Right to Life New Zealand

Upholding the sanctity of Human life and Standing Up for the Vulnerable

Right to Life Applauds US Senate Confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett

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Media Release 28 October 2020

Right to Life commends the United States Senate for confirming the appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, this is a victory for women.

Justice Barrett is the fifth woman to have been appointed to the Supreme Court in its 231 year history. Her credentials are impeccable, were unquestioned and unchallenged. She taught law at the Notre Dame university as a professor and served three years as a distinguished Federal Appeal Court Judge in Chicago.

Barrett is now the sixth practicing Catholic justice at the Supreme court, joining Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, and Brett Kavanaugh. In addition, Justice Barrett will join Sotomayor as the only two Catholic female Supreme Court Justices in US history.

The appointment of Justice Barrett is a victory for women. She is an iconic model for women, providing an outstanding example of a woman fulfilling her role as a loving wife, mother of seven children and as a member of the legal profession attaining the pinnacle of her profession as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She has achieved this because of the loving support of her husband Jesse. They have been married for 21 years and are raising seven children, two being adopted from Haiti. During the Senate hearing she humbly stated,”What greater thing can you do then raise children.”

At her confirmation she swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States and stated,

“A judge declares independence not only from Congress and the President, but also from the private beliefs that might otherwise move her. …… My fellow Americans, even though we judges don’t face elections, we still work for you.”

Fr. John Jenkins, CSC, president of Notre Dame university said this of her in a statement:

“Recognised by experts from across the spectrum of judicial philosophies as a superb legal scholar and judge, she is an esteemed colleague and a teacher revered by her students. Justice Barrett becomes the first alumna of Notre Dame Law School and the first Notre Dame faculty member to be so honoured.”

In Justice Barrett the United States Supreme Court has an outstanding member who believes in the sanctity of life of every human being from conception to natural death and also believes in marriage of exclusively one man and one woman.

Ken Orr

Spokesperson

Right to Life N.Z. Inc.

Why is the Labour government opposed to the traditional family?

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Media Release 13 October 2020

The government should recognise that the family does not exist for society or the state, but society and the state exist for the family.

It should be of great concern to all New Zealand families that the government is seeking to suppress Family First’s outstanding advocacy for the traditional family and its opposition to abortion and euthanasia.

The Attorney General, (the Hon. David Parker, pictured), acting for the government, has appealed to the Supreme Court against the recent decision of the Court of Appeal to uphold its charity status withdrawn by the Charities Commission and upheld by the High Court in August 2018. 

The traditional family is one of the three pillars of authority outside the state, along with the Church and civic organisations, to defend human rights and democracy.

Right to Life believes that this appeal to the Supreme Court is not just about the charity status of Family First but about the government’s perception of the traditional family as being a threat to the government and to society. The government is opposed to the advocacy of Family First for the traditional family and its opposition to abortion and euthanasia.

In 2018 Right to Life requested the Prime Minister under the Official Information Act,”do you have policies that recognise that the promotion of marriage as  exclusively of one man and one woman as the source of the next generation and the foundation of a healthy society?” The reply from the office of the Prime Minister was to refuse the request as there were no such policies.

This case exposes and highlights the government’s rejection of the traditional family of exclusively one man and one woman as being of public benefit. The Attorney General’s submission to the Court of Appeal argued that:-

“Family First’s contention that its activities benefit all forms of families cannot be sustained on the evidence. He submits that Family First has not established that its principal purpose, advocacy on behalf of the traditional family, is of public benefit or is sufficiently analogous to any purpose previously accepted as charitable.”

Counsel for the Charities Board submitted that the, “Trust’s main purpose is to promote points of view about family life, the promotion of which is a political purpose because the points of view do not have a public benefit that is self-evident as a matter of law.”

Key Statements from the Court of Appeal Judgement, which is now being appealed by the Charities Board :-

Para 73: “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other similar instruments, affirm a right to family life. That provides considerable support for the proposition that Family First’s support of, education about, and advocacy for, the family and its related institution of marriage may, other things being equal, be charitable.”

Para 92: “[As] Paul Rishworth QC has observed: “Our political systems depend upon our deliberating as a community. Our understanding of the world comes by seeking information and transmitting it to others.”Para 109: “

An examination of this material, set in the context of advancement of education and research, shows Family First’s clear purpose of stimulating a public debate and participating in public discourse on important social issues relevant to families.”

Para 122: “Such research is valuable in promoting public knowledge about marriage and families and the many issues that affect the family. Public discussion and debate about such important issues is desirable to encourage the development of related policies and laws.”

Para 164/165: “We consider Family First’s engagement in the deliberations of the community on issues such as abortion, assisted death, anti-smacking laws, prostitution reform and censorship is properly characterised as part of its broader purpose of supporting marriage and family as being foundational to a strong and enduring society. Any attempt to label such engagement generally as cause advocacy of a political nature is not helpful.”

