Church Shows Concern About 'moral Majority’ (Press, 8 April 1986)

On 8 April 1986, the Anglican Church in New Zealand expressed significant concern regarding the influence of the "moral majority" and the "religious Right." The Church's provincial public and social affairs committee circulated a discussion paper across the country, prompting Anglican members to reflect on the role and impact of the "moral majority" in society. This initiative was partly inspired by the emergence of the Coalition of Concerned Christians, which the Anglican committee noted with particular interest. Bishop Watson Rosevear, the Assistant Bishop of Wellington, articulated the church's reservations about the coalition's claims to define Christian truth and its intention to take "control" of New Zealand. He stressed that such a controlling approach seems contrary to the teachings of Jesus, who focused on serving others rather than exerting power. The bishop noted that Jesus challenged societal norms and encouraged open dialogue, rather than coercing adherence to specific beliefs. The discussion paper also raised concerns regarding the coalition's relationships with affluent business interests, as well as its perceived disregard for minorities and marginalized groups. Bishop Rosevear highlighted that while the coalition vocally opposed issues such as abortion and homosexual law reform, it largely overlooked subjects like racism and nuclear disarmament. This selective focus prompted the Church to question the coalition's self-assured stance on moral issues, which Bishop Rosevear believed limited open discussion and dialogue with those holding differing views. Furthermore, the paper warned that the extreme positions of the religious Right might lead to a regression in moral discourse rather than advance societal morality. It challenged the notion that the religious Right accurately embodies the broader spectrum of Christian morality. In conclusion, the discussion paper critiqued the label "moral majority" as misleading, suggesting there was insufficient evidence to support the claim of a majority viewpoint within moral discussions. Bishop Rosevear indicated that the paper had been distributed to all Anglican bishops for further dissemination to individual parishes. The intention was to spark thoughtful conversation and inspire Anglicans to articulate their positions on contemporary issues more effectively.

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