Media Release 6th August 2017
The appointment of Jacinda Ardern as the new leader of the Labour Party has been the subject of much media coverage. While Ardern is being presented as the fresh new face of Labour leadership we should also be aware that if she is elected as our Prime Minister, then this will result in a significant threat to vulnerable members of our community. A society can be judged according to how it treats the most vulnerable. If we use this as a criterion then Jacinda Ardern gaining power would be very bad news indeed.
A nation that kills its own children is a nation without a future
On Friday 4th August the Dominion Post featured an article in which journalist Hendry Cook asked Jacinda Ardern the following question: “What is your stance on the current abortion laws?” Her reply is extremely revealing: “I am on record on this one – I feel very strongly that abortion needs to be removed from the Crimes Act, and our current legislation is due for review.” Such a statement by one who stands as a possible leader of New Zealand is disturbing.
Like many young pro-abortion feminists who see abortion on demand as a non-negotiable, Ardern grew up in the decades following the passing of New Zealand’s Contraception, Sterilization and Abortion Act in 1977. During her youth, abortion rates were at their highest level and she was exposed to the lie that abortion was all about disposing of the ‘products of conception’ and a human right. This view has been proselytised around the world by forces hostile to life. Such a stance has the embedded assumption that the rights of a women to abort the growing human within her, trumps the child’s right to life.
Ardern has now in fact become the de facto spokesperson for the Abortion Law Reform Association and New Zealand Family Planning. These strong abortion advocates, have been feeding the public misinformation about our abortion laws criminalising women. This is a lie, as it is the abortionist who is liable for prosecution under the Crimes Act. Right to Life believes that it is ALRANZ who is behind an online petition currently mustering support for decriminalisation.
Under Andrew Little, Labour’s official policy with regard to abortion was that if elected, a Labour government would refer the matter to the Law Commission for review and recommendations. However now that Ardern has become leader, she has committed Labour to a policy of decriminalization. Right to Life must point out that this is the official policy of the Green’s party too. A Labour/Greens government would spell the death-knell for more of our unborn children at a time when their humanity has never been more un-contested. Not only would the 20 week gestation cut go, (allowing open slather on the unborn child right up until birth), but it would see abortion allowed for any reason or for that matter, for no reason at all. Is that what we want for New Zealand? The hypocrisy of Labour and the Greens is glaringly obvious. Purporting to care about the marginalised and the weak, both parties are in effect, denying the human rights of those who cannot defend themselves.
Decriminalisation would see abortion numbers going back up at a time when they have been steadily dropping. This would be a denial of the humanity of the unborn child and its human rights. The foundational right, being an inalienable right to life. The child would become the property of the mother. Again we have to ask; is this the future New Zealanders want, a future that for many, denies any future at all.
Not only is Labour under Ardern a threat to the unborn; both they and the Greens are campaigning on a policy that threatens life at the other end of the spectrum too. They also support the decriminalization of Euthanasia, which would allow doctors to kill their patients or assist in their suicide. This would unquestionably put the elderly, the disabled and the unwell at risk. We are increasingly seeing abuses in overseas jurisdictions who have gone down this dark path. The myth of safeguards in any proposed legislation has been clearly exposed.
Right to Life believes that respect for life is the major issue of this election. The economy, health, housing and education policies may come and go, but once we as a country, legislates for killing as a solution to a perceived problem, then there will is no turning back. Abortion and euthanasia are in fact intrinsic evils and we have a duty to not vote for any political party or candidate who support(s) such evils. Under a Jacinda Ardern led government, the Labour party and the Greens would constitute the most anti-life government New Zealand has ever seen.
The Labour party was founded to protect the family and the right to life of every member of the community. The great Labour Prime Ministers of the past, Michael Joseph Savage, Peter Fraser, Walter Nash, and David Lange all promoted a culture of life and opposed the killing of the vulnerable. It is a tragedy for New Zealand that Jacinda Ardern is at best, unwittingly promoting a culture of death.
Right to Life believes that it is untenable for anyone who supports a culture of life to vote for Jacinda Ardern as our Prime Minister. We call on all those who hold a pro-life ethic, to ensure that they vote for a party that has a pro-life stance.
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life
Related
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/u.n.-to-exclude-the-unborn-from-the-right-to-life
However, what about the other side of politics? Bill English is certainly a strong voice for the sanctity of life at present, but (a) he has also ruled out taking positive steps against abortion while in office and (b) his likely successors, Stephen Joyce and Paula Bennett, are pro-abortion and pro-euthanasia. Added to which, Mr English has stated that National will retain ACT as a coalition partner- ACT, whose leader David Seymour is the chief advocate of the End of Life Choices Bill which we are striving so earnestly to defeat at present. While I find Ms Ardern’s stance on euthanasia deplorable, it is notable that neither she, nor her predecessor, Andrew Little, is doing anything to restrain Labour MPs or broader party members from opposing what is, after all, a conscience vote and a private members bill. It is because of this that we need to praise any politician on either side of the House who stands unreservedly opposed to the brutal juggernaut of euthanasia liberalisation that threatens the elderly, poor and disabled in New Zealand and elsewhere.
Good points
Perhaps an article on tactical voting during the current election wouldn’t go amiss?
All abortion is terrible. Do we currently have access in NZ to late term abortion? The late and full term abortion in the USA is really abhorrent. I hope we don’t have it happening here covertly. I certainly don’t want to see it become easily available.
Hi John,
Unfortunately yes we do. As you can see the number of late term abortions is significant. We hate to think about the torture and agony that these little ones went through as they were ripped apart in their mother’s wombs. Try Googling, ‘picture of unborn child at 12 weeks’.
Here are the latest Statistics from Statistics NZ
Induced Abortions by Duration of Pregnancy
December Year 2016
Duration of Pregnancy (weeks) Number
Total 12,823
5 or under 144
6 626
7 1,663
8 2,452
9 2,444
10 1,808
11 1,315
12 1,058
13 512
14 214
15 163
16 115
17 111
18 75
19 36
20 11
21 16
22 22
23 11
24 11
25 and over 16
Source: Stats NZ
You say – ” Not only would the 20 week gestation cut go, (allowing open slather on the unborn child right up until birth), but it would see abortion allowed for any reason or for that matter, for no reason at all. Is that what we want for New Zealand? ”
Where and when did she say she supported abortions up to full term? Show me. You are telling lies