The clerics described the action as an act of “Christian witness” and claimed they were standing in solidarity with the people of Gaza. They cited Jesus’s teachings on feeding the hungry and healing the sick as justification for their protest.
Are such theatrics an appropriate role for priests? Traditionally, clergy are expected to lead their congregations in prayer, reflection and pastoral care. Instead, these ministers of the church turned to chains and placards outside a local MP’s office, in a gesture that looked more like political theatre than spiritual leadership.
The Government has made clear it will not recognise Palestinian statehood while Hamas maintains a position of control. Hamas is designated a terrorist organisation in New Zealand, and officials have argued that recognition at this stage would legitimise an extremist group responsible for violent attacks. A total of 1,139 people were killed in Israel by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks, and about 200 were taken captive.
The Government has made clear it will not recognise Palestinian statehood while Hamas maintains a position of control. Hamas is designated a terrorist organisation in New Zealand, and officials have argued that recognition at this stage would legitimise an extremist group responsible for violent attacks. A total of 1,139 people were killed in Israel by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks, and about 200 were taken captive.
There is also an uncomfortable irony in Christian clergy advocating on behalf of a regime that despises other religions. Hamas has a long record of persecuting religious minorities, and Christians in Gaza face imprisonment or execution simply for practising their faith. Critics say it is extraordinary that priests in New Zealand would chain themselves to a door to support recognition of a state under such leadership.
If the priests truly believe in divine power, some ask why they did not first turn to prayer, the traditional tool of the church, rather than chaining themselves to a building. Others suggest that public stunts risk alienating their congregations, who may expect moral guidance rather than partisan activism.
The clergy involved argue they were compelled by conscience. However, the spectacle has raised questions about whether such tactics undermine the seriousness of their message. Calls for peace and justice lose weight when they are delivered as street-corner performance.
At a time when the church is shrinking in influence, you would think its leaders would do better to practise humility, engage in dialogue, and support humanitarian relief - which lets face it, doesn’t really get to the people because Hamas controls it all. Instead, this week’s protest will be remembered less for its plea for statehood and more for the image of priests chained to a door.
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
4 comments:
Turn the hose on these meddling god botherers.
Of course the priests stand with the Palestinians. Both of them hate LGBT people.
Headline should read -
"Clergy create public nuisance in vain and misinformed attempt to remain relevant".
Followed by -
"Clergy forcible removed and detained in PR stunt gone wrong"
Ending with -
"Clergy sentenced with violation order to stay away from all electoral offices - and sent to Gaza."
>"Hamas has a long record of persecuting religious minorities, and Christians in Gaza face imprisonment or execution simply for practising their faith."
Evidence, please?
There has been a dramatic decline in the Christian population over the past decades mainly due to emigration. It is very difficult to find objective data on the level of persecution Christians suffer at the hands of various regional actors. Christianity has been part of the Middle Eastern landscape for 2 millennia and preceded Islam by half a millennium. Islam recognises Christianity as a legitimate Abrahamic religion (albeit a misguided one). In the Middle East, sectarian communities are free to apply their own laws in civil matters such as marriage and inheritance. Hamas does not impose Islamic law on Christians within its jurisdiction. If anything, the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank is tougher on Christians than are Hamas.
Christians, like everyone else, have suffered and continue to suffer from the Israeli occupation and from illegal Israeli settlements from which gangs of thugs operate to cleanse the surrounding land of both Muslims and Christians. (The BBC earlier this year reported on militias made up of both Arabs and moderate Jews trying to protect their people from those thugs.)
We hear horror stories of persecution against Christians from outside the Middle East, especially Pakistan, but we are talking specifically about the Palestine region here and what happens in Pakistan is not generalisable to what happens in Palestine or indeed the Middle East as a whole.
I do not personally have any truck with persecution of Christians or any bona fide religious minority - all the more reason to get the facts right and not jump on any bandwagons.
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