In fact, society “has a vested interest in supporting marriage as the surest basis for family life,” the statement affirms. It says, “Politicians of all parties should recognize and support marriage as a key building block of a stable society.” For, “marriage brings considerable and measurable benefits to individuals, children, family life and society.”

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life

Authorised by Paul Ives, 22C McBratneys Road, Christchurch

Is Jacinda Ardern a good role model for our children?

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 The Prime Minister, who has many fine qualities, is giving our children the message that traditional marriage exclusively between one woman and one man does not matter and that it is acceptable to deliberately have children outside of wedlock.

The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is asking us to elect her to lead our nation for another three years. It is a great privilege to be chosen to lead our nation. The person who is chosen to lead should be a role model for our children and grandchildren. Those who govern do so with the permission of the governed.

It is a matter of great concern for many in our community that the Prime Minister is giving a message to our children that a marriage exclusively between one man and one woman does not matter. This is an anti-feminist message that is harmful to women, men and children.

The natural family of exclusively – one man and one woman, is the foundation of a strong and healthy society. Where the natural family goes, so does society. It is imperative that those who wish to have our permission to govern us recognize that the state is at the service of the natural family. At this moment in history the natural family of exclusively one man and one woman is the object of numerous forces seeking to destroy it. The future of our nation and the well-being of society are intimately tied to the good of the family.

A government orientated toward public welfare and responsible parents, owe it to the next generation to prepare them for natural marriage exclusively between one woman and one man as a family. The electorate has a right and a duty to ensure that they elect only those who are going to defend and promote the natural family and be role models for our children and grandchildren.

New Zealand has a birth rate of 1.879. The replacement birth rate is 2.1. Right to Life  wrote to the Prime Minister on 1st March 2018 asking under the Official Information Act if she supports the natural family and is concerned at our below replacement. The Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Mike Munro, refused our request on the grounds that the information did not exist. Do we want a Prime Minister who does not support the natural family and is unconcerned that our nation is committing demographic suicide?

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life

Authorised by Paul Ives, 22C McBrattneys Rd, Dallington, Christchurch 8061

Prime Minister Should Not Condone Adultery

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Media Release 28 July 2020

Right to Life is concerned at the statement reported in the NZ Herald of the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, that a Cabinet Minister having an affair is not necessarily inappropriate.

Right to Life believes that having an affair or committing adultery is always morally reprehensible, offensive and inappropriate. It gives offence to our Creator by violating the sixth commandment of God, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” It damages the persons committing adultery , violates the marriage contract to be faithful to your spouse, gives offence to the spouse and gives scandal to the community.

Those who govern, do so with the permission of the governed. The community has an absolute right to expect that those who sit in our Parliament or in government are persons of the highest integrity and moral rectitude.

We should have compassion for those who fall from grace, for there but for the grace of God goes myself.

The Prime Minister has no authority to challenge and re-interpret the commandments of God. As the architect of the anti-life Abortion Legislation Act, she and her government have challenged God recently by reinterpreting the fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.”

They have done this by declaring that the unborn child is not a human being, does not have a right to life and that it is no longer a crime to kill an unborn baby.

Right to Life believes that the community has a right to expect the Prime Minister to be a role model in her own personal life and to expect and demand the highest integrity from her Ministers and members of her caucus.

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life

Parliamentary Population and Development Group Ignores Population Crisis

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Media Release 20 July 2020

Since the introduction of the contraceptive pill into New Zealand in 1961 the government has been unwittingly funding a war on women, children and the family.

Wednesday 11 July was World Population Day which focused on the importance of population issues. To mark the day the New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development (NZPPD) issued a media release to draw attention to the human rights linked to sexual and reproductive health. Right to Life questions the NZPPD’s focus on sexual and reproductive health which includes the promotion of contraception, sterilisation, abortion and sex education.

 It is disappointing that the NZPPD does not recognise that contraception, sterilisation and abortion represent violence against women. A genuine feminist position that supports the dignity and human rights of women would be seeking to protect women from this culture of violence and death.

 The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern supports the war on women with contraception, sterilisation and abortion. She was the architect of the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 which makes it no longer a crime to kill an unborn baby. In response to an Official Information Act request from Right to Life, she advised that she had no policy to support a birth rate of 2.1 or to promote marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman. 

Contraception. sterilisation and abortion will not make women free but slaves to men who refuse to honour the dignity of women who are called by our Creator to co-operate with Him in creating new life. 

Women have an absolute right to decide if and when they wish to become pregnant. Why is it in the interest of women to take powerful drugs which simulate a permanent pregnancy in the body in order that they are available to men?

