Anglicans oppose Texas’ call

Press, 2 August 1983, Page 16

Anglicans oppose Texas’ call

The decision to allow the U.S.S. Texas to visit two New Zealand ports has been criticised by the world development committee of the Anglican Church. It called the visit an exercise to reinforce a commitment to policies of nuclear deterrence. In a statement issued by the chairman, the Rev. Richard Randerson, of Wellington, the committee said it regretted this decision. As the visit would not be necessary for provisions or recreation, and as New Zealand was not obliged under the A.N.Z.U.S. agreement to receive nuclear warships from any nation, the committee believed that it could only be construed as an exercise to reinforce in the minds of New Zealanders a

committment to policies of nuclear deterrence. “Such policies constitute a major threat to the existence of life on this planet as well as diverting resources that could be used for the elimination of poverty and injustice,” it said. The committee said that to refuse the visit would have symbolically shown a commitment by New Zealand to work for a planned phasing out of nuclear weaponry by all nations. The committee also expressed concern that there was a danger of radioactive leakage from the vessel’s nuclear propulsion system, and that its presence at Auckland and Wellington could make the ports a target for nuclear attack in an outbreak of war.