U.S., Canadian blessing for anti-nuclear stand

Press, 30 December 1985, Page 20

U.S., Canadian blessing for anti-nuclear stand

PA Wellington Church support at the national level in Canada and the United States has been expressed for New Zealand’s anti-nuclear policies. The general secretary of the Canadian Anglican Church has sent a cablegram to the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, “applauding the bold stand taken by the Government of New Zealand in refusing to permit access to nuclear-capable vessels.” In the United States, the presiding Bishop-elect of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church, the Rt Rev. Edmond Browning, told a

national convention of his support for “our Anglican brothers and sisters in New Zealand who in political, economic and moral selfdetermination decide against their own participation in the nuclear arms race.”

The Canadian cablegram said New Zealand’s actions were “a significant example of the role that could be played by smaller nations toward achieving a peaceful world.”

Mr Browning, who will become Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States in January, has also sent greetings and support

to the Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves, for his nuclear-free Pacific stance as Primate of New Zealand.

“I believe the production, testing and deployment of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons to be inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.

The messages were conveyed to the Rev. Richard Randerson, vicar of St Peter’s Anglican church, Wellington, in his capacity as New Zealand representative on the peace and justice network of the international Anglican Consultative Council.