Church and State

Press, 7 March 1978, Page 16

Church and State

Sir, — In your editorial article you seek to justify your venture into the promotion of sectarianism in politics on the grounds that the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church have spoken out against more liberal abortion laws. You consider the abortion issue to be a political one and therefore dismiss any comments that church leaders make, as being religious interference in politics. Another view is that abortion is a moral issue and One on which church leaders are fully entitled to speak out for the guidance of all, not just the politicians. Instead of insinuating that some members of Parliament followed the dictates of their Church rather than of their conscience, you should appreciate that these members have had their consciences sharpened — perhaps with the help of their church leaders’ guidance — to see that laws which provide freely available abortion can only be damaging to the long-term future of society. — Yours, etc., P. V. DRAVITZKI. March 5, 1978.

Sir, — If we are nominally a democratic society, we are nominally a pluralist society as regard to religious or political beliefs. This means we should be free to hold our own beliefs in conscience and openly without fear of social coercion or obligation. An Anglican with Harrogate antecedents is no more of a New Zealander than a humanist with Amsterdam antecedents, or a Jew with Warsaw antecedents. Hence we are not a “nominally Christian” country, as suggested in your editorial article, and people who are not Christian should not feel less of New Zealanders for this reason. The numerous elements and our wide heritage certainly enrich our society. Let’s not suppress this. — Yours, etc., TREVOR M. COBELDICK. March 4, 1978. Sir, — After a proud association of some years with “The Press,” I was disgusted to read your leading article

of Saturday, March 4. “The Press,” in my opinion, has dropped its standards to that of the other “rags” around the country which continue to “rehash” an issue which the majority of ill-informed people always blame on the Roman Catholic Church, which has always made its position clear. I do not know if any direct pressure was brought to bear, as you imply; but, if it was, someone has to try to keep up slipping moral standards. In protest against a bigoted and biased leading article, I will no longer support your paper in any way. — Yours, etc., BERNARD JONES. March 5, 1978. I