KEY POINTS:
Aggrieved Exclusive Brethren members have succeeded in having a response to political attacks inserted into Parliament's official record.
Brethren members put together a $1.2 million war chest to help National win the last election. At least $500,000 of that was spent on a campaign attacking Labour and the Greens.
Since the election Labour MPs have repeatedly attacked the initially covert Brethren campaign and the sect's links with the National Party.
That upset Brethren members, who applied to Speaker Margaret Wilson to have their response to various attacks incorporated into Parliament's record.
Ms Wilson yesterday granted that wish, allowing David J. McLean, on behalf of church members throughout the country, to respond.
In his written response Mr McLean takes issue with Labour MP Jill Pettis' assertion on May 24 "the Brethren were not concerned about moral issues at all; they were just concerned about power, influence and money".
Mr McLean said her comments were a "blatant falsehood". The Brethren were very concerned about moral issues, evidenced by their numerous submissions on legislation such as the marriage and prostitution bills.
Mr McLean said Defence Minister Phil Goff's comments on June 14 that the Brethren were a "clandestine" and "extremist" group brought the church into disrepute. Mr Goff's comments on September 6 that they were guilty of "lies and dishonesty" in regard to putting incorrect addresses on their pamphlets were "groundless and extremely damaging", he said.
"For a senior Government Minister to describe the Exclusive Brethren in this way (without our being able to immediately refute) is very hurtful."
At its annual conference this year religious studies expert Professor Paul Morris told Labour delegates the Exclusive Brethren were part of a right-wing religious campaign to "moralise" governments ahead of the coming of Christ.
- NZPA
