Religious Right ‘real Danger’ (Press, 15 April 1986)

On 15 April 1986, a discussion paper from the Anglican Church's public and social affairs committee raised concerns about the influence of the extreme religious Right in New Zealand. The paper, chaired by Rt Rev. Watson Rosevear, highlighted the "close links" between wealthy businesses and the Coalition of Concerned Citizens, which emerged in response to the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. The coalition had gathered 817,000 signatures against the bill, with the Anglican committee indicating that even a fraction of this number represents significant public sentiment. The committee accused the coalition of demonstrating “scant regard for minorities and oppressed or marginal groups,” a claim that was firmly rejected by coalition spokesperson Pastor Barry Reed. He dismissed the allegations as unsubstantiated and suggested that critics had not adequately investigated the coalition but were merely echoing opposing voices. Although initially focused on the homosexual rights issue, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens has expanded its agenda to encompass a broader range of concerns regarding what they perceive as declining moral standards in New Zealand. Furthermore, the National Council of Churches issued a statement expressing apprehension over Right-wing groups attempting to gain influence over local educational and governance systems. Reed claimed that the coalition occupies a centrist position rather than a strictly Right-wing one and advocated for their efforts to influence education as part of democratic participation. The Anglican committee observed a growing divide within New Zealand Christianity, especially between liberal and fundamentalist factions. The Pentecostal Churches, identified as a key component of the Religious Right, had declined to join a new ecumenical body scheduled to replace the National Council of Churches in the following year. Although the Anglican committee acknowledged the growth of the Religious Right, they noted that it remains a relatively small group, bolstered by organisational and financial support from movements in the United States. Rosevear commented that the coalition’s slogan, "For God, for family, for country," did not adequately represent the Christian faith, cautioning against the potential dangers of nationalism. While welcoming public participation of the Christian message, the Anglican committee recognised the diversity of political opinions among Christians, notably pointing out the coalition’s silence on issues such as racism and nuclear disarmament. Reed, in response to these concerns, insisted that there was nothing wrong with patriotism. He stressed that Christians have a comprehensive perspective on society and cannot neglect their roles as citizens. Furthermore, he explained the coalition's avoidance of the nuclear debate was due to uncertainty about their supporters' views, and their lack of commentary on race-related issues stemmed from a commitment to practising equality.

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