In the wake of the recent State election the Rev Dr Gordon Moyes from the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) has described support from church leaders as ‘too little, too late’.
Dr Moyes has been returned to the upper house in his own right and will join Fred Nile. But the Rev Ross Clifford, Principal of Morling Theological College, who also stood for the CDP, was not elected.
“The new parliament will be a battlefield with the Labor Government supporting radical Greens proposals,” he said.
Dr Moyes says these proposals include euthanasia and the application of anti-discrimination laws to the hiring of staff in church offices, church-run aged care and Christian schools.
“The next few years will be a disaster for the Christian viewpoint as the Government, Greens and an independent will now hold the majority for the first time,” Dr Moyes said.
“More Anglicans voting for the CDP would have resulted in Ross Clifford being elected and CDP holding a Christian balance of power.”
Dr Moyes, while holding a seat in the upper house, has continued to run Wesley Mission, one of Australia’s largest welfare agencies. Recent media reports have questioned the appropriateness of Dr Moyes’ leadership of the agency because of a perceived conflict of interest in holding both roles.
While Dr Moyes has welcomed congratulations from church leaders he says what was needed was their support in the lead up to the election. “We needed church leaders to tell Christians what a vital vote this was and how we needed Ross Clifford elected,” he said. “Many clergy did not want to become involved at the time when it counted and did not open their church groups to us to speak.”
The Bishop of South Sydney, Robert Forsyth said he was surprised by Dr Moyes’ comments.
“We in the leadership of the Anglican Church encourage members to vote according to their conscience. Sydney Diocese has never had a policy of directing votes to a particular party and I hope that does not change.”
Bishop Forsyth said he believed the wisest way the Anglican Church leadership could engage with the political process was to keep lines of communication open with all parties.
“I hope the CDP would commend themselves to Anglicans even more in future. I look forward to further discussions with their leadership during the next parliamentary term,” Bishop Forsyth said.
Stephen O’Doherty, CEO of Christian Schools Association, says that the ALP has given no indication that they will support the Greens if they move to change anti-discrimination to prevent faith based organisations, including schools, from employing people of that faith.
“Both major parties have previously flagged their support for the right of Christian schools to employ Christian staff and we expect that to continue,” he said.
During the campaign CSA sent a letter to the ALP and the Coalition asking for their reassurance on this matter. The Coalition replied saying they were committed to their previous position. Although the ALP failed to reply, Mr O’Doherty says a meeting is being arranged with the education minister to seek his personal assurance.
Although not elected, Ross Clifford says he is extremely pleased with CDP’s results.
“We have returned a member to the upper house, increased our vote all round, doubled the vote of the Democrats and positioned ourselves as the fourth major party in NSW – that’s quite an achievement,” Mr Clifford said.
Mr Clifford says he is confident that much of the growth of the CDP’s vote came from church based support. He was disappointed, however, that there appeared to be an intentional ‘blackout’ on coverage of the CDP’s campaign in the secular press which may have prevented support from the general public being gained.