Contraception is a serious threat to the future of this nation. The governments continued promotion and funding of contraception is contributing to the destruction of our community. It is disappointing that the NZPPD does not recognise that New Zealand is facing a demographic crisis. Our birth rate is a catastrophic 1.89  and has been in decline since 1960. In 1959 our birth rate was a commendable 4.026. We believe that It was the introduction of the contraceptive pill in 1961 which was the cause of the birth rate dramatically declining to 2.055 in 1981 to below replacement level. This is a population crisis, why is the NZPPD, Parliament and the government not concerned?

Contributing to the population crisis is the dramatic decline in traditional marriages which are exclusively between one woman and one man. Our marriage rate at 9.8 per 1,000 persons over the age of 16 in 2019 was the lowest since 1960, the peak was 45.5 in 1971. Contraception has adversely affected marriage as men can now have ready access to women without the need to make a permanent commitment to women in marriage.

There is a correlation between a decline in marriage rates and an impact on children and families. A reduction  in marriage rates could have a negative social impact on children with an increase in child poverty and abuse. Why is the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction not concerned?

If the government is really serious about population issues why is it not addressing the crisis that confronts us?

Ken Orr,

Spokesperson,

Right to Life

Authorised by Paul Ives, 22C McBrattneys Rd, Dallington, Christchurch 8061


 

High Court Rejects Traditional Family as Public Benefit

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Media Release 12 September 2018

Right to Life deplores the judgment of Justice Simon France in the High Court in Wellington on 31 August 2018. The judgment declared that the Charities Board was correct in cancelling the charity status of Family First, it is incoherent and unjust. Justice Simon France stated; “Its core purpose of promoting the traditional family unit cannot be shown to be in the public benefit in the charitable sense under the Act.”

 The High Court and the Charities Board are inferring that all forms of family are equal.  The traditional family of exclusively one woman and one man has been accepted by mankind since the beginning of time as the foundation stone of a healthy society. New Zealand was founded on the traditional family. Those who planned and organised the colonisation of New Zealand carefully selected traditional families to be the foundation of  this new nation.

The claim of the Charities Board and the High Court that the traditional family is not the foundation stone for a healthy society is outrageous and an insult to every traditional family in New Zealand. It is the traditional family that gives security to women and to children. In marriage a man makes a public commitment to protect the mother of his children and to provide for his wife and children. The Judge has failed to explain why the traditional family does not serve society nor has he presented another form of family which is now superior or even equal. Now is the time for the traditional families of New Zealand to protest at this attack on the family.

Those citizens who are concerned for the future of New Zealand should be aware that there is an organised international campaign by the population controllers at the United Nations and in the European Union to promote the LGBTQ agenda with the objective of destroying the traditional family.

Right to Life fully supports and applauds Family First’s intention to appeal this shocking judgment to the Court of Appeal and encourages every citizen to support this appeal on behalf of the traditional families of New Zealand.

Right to Life calls upon the Labour led government to uphold its policy included in the Labour Party Manifesto in 2017. “Labour will ensure that community and voluntary organisations can engage in advocacy without fear of losing government contracts or their charitable status.”

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life

Family Planning’s war against women exposed

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Family Planning have decreed in recent advice to journalists, editors and media outlets that an unborn child should never be referred to as an unborn baby or child. In the first ten weeks of gestation it should be referred to as an embryo. From ten weeks to birth it should be referred to as a fetus. 

Family Planning [FPA] claims that “the term unborn child is a recent anti-abortion invention and a contradiction in terms. It claims that the unborn child does not become a baby until it is born and that human rights begin only at birth.” It is implicitly denying that the child has a right to be born. The FPA reveals that it is the enemy of women in denying the dignity of women, motherhood and the status of the unborn child as a human being, a person and a member of our human family.

The FPA is at the forefront of the anti -feminist movement in New Zealand. It is incredible that the FPA are in denial about the humanity of the unborn child. Never before in the history of mankind have we with the aid of three dimensional scans been able to witness and marvel with awe at the miracle of God’s creation unfolding in the womb.

Why does the FPA have family in their name when they are the enemy of the natural family? 

To promote the killing of the unborn child as a reproductive health service the FPA are committed to promoting the falsehood that the child is a clump of cells and not a human being.

Language is important and Family Planning is using language to dehumanise the unborn, to undermine the status of women and to denigrate the pro-family and pro-life movement. The FPA is denying that human life begins at conception and that the child is endowed at conception with human rights, the foundation right being an inalienable right to life.

The FPA decrees that the terms pro-life, pro-family and pro-abortion should never be used. The terms that the FPA are promoting are anti-abortion, anti-choice and abortion right’s advocates.The FPA also warns that a pregnant woman should never be called a mother or parent.

The FPA claim that the woman has a right to life and health and that the unborn child has no rights. The FPA support sex selection abortions and the killing of children with a disability. The FPA claim that it is wrong to use the term female feticide and”abort disabled children.” The FPA claims that “the right to life and discrimination on grounds of sex or disability apply only after birth”. The FPA claims that the unborn child has no rights therefore it is not possible to discriminate against the child.

