All is quiet on the fundie front once more. Why? One reason might be that the Christian Right are exhausted after their futile antics against the Bradford Bill, which passed due to National's compromise on the issue, and which led to the resurrection of Future New Zealand. Or did it? Since Gordon Copeland seceded from United Future, nothing further has been heard about the reformed party, nor have there been any new news items about Larry Baldock's pro-belting petition. The Section 59 fiasco may have led to terminal weakness in some Christian Right organisations, particularly the Society for Promotion of Community Standards. Given the probable obliteration of Future New Zealand at next year's general election, that only leaves five significant Christian Right pressure groups- the Maxim Institute, Destiny Church, Voice for Life, Right to Life New Zealand and Family First. Of these, RTLNZ is headed for a probable pratfall over its latest judicial gambit against the Abortion Supervisory Committee, and media-driven Family First is desperately trying to branch out by blabbing about every other 'family' issue in sight. However, the Maxim Institute and Destiny Church have ended up ahead of the rest for diametrically opposed reasons. Destiny Church is the old Christian Right, lumbering along, pontificating, with no real expertise available in its areas of debate. It may field impressive marches, but they end up causing stampedes in the other direction. As for the Institute, it's still recovering from Logangate and its mission crisis - Christian Right or centre-right think tank? It is still far from uncertain that the Centre for Independent Studies may end up swallowing it. The Christian Right is now weaker than at any other time during its maligant history. Recommended: http://www.maxim.org.nz http://www.destinychurch.org.nz Craig Young - 14th June 2007