Nuclear Arms “Sin Against God”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29892, 4 August 1962, Page 13

Nuclear Arms “Sin Against God”

A Christchurch clergyman yesterday described the use of nuclear arms as “a sin against God.” And as a Christian and churchgoer, he said he was proud to take part in a ban-the-bomb march.

The clergyman, the Rev. M. W Wilson, a Presbyterian, spoke to a banner-waving crowd of 80 in Latimer square.

In a protest, commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima. on August 6. 1945, the crowd marched from ’ the University clock tower through Catheral square soon after mid-day. About 60 marchers started, s few joined on the way, anti with a few curious bystanders, the crowd in Latimer souare numbered more than 83.

Clergymen. trade union officials, university lecturers, law'yers. students, housewives. two infants in pushchairs. and a baby in a pram were in the march.

Everyone stopped to stare, but, apart from a few smiles,

there were no other reactions. This orderly conduct was m keeping with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, a member of the canterbury committee, Mrs E. Locke, said. “When they see people it means much "more than a few lines in a newspaper,” she said. Speakers in Latimer square were Mr Wilson, Mrs Locke, and Mr P. H. T. Alpers, a Christchurch lawyer. “It has been said publicly in the last two weeks that clergymen should not associate with the campaign for nuclear disarmament,” Mr Wilson said. Reasons were that clergymen might be led astray by anti-Christian forces. “If that is the case then surely our faith must be weak if it can’t stand up to -hat.” ‘Besides, how can anvene doing this be anti-Christian?” Mr Wilson asked. “The Church's aims are righteousness and justice, and war is unrighteous and unjust. “Nuclear power is a creation of God. and it is to be used for His purposes. To use it for any other purpose is to prostitute God's gifts,” he said. Only two small bombs were dropped in the last war, but shame and suffering had never died. Mrs Locke said. “New Zealand's official defence policy relies on a nuclear defence alliance.” she said. There was no justification for this. No-one was threatening to invade New Zealand, and there were no border disputes. New Zealand should take a stand in the world and renounce this alliance. Mrs Locke said.