Right to Life is campaigning for the government defunding of the FPA and its exclusion from our nation’s schools. They promote a false sexuality which separates sexual intercourse from pro-creation and promiscuity which results in teen age pregnancies, STIs and abortions as a back up for failed contraceptives. The FPA does not promote chastity nor does it promote the natural family of exclusively one man and one women.

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life

Jacinda Ardern Government – A Threat to Family, Women and the Unborn

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Image result for jacinda ardernMedia Release 19th October 2017

Right to Life warns that we now have a government whose social and moral agenda represents a clear threat to the natural order of our society.

That natural order on which a health society is built, rests on a foundation comprising the natural family of exclusively one woman and one man. That foundation is under even greater threat with a new leader whose social agenda includes further deconstruction of time-honoured norms.

It is 75 years since New Zealand had a Prime Minister who was not married and that was Michael Joseph Savage. A Prime Minister because of their position of leader of our nation is a role model. It is therefore of concern that Ardern chooses to co-habitat with a man who is not her husband.  This sets a very bad example and gives entirely the wrong message to our children and grand-children, that marriage is not necessary. Now that she will be representing New Zealand on the international stage her domestic arrangement will reflect badly on New Zealand’s reputation. [Read more…]

Charities Board Proclaims – ‘Traditional Family Does Not Provide a Benefit to Society’

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Image result for natural familyMedia Release 27th August 2017

The Government’s Charities Board has advised Family First that the Board intends to deregister the Society as a charity. The Board believes in relation to Family First that, “it has an independent purpose to promote and protect the traditional family- and this is not charitable. Family First does not advance religion or education, nor promote a benefit to all New Zealanders, its opinions are fairly described as controversial in contemporary NZ society.”

This is an appalling decision that is both unjust and destructive for society. The state is at the service of the natural family. The natural family is an institution that our Creator in His infinite wisdom and love for mankind has devised for the happiness of man and for the pro-creation of the human race. It is in the union of exclusively one man and one woman that our Creator invites man to cooperate with Him in the birth and nurturing of the next generation. Marriage of exclusively one man and one woman predates the state. Mankind from the dawn of creation has known that the natural family is the foundation of a healthy society. History is resplendent with the wreckage and destruction of societies that have challenged this fundamental truth.

The natural family of exclusively one man and one woman is the foundation of a healthy society. It is the natural family that produces the next generation to ensure that our nation does not perish. New Zealand was founded by courageous and industrious families who colonized and developed this land.  New Zealand is fortunate to have Family First speaking up in defense of the natural family. They deserve the full support of our community. New Zealand has a birth rate of 1.85, the replacement level is 2.1. We have a present and growing demographic crisis. Our natural families desperately need protection and promotion and the support of the government and the Charities Board.

As the Minister is responsible for appointing the three members of the Charities Board, the government must ultimately accept responsibility for the Charities Board’s attack on Family First.

Right to Life wrote to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector the Hon Alfred Ngaro, on 6th June, expressing our concern at the proposal of the Charities Board to deregister Family First,. We also requested that in making future appointments to the Board that the Minister appoint only persons who recognize the importance of the natural family, as the foundation of our nation and who are prepared to defend and promote the natural family. The Minister responded on 19th June stating,” I have confidence that the current Board has the range of knowledge and experience and is fulfilling its role as set out in the Act.”

This confidence is clearly misplaced. The Minister is married and has four children. The Minister should reflect that the Board is effectively saying to the Minister that your marriage is not providing a benefit to society and that your natural family is controversial in today’s society. Family First is challenging the unjust decision of the Charities Board in the High Court. 

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life

Why is Jacinda Ardern refusing to defend and promote the Natural Family?

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Image result for jacinda ardernMedia Release 12th August 2017

Right to Life considers that the election of Jacinda Ardern as our Prime Minister would constitute a threat to the natural family of exclusively one woman and one man.

A government orientated toward public welfare and responsible parents, owe it to the next generation to prepare them for natural marriage exclusively between one woman and one man as a family. The electorate has a right and a duty to ensure that they elect only those who are going to defend and promote the natural family and be role models for our children and grandchildren. It is therefore disappointing that Jacinda Ardern  is openly cohabitating with a man who is not her husband. Is this the example that we want for our children and grandchildren?

The natural family of exclusively one man and one woman is the foundation of a strong and healthy society. Where the natural family goes, so does society. It is imperative that those who wish to have our permission to govern us recognize that the state is at the service of the natural family. At this moment in history the natural family of exclusively one man and one woman is the object of numerous forces seeking to destroy it. The future of our nation and the well-being of society are intimately tied to the good of the family. [Read more…]

This is the website of Right to Life NZ Inc.
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