Dream that dream and keep following that star – Epiphany and the Treaty.

I have been asked to clarify a statement made in one of our earlier publications in which I claimed our forefather, Bishop Jean Baptiste Francois Pompallier (Frenchman and Catholic) supported the signing of the Treaty between the British Empire and the Māori Chiefdom (Tino Rangatiratanga) before, during and after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi | Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840.

In explanation, I draw a correlation between the close of Christmas with the Feast of the Epiphany celebrated today, and the close of submissions for the Treaty Principles Bill tomorrow midnight (get your submissions in!).

Let me explain, it all goes back to wisdom, freedom, and peace.

As I sat listening to a sermon given by our local priest on the Epiphany this past Sunday, it occurred to me that, although some are learned in the ways of our faith, others are not, and quite possibly what was said during his homily would not have the intended impact it should, because sadly many would not understand the importance of his message.

To paraphrase his verbal homily, our priest said something along the lines of “in our own histories, we need only look a few generations back in our family tree to find a relative who was a pagan. Paganism literally translates to mean the religion of the land. Those who weren’t Christian (yet) were most likely pagans” that is, those who believe in the gods of their lands. He went further to state that Christianity often came with colonisation, especially within the Commonwealth nations such as ours, and the good and bad of both occurrences [Christianity and colonisation].

Our readings this past Sunday were Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 71 (72): 1-2, 7-8,10-13, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 and the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12 – which unfold the narrative of the Magi: wise men, Kings, and pagans, who follow a star to find the predestined “infant King of the Jews” and pay homage to a King and religion they will never live to see let alone share, but they recognise the significance of the birth of Jesus in a history yet to come.

To be completely convinced of something that has not yet happened, to leave your homeland, safety and everything you hold dear to follow that belief – is alone a phenomenal act of courage and faith, but to also be vindicated in that belief, must be a feeling beyond an expressible emotion.

The same could be said for our Bishop Pompallier, who left his homeland, safety, security and family wealth to take up the call to be the first Catholic Bishop in a land in the grips of colonisation, migration, conflict and religious tension (indigenous, colonist, Christian and pagan alike).

Which is where the ‘fourth wise man’ and ‘fourth article’ of the Treaty now comes into play.

To quote another:

‘Although they were convinced it was much better to be Protestant or Anglican than to be Roman Catholic, more significantly they resented the positive impact Pompallier and his band of priests and brothers had as they moved among the Māori. Especially, they resented the impact of the Roman missionaries among those already influenced by the Anglicans and Wesleyans. Imagine their great annoyance when, on the eve of the Treaty signing, they got wind that Pompallier had been meeting with Hobson and those drafting the Treaty. Alarmed, they tried to pull things back their way, but the deed was done. Pompallier had already left his mark.’[1]

This mark would historically be known as the ‘fourth article’ for the provision of religious freedom written into the version of Te Tiriti signed at Waitangi in 1840. This meant that Māori custom – ‘Maoritanga’ would share the same protections and respect as Catholicism and Christianity within Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Whatever Bishop Pompallier’s motives in 1840, we can now over 184 years later, on this Feast of the Epiphany, and the eve of the Treaty Principles Bill submissions, cast Bishop Pompallier as the ‘fourth wise man’ – a man who could envision a future where:

‘This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel.’ (Eph 3:5)

Tangata Whenua, Tangata Te Tiriti, Tau Iwi, Hāhi Katorika – we are all the same body, with the same inheritance, in the same land.

I hope this clarifies not only our position on the Treaty Principles Bill, but Pompallier’s vision in his wisdom for a future of freedom and peace still relevant today.

Keep informed. Make your submission.

Seek peace.

– Kathleen.

[1] Fr Mark Blain. The Controversial ‘fourth article’: An Anglo-Catholic Priest Discusses the Provision for Religious Freedom. The Church & The Treaty: NZ Catholic Special Edition. February 5, 2006.