Members of the Exclusive Brethren have more than likely distributed National Party leaflets on behalf of Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson - and he's not about to turn his back on them. "I don't go around asking people what their religion is when they want to give physical help. I'm tolerant of all religions; they can be Anglican, Presbyterian, Brethren, Catholic or Rastafarian, I don't care. I judge them on how they act and whether they like National policies. Anyone is welcome to help out if they don't cause me any strife," said Mr Clarkson. He said he had met and done business with some Exclusive Brethren members over the past 10 years. "I've found them to be fair-minded, law abiding and hard working. Their bills come in correctly and they pay tax. "I'd trust a Brethren before I trusted a Labour Party member." Clarkson said he never had any offers of financial support from the Exclusive Brethren for his election campaign - and he never expected it. "We do believe some helped us out delivering pamphlets and working the phones - other people did talk about that. I don't know because I never asked any of the helpers about their religion." Mr Clarkson said his National party leader Don Brash “has decided not to talk to the (Exclusive Brethren) top brass but he's left it up to every MP to make their own decision. "If they (Brethren) want to help out then I don't have any problem with that." Last month, Clarkson let loose with a vitriolic attack on gays, saying they are not normal, there are too many in Parliament, and gay parades are as distasteful as picking your nose in public. “I don't mind gays,” he told TV3's John Campbell, but he took exception to “gays pushing their barrow by having a gay parade… they can do what they like in their own home.” Meanwhile, it has now been claimed the Exclusive Brethren tried to split New Zealand First in a bid to get National into power last year. New Zealand First MP Ron Mark says his party came under extreme pressure from the religious group immediately after the election. The church was seeking a National, New Zealand First, United Future, Maori Party coalition. Mr Mark claims the Brethren asked him to convince Winston Peters to do a deal with National Party leader Don Brash. Failing that, he says the church wanted him and two or three of his colleagues to break away and do a deal with Dr Brash themselves. Mr Mark rejected the idea and was surprised Brethren members persisted with it for as long as they did. Ref: Bay of Plenty Times, NZ Herald (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 29th September 2006 - 12:00pm