Media Release 11 August 2018
Simon Bridges would support a binding referendum on euthanasia over the conscience of National MPs
Right to Life is disappointed that Simon Bridges, leader of the National Party has recently declared that a National led government under his leadership would legalise assisted dying if the public wanted it, expressed through a referendum even though the issue was a conscience issue.
Simon Bridges and all MPs have a duty as legislators to uphold the inalienable right to life of every member of the community from conception to natural death. This right to life is given to us by our Creator at conception, it may not be taken from us nor may we give it up.
Every Member of Parliament has been endowed with a conscience which is the voice of God encouraging us to do good and to avoid evil. Every MP has a duty to follow an informed conscience. Every MP when voting on issues concerning the protection of the right to life may take guidance of the views of constituents but must vote to defend life according to an informed conscience. An MP can never abdicate his responsibility to follow his conscience on life issues by deferring to a referendum.
It is always wrong to kill another innocent human being. The approval of the community, even if supported in a referendum, can never make murder acceptable. Such a referendum is an attempt to seduce and implicate the whole community in the murder of the vulnerable. The most fundamental medical ethic of not killing or helping patients kill themselves, must not be reduced to a public opinion poll.
Right to Life earnestly requests that Simon Bridges rejects his support of a binding referendum and reconfirms his support for the right of Parliamentarians to vote in accordance with their conscience and to vote to defeat any resolution seeking to authorise a binding referendum that seeks to implicate the whole community in the murder of its most vulnerable members. Its advocates claim falsely that it would be democratic to allow every citizen to vote on this life and death issue.
Right to Life believes that in the event of a binding referendum on the issue of the End of Life Choice bill that the correct moral position would be to refuse to participate in a referendum that is morally indefensible.
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life.
Jan says
August 11, 2018 at 10:54 pmOne member of Parliament had a bill drawn which Parliament must reject. Parliament governs under God, the Creator of all life whose command “you shall not kill” is fixed and unchanging. The first duty of Government and the Members of Parliament is to protect the lives of all citizens. Deliberate killing is murder. Every MP is first accountable to God and cannot hand that responsibility to the unelected.
Rhona says
August 12, 2018 at 10:58 amThis is typical of the duplicity of the right when it comes to euthanasia. Let us never forget that it was John Key who established a standing committee to inquire into ‘end of life choices’ and that it is ACT MP David Seymour who is this bills chief sponsor. And now we have Simon Bridges stating that if there was a referendum on euthanasia, he’d ‘respect’ the result?! Disabled people, the elderly, sick and poor will not welcome this abdication of responsibility by the Leader of the Opposition. Can we now expect to hear a bleat of approval from the grossly misnamed “New Conservative” Party that it would somehow be all right if euthansaia were allowed after a manipulative and prejudiced anti-disability referendum camapign?!
Admin says
September 1, 2018 at 8:18 pmIt is pretty clear that both the left and the right have no resepct for the right to life of the unborn and for those at the other end of life’s journey as well.
Jan says
September 1, 2018 at 10:43 pmLike a lotto slave trade. Do they live or die? Let the people decide. And the crowd cried “Barabbas.” And Pilate washed his hands!