Ethical apartheid decision urged

Press, 15 November 1984, Page 19

Ethical apartheid decision urged

PA Dunedin Anglicans must come to an informed and careful decision about the ethics of apartheid and the consequences of sports contacts with South Africa, according to the Bishop of Dunedin, the Rt Rev. P. W. Mann. The events of the 1981 rugby Springbok tour had been traumatic for many parishes, he said, in a letter to Anglicans of the diocese of Dunedin. “Clergy found themselves faced with the difficult task of holding together a congregation divided on the question and their personal response often had to be muted,” he said. ' "Anglicans need to recog-

1 nise that lawful protest is a > healthy and important opI tion in a free society and [ that by it we seek only to persuade and not to coerce. ; Only in such a spirit can we ; keep open the channels of , communication,” said Bishop Mann. It was hoped that the I New Zealand Rugby Union ’ would consider carefully the • implications of disregarding > agreements between New Zealand and other Com- ; monwealth countries on ; sports contacts, he said. “Only when there is clear ■ evidence that apartheid is i being dismantled, however > slowly, should such sports contacts be renewed,” Bishop Mann said.