Yes, they are our business when they break the law or violate the rights of any citizen. This is a clear example of the reasoning behind separation of church and state. The state must enforce its laws with no regard to religion, race, sex, wealth and all those factors which define us as individuals, if it is to be equal. After all the oxford dictionary defines religion as “the belief in a superhuman controlling power, esp. in a personal God or gods entitled to obedience and worship. 2 the expression of this in worship. 3 a particular system of faith and worship” so isn’t religion really just what a group of people profess to believe with regard to an unproveable “superhuman controlling power”. Therefore, it is impossible to identify a true or acceptable religion and thus impossible to adjust laws to accomodate every professed religion. The best we can do is to try and protect “individual rights” by enforcing our laws.

Thank you for sharing this piece of your life. I am leaving in a week to go and tell my very independent mother that I am there to take her home with me. I know that her memory and ability to walk are to the point where she can’t possibly be taking proper care of herself. I know she is lying when she tells me all she is doing. But I am scared that she will be angry and terribly sad that her independent life is over. Perhaps though, like your aunt, she will be happy that I am taking control so that she can spend her remaining days smelling the roses and getting hugs and kisses from the great-grandchildren.