Racist Churches

At another level it is disturbing to learn that even the Protestant churches suffer from ghetto paranoia. The hierarchy of the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches view Maori Missions as separatist and wish to abolish them in the interest of an abstract ideal called equality. Equality according to ghetto paranoic thinking means the abolition of Maori identity and inclusion with the Pakeha on Pakeha terms. If this is what the Protestant churches want then I would venture to predict a drop in their membership. It is no accident that the Roman Catholic Church had the highest growth rate of 12% last year. Not only does the Catholic Church grant Maoris inclusion on their terms but it also makes extensive concessions to biculturalism. It even goes so far as to help the people establish Maori community centres. Equality should not be equated with uniformity. It should also mean the right to be different. God preserve us from developing a homogenous uniform and conforming society. To quote a proverb from the third world, "All the gardens of the world are different, it is only the deserts that are the same."