Rise of N.Z. moral group predicted

Press, 31 August 1985, Page 7

Rise of N.Z. moral group predicted

PA Auckland A political scientist who studies what he terms the frightening growth of the United States' Moral Majority movement, predicts the rise of a similar group in this country. Dr Barty Gustafson, of the Auckland University political studies department, said that the move by many of the country’s ' moral groups and Pentecostal churches to form a central coalition foreshadowed a linking of conservative forces unparalleled in New Zealand political history. Dr Gustafson returned recently from a State Depart-ment-funded tour of the United States, during which he made a special study of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority organisation.

He wanted to look at the organisation because he believed it was inevitable that New Zealand would follow a similar trend. The American Moral Majority, he said, had brought’ together fundamentalists from groups previously hostile to one another, such as Catholics. Jews. Baptists, Methodists and the Pentecostal churches.

“You are now seeing the same thing happening here."

Dr Gustafson said the Moral Majority was well organised, well funded and led by dedicated people. He had visited its Washington

office, where the names of 12 million financial supporters were computerlisted.

“They are very formidable and a bit frightening." He was frightened at the potential a grouping he described as intolerant of other viewpoints could have in New Zealand, in much the same way as he was frightened of militant L-wing radicals, cals.