He too referenced God in justifying his beliefs.
Booth says the use of scripture and God to justify discrimination is wrong.
"To use scripture and God to justify racism - is a misuse and misunderstanding of the way we have read scripture. It's a misreading of scripture. The concern is that it's portraying a message that members of the congregation could take what they hear and say that's the way it should be," he said.
(File photo)