The Methodist Church
The powerful Methodist Church backed the past three coups, but has opposed the 2006 coup.
The Church plays a major role in Fiji politics. Often some politicians appeal to Fijians addressing them as "Christians", even though Hindus are 38% of the population in Fiji, compared with 52% Christians. It was alleged by Commodore Frank Bainimarama that the 2000 Fijian coup d'état that removed the elected PM Mahendra Chaudhry, was supported by many people within Methodist church. The Methodist church leaders supported a subsequent proposal to pardon those involved.
There are some people within the Methodist church that have raised the possibility of declaring Fiji a theocratic Christian state. This has brought Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama, leader of the December 2006 coup, in conflict with the Methodist church in the past.
Read more about this topic: Church Involvement In Fiji Coups
Famous quotes containing the words methodist and/or church:
“When Methodist preachers come down
A-preaching that drinking is sinful,
I’ll wager the rascals a crown
They always preach best with a skinful.”
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730?–1774)
“Seeing their children touched and seared and wounded by race prejudice is one of the heaviest crosses which colored women have to bear.”
—Mary Church Terrell (1863–1954)