In noting your article dated September 22 and entitled 'Several Church organisations have condemned the move by the Caymans Track Limited (CTL) to have horse racing on Sunday', I addressed my concern to the president of the West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists, as to the part of the article which stated that one of the reasons for the churches' stand against this move of the CTL was that Sunday has "traditionally and culturally been treated as a sacred space when many went to church or rested".

The Seventh-day Adventist church was included as part of the group of churches assenting to this view of Sunday sacredness as they were included in the group of churches protesting horse racing on Sunday.

In speaking to the president of the West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists, he assured me that his response to the question addressed to him on the matter was limited to the fact that gambling on any day is detrimental to individuals and to the society, and he had made no comment on the issue of Sunday sacredness.

Blatant attempt

I requested that he should distance himself and the Seventh-day Adventist Church from this blatant attempt to link our church to the position of promoting Sunday sacredness in Jamaica and the rest of the West Indies union of Seventh-day Adventists. Unfortunately, the president declined my principled request and he stated that if I wanted to make a statement on the matter, I should do so, and this explains my letter to you.

As a true Seventh-day Adventist believer, I categorically state that this particular church does not support Sunday sacredness in any form and holds to the Holy Scriptures, which only support the keeping of the holy Seventh-day sabbath as a memorial of creation.

I am, etc.,

DR STEPHEN CHANG

gpfc3@hotmail.com

Andrews Memorial Hospital

27 Hope Road

Kingston 10