‘Gays’ Take Cardinal To Task (Press, 1 April 1985)

On 1 April 1985, Cardinal Tom Williams, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand, publicly condemned the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, which aimed to decriminalise homosexual acts. His comments sparked significant backlash from homosexual rights groups, who argued his views were outdated and harmful. Cardinal Williams asserted that homosexual acts are inherently immoral and suggested that decriminalising such behaviour would lead to an increase in it. He expressed concern that many homosexual individuals and their families would be "angered and disgusted" by his stance. Phil Parkinson, the administrator of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Resource Centre in Wellington, accused the Church's hierarchy of arrogance in presuming to define sexual morality for others. He labelled the Cardinal's comments as ignorant attempts to deny individuals their free will concerning sexual matters. Bill Logan, a spokesperson for the Gay Taskforce, argued that religious beliefs should not be imposed on society, especially if they perpetuated myths that encourage violence and discrimination against homosexuals. In the newspaper article, Cardinal Williams maintained that his opposition to the bill was not a judgment on individual homosexuals but a responsibility to uphold Christian moral law. He warned that legal changes could mislead society regarding what is deemed morally acceptable, equating the situation to the legalisation of abortion, which he deemed an evil that became more widespread as a result. He suggested that the bill would neither protect the interests of homosexual individuals nor benefit society as a whole. Cardinal Williams advocated for a nuanced understanding that takes into account social, medical, psychological, and moral considerations, arguing that simply focusing on legal aspects would not adequately address the challenges faced by homosexual individuals. He expressed concern that removing legal and societal incentives for seeking assistance with sexual orientation might further harm those struggling with it. He also voiced strong objections to the proposed age of consent set at 16, arguing that this could lead to inappropriate behaviour among youths. In response, critics labelled Cardinal Williams’ arguments as hypocrisy, highlighting the Church's historical persecution of homosexuals. Parkinson rebuked the Cardinal for using discredited ideas to justify discriminatory stances, while Logan questioned his understanding of contemporary psychology, pointing out that major health organisations recognise homosexuality as a normal aspect of human sexuality that should not be changed. Logan's comments reflected a consensus within the homosexual community that love and consensual relationships among adults should not be criminalised and that the Church's position was out of touch with modern values. The ongoing debate underscored a clash between traditional religious perspectives and evolving societal attitudes towards sexuality and individual rights in New Zealand during this period.

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