Green’s policies may be environmentally friendly but are certainly not respectful of human life

The Editor,

NZ Catholic.

Dear Peter

Greens Hidden Agenda

In reply to Roger Bolton, 12 February. The Green Party is commended for some excellent social justice and environmental policies.  Metiria Turei, co- leader of the Green  Party, gave a speech in Parliament on 7 December 2005 on the Marriage [Gender Clarification] Amendment Bill’s first reading. The purpose of this Bill was to establish in law that marriage was exclusively for one man and one woman. Ms Turei is recorded in Hansard as having said; ”The Green Party is opposed to this Bill and will vote against it as a party. Our Party policy requires us to support the extension of all legal partnership arrangements and rights to same –sex couples as are afforded heterosexual couples. That includes not just eligibility in relation to parenting, for example, but also marriage.” The six Green MPs supported same sex marriage and voted against the Bill.

In 2003 the nine  Greens MPs voted for the Prostitution Reform Bill. In July 2003 the eight  Green MPs voted for the first reading of the euthanasia Bill, Death with Dignity, with one voting against. The Green Party supports the killing of unborn children;  Its public policy states;  “that it will review abortion services to ensure equity of access for women throughout New Zealand.” Ms Turia in a written response to the pre-election questionnaire of Family First stated that she was opposed to policies that promote marriage, opposed to the right to life of the unborn child, opposed to informed consent for women seeking abortion, opposed to parental consent for teen pregnancies and opposed to abstinence and parental based sex education.

The Green Party Population policy places humanity as subservient to the environment. A key principle is that;  ” the population cannot be increased beyond its capacity to offset its greenhouse gas emissions.” The Church teaches that support for abortion, euthanasia and same sex marriage are intrinsically evil. It is  disappointing that the Green Party takes positions on these issues that are contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church and which promote a culture of death. These issues are non- negotiable and Catholics with an informed conscience may not support or vote for candidates for public office who hold positions that are contrary to the Church’s teaching.

Yours sincerely

Ken Orr

5 Mascot Place,

Christchurch 8061.