Christians protest at `decline in family values'

MARION VAN DIJK/Nelson Mail

MAKING A STAND: A group of Christians marched along Trafalgar St and held a vigil for family values on the Church Steps on Saturday.

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A silent march up Nelson's Trafalgar St, followed by a silent vigil at the Church Steps, marked a Christian group's protest against what its leaders say are eroded family values in New Zealand.

About 50 people, some of whom carried banners with a variety of messages, walked quietly through the central city on Saturday. "Value whales more than babies?" read one, while another said "Don't make parents criminals". Other protesters brandished more political messages about the protection of unborn children, women and the elderly.

Organiser Willy Schryvers said the gathering of Nelson adults and children for the march was organised at the last minute, and was a protest over the "decline in family values" around the country, particularly the levels of abuse against women and children.

The marchers were mainly members of the Catholic Church and from the Life of Christ group, who were opposed to prostitution law reform and new anti-smacking laws, Mr Schryvers said.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal group national chairman Brendan Woodnutt, who was visiting Nelson from Wellington, said an aim of the group was to help foster a good society as a way forward for the country.

"We feel that it's important that we support this country through family, and all that entails," Mr Woodnutt said.

He said the group, which was a Pentecostal group within the Catholic Church, wanted a place where young people could be brought up in safety and in peace.

Bystander Ian Napier, of Richmond, who was among a group of motorcyclists watching the vigil at the Church Steps, said they were among the "Joe Public" who would share similar views to those in the protest march.

"Some of us would support some of their views, but maybe not all," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News