Church and state fight on referendum

A Catholic newspaper in Guyana, South America, is one of the few channels of opposition to government propaganda aimed at influencing the forthcoming referendum there.
Church-state relations have become increasingly strained in the run-up to the referendum which will be held on July 10. The outcome of the referendum will have far-reaching consequences on the country's constitution.
It is being held to decide whether the constitution of the country can be changed by a simple two-thirds majority. At present 16 clauses of the constitution can be changed only by a referendum. Other articles of the constitution can be changed by a two-thirds majority or a simple maioritv.
If the referendum is carried it would do away with the need for any future referenda. This would place almost total power in the hands of the government.
Opposition to the referendum has come from the Guyana Council of Churches and-is supported by most of the country's lawyers and doctors as well as some Guyanese trade unions. There have been a number of attacks on the Church in the course of the government's campaign in favour of the referendum, "New Nation", the official newspaper of the ruling People's National Congress party has carried cartoons portraying the Church as a sinister and archaic arm of colonialist power. It has called for the deportation of all ex-patriate priests who they say are causing dissension.
Individual priests have come under attack for their opposition to the referendum in particular Fr Andrew Morrison Si, the editor of the "Catholic Standard" and Fr Malcolm Rodrigues, a university lecturer.