Media interviews before the launch of ‘Bishop' Brian Tamaki's autobiography, officially launched tonight at Destiny's South Auckland headquarters, have thrown up some astonishing quotes. Speaking to Robyn Janes on TVOne's Close Up programme earlier this week, Tamaki admitted the Destiny Church had had some failures recently. “You didn't stop the Civil Union Bill,” stated Janes. “I knew then that this Bill would pass and in some way I wanted it to,” replied Tamaki. “As a wake up call to a Church that I think had just lost its ability to stand for things that were right, that were moral and that were godly,” he elaborated. The autobiography gives Tamaki's views on religion, politics, female leadership, homosexuality, money and the media. There are also revelations about Tamaki's early life of drug and alcohol abuse and pre-marital sex. He had his fist child out of wedlock, but now preaches ‘no sex before marriage'. Janes asked if this was hypocritical. “I thank God for the grace that there is a second chance, that's what Christ offers, a second chance in life,” Tamaki offered back. Janes pointed out the Destiny parties dismal 0.6% share of last year's election vote. “The vast majority of New Zealanders don't agree with what you say,” she asserted. Tamaki's reply: “Well I think that's changing. I think a lot of New Zealanders are starting to see the real side of what I've been about.” “I believe that our nation has moved away from God, and when a nation moves away from God the enemy gets control.” Ref: TVNZ (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 20th October 2006 - 12:00pm