Garth George: Church leaders urge voters to choose social justice

A week or so ago the leaders of five New Zealand churches, those usually referred to as "mainline", issued an election-time statement to the nation.

While it can be found on each of the five church websites , the statement received not one line of coverage in this newspaper, nor, I suspect, in any others.

Which is not surprising. In the manner of such dissertations, prepared by a committee - and a committee of clerics at that - it is rather pedantic, lacks any sort of punch and, since committee-drafted statements invariably result from compromise, is rather non-specific.

It is entitled "Towards a Robust Society" and nearly 1800 words long, which in itself is enough to make any harassed news editor reach for the delete key while stifling a yawn.

Nevertheless, what these leading churchmen have to say contains more than one grain of truth, and deserves wider dissemination.

So I propose here to present some excerpts from the essay, authored by Archbishop John Dew for the Catholics, Bishop Muru Walters for the Anglicans, the Rt Rev Garry Marquand for the Presbyterians, the Rev Ron Malpass for the Methodists, the Rev Brian Winslade for the Baptists and Commissioner Garth McKenzie for the Salvation Army.

"Every three years," they say, "the electoral cycle reminds us of the inestimable value of democracy, and the opportunity for voter and candidate alike to actively participate in determining the future shape of our society."

Defining how we understand ourselves as people in community, the churchmen say: "Underpinning each person's vision for society will be a number of assumptions about what it means to be human ... that can be characterised by two broad emphases. The first tends to regard each person primarily as an autonomous individual, each with his or her own needs, aspirations and interests.

"This view places a strong emphasis on such things as realising individual potential, pursuing individual goals and preserving individual freedom. It often refers to such things as self-esteem and self-interest. Noticeably lacking from this perspective are references to other people and the common good.

"As a result, the view of society that tends to emerge is that of a conglomeration of individuals, each exercising their individual rights, and whose obligation towards others is largely derived from overlapping areas of self-interest. The consumer mindset tends to reinforce this utilitarian perspective.

"The second is derived from the conviction that our humanity is constituted most profoundly by our relationships. Neglect those relationships and both personal well-being and society suffer as a result. These relationships include both family and neighbour. We are persons in community."

The churchmen say it is necessary to take a broad view of "who our neighbour is".

"This view will include the most vulnerable in our society, including the unborn; those who are most different from us, including refugees and migrants; and the stigmatised, including welfare and sickness beneficiaries.

"One of the marks of a mature society is the extent to which it cares for and upholds the dignity and worth of its most vulnerable members and refrains from indulging in politics of exclusion, which most often take the form of scapegoating certain groups for society's ills."

The church leaders say that a broad view of who our neighbour is will also encompass obligations to the international community. National interests, they say, will be worked out in the context of global responsibilities towards the poor and suffering in other countries and towards environmental and climate issues that have an impact on everyone.

And, back on the home front: "A political commitment to the well-being of every person in society should result in an adequately resourced public service, including the police, welfare agencies, the public health system and the educational sector.

"The role that not-for-profit community organisations play in enhancing the fabric of society should be recognised and encouraged through sympathetic policies. In recent years many such organisations have felt either unable to continue their work because of inadequate resourcing or [being] forced to apply for funds from sources to which they have a moral objection - community trusts that derive their income from the proceeds of gambling."

Addressing what they call "the politics of fear", the churchmen say: "In its affirmation of the human person and the potential for building a robust society, the Christian tradition remains fully aware of human fallibility and the corrosive effects of self-interest and greed. The shadow side of our humanness will always be present, at both personal and societal levels.

"It is all too easy for us all, including political candidates and religious leaders, to ... play on people's fears and push for quick-fix political solutions which ignore the long-term effects on our society."

In this context the church leaders specifically mention those who insist that we "get tough on crime" and/or "get tough on welfare". They point out that this country has one of the highest rates of incarceration per head in the Western world; and counsel against stigmatising and punishing people for being poor simply because some take advantage of the system.

They conclude: "A robust society is one that encourages and values the contribution of all people towards the common good ... The challenge facing all of us, and particularly our leaders, is to shape our society in a way that reflects what is best in our human nature."

Now wouldn't that be nice?