Church Disapproval Of Rhodesian Government

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31006, 11 March 1966, Page 12

Church Disapproval Of Rhodesian Government

Disapproval of the action taken by the Smith Government in seizing independence in Rhodesia, and support for the measures taken by the New Zealand Government in compliance with the economic sanctions called for by the United Nations, are expressed in a statement prepared by the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs and released yesterday by the executive committee of the National Council of Churches.

The commission is a study group set up by the council and given authority to issue statements on international affairs. It is affiliated -with the Commission on International Affairs set up by the World Council of Churches.

Commenting on the statement, the president of the National Council of Churches, the Very Rev. M. W. Wilson, said: “This statement is in line with statements made by churches both inside and outside Rhodesia. The Roman Catholic bishops in Rhodesia take substantially the same view as the Christian Council of Rhodesia. The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches has urged nations to intensify measures of non-cooperation with the existing regime in Rhodesia." The following is the 10-point statement of the commission: “We declare our strongest disapproval of the action taken by the Smith regime in Rhodesia in illegally seizing independence from the United Kingdom.

“We share the regret of the Christian Council of Rhodesia (expressed in their statement of November 26. 1965) at the great blow delivered by this act to the concept of constitutional law brought to Africa by a Western civilisation nurtured in Christianity. “We reject, as do the churches’ leaders in Rhodesia, Mr Smith’s statement that the illegal seizure of independence has “struck a blow fori the preservation of Christian-1 ity” and we regard it as a travesty of the facts. “We deplore the Smith regime’s attack on freedom of I expression and civil liberties I in Rhodesia and believe that | its present method of government is undermining respect for the rule of law.

“We declare our Christian sympathy with the wholehearted support for the churches in Rhodesia and for ail in that country who are opposed to the illegal and unconstitutional measures taken by the Smith regime, particularly for those who are suffering for their opposition.

“We declare our approval] of the firm, reasonable and] pacific action taken by the British Government to oppose and neutralise the Smith regime and to re-establish constitutional government. “We declare our support for the measures taken by the New Zealand Government in compliance with United Nations resolutions calling for economic sanctions against Rhodesia, and we urge the New Zealand Government to 'support in spirit and in action the measures adopted to i this end by the British Government.

“We declare that by whatever legitimate means may be available governments and peoples should work for a settlement of the situation which would assure constitutional independence to Rhodesia only on a basis of guar-

anteed progress towards ultimate majority rule, and of justice for all in Rhodesia.

“We reaffirm that those who would live the Christian life —whether in Rhodesia or in New Zealand —are called by their Lord to serve, not to dominate; to share the wealth of their country equitably, not to live in comfort or luxury based on the impoverished lives of others; and to be concerned less for themselves than for the well-being of the poor, the illiterate, the disenfranchised and the underprivileged. “We call on the members of all the churches in New Zealand to pray for the people of Rhodesia and to do whatever lies within their power to help remove exploitation, injustice and racial discrimination in that country, as in our own.”