Upholding the sanctity of Human life and Standing Up for the Vulnerable
Whistle a branch of HealNZ 24/7 prayer is organising a specific prayer focus on Abortion in NZ. A 40 day session of prayer and fasting is being organised by Sue Rowe and the Whistle team from Hamilton between Friday 10th October to Tuesday 18th November.
The event is to be commenced with a regional Solemn Assembly between 10th to 12th October which will launch the 40 days.
The main reason for the dates are as follows:
Focus on the Family New Zealand will be holding their first All for Life Conference in Nelson this October. Details are given below.
This conference will be held at the Tahuna Beach Function Centre, Nelson, from October 24–26th (Labour Weekend)
Focus on the Family believe that human life is created by God in His image. It is of inestimable worth and significance in all its dimensions, including the pre-born, the aged, those deemed unattractive, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other condition in which humanness is expressed from the single cell stage of development to natural death. Christians are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. So we’d love you to join us for the inaugural All 4 Life Conference
Click on these links for further general information and Guest Speakers at the Conference and for the Conference Programme
15 August 2008
Right to Life New Zealand asks when is the Abortion Supervisory Committee going to fulfil it’s statutory duty to protect the health and welfare of women and to ensure that all abortions are lawful.
The Abortion Supervisory Committee is deliberately ignoring a High Court judgment that put the Committee on notice for failing to fulfil its statutory duties. Justice Miller in the High Court in his judgment on 9 June stated that; “there is reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by certifying consultants. Indeed, the Committee itself has stated that the law is being used more liberally than Parliament intended.” He also stated that “In my opinion, the statistics and the Committee’s comments over the years since the Court of Appeal made that observation do give rise to powerful misgivings about the lawfulness of many abortions. They tend to confirm Dr Christine Forster’s view that New Zealand essentially has abortion on request.” Dr Forster was the chairperson of the Abortion Supervisory Committee.
Click on this link to download the July 2008 issue as a PDF document (1.52 MB)
Crown counsel acting for the Abortion Supervisory Committee has advised that the Committee had lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal.
This appeal is from the judgment of Justice Forrest Miller delivered on 9 June 2008 at the completion of a Judicial Review of the Abortion Supervisory Committee in the High Court in Wellington.
The judgment found that “there is reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by certifying consultants. Indeed the Committee itself has stated that the law is being used more liberally than Parliament intended” Justice Miller stated that ; “In my opinion , the statistics and the Committee’s comments over the years since the Court of Appeal made that observation do give rise to powerful misgivings about the lawfulness of many abortions. They tend to confirm Dr Forster’s view that New Zealand essentially has abortion on request.” The Court held that the Committee does in fact have the power to review and scrutinise the decisions of certifying consultants and to require them to keep records and question them on the use of the mental health ground to authorise 98% of the abortions in New Zealand.
The first duty of the state is to protect the right to life of every citizen from conception to natural death. The Royal Commission on Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion in its report to Parliament in 1977 stated; “The unborn child as one of the weakest, the most vulnerable, and most defenceless forms of humanity, should receive protection.” The Commission heard evidence from around the world and accepted that life begins at conception. The Commission said the right to life is a sacred principle of civilisation.” For this reason the Commission stated; “The child from implantation has a status which entitles it to preservation and protection.” In 1977 the government implemented the recommendations of the Royal Commission by passing the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act [CS &A Act] to regulate the performance of abortion. The Crimes Act was amended to excuse abortions in rare and clearly defined circumstances. It should be recognised that abortion is a serious crime. The Crimes Act, Section 182 Killing of Unborn Child, which was first enacted in 1893, states that it is an offence punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment to cause the death of an unborn child in a manner that would have been murder had the child been born.
"A Woman’s Right to Know" is a downloadable PDF document available to women who are considering an abortion. While it has been produced for woman in the State of Texas, the content is very suitable for NZ woman. The booklet details medical risks of abortion and possible side affects.
Recent Radio New Zealand Podcasts on the Abortion Issue
Radio New Zealand will be featuring an interview with Ken Orr of Right to Life New Zealand, Gordon Copeland of The Kiwi Party and Margaret Sparrow, former prominent abortionist and President of ALRANZ, the Abortion Law Reform Association of NZ. The interview also will involve a woman who regrets an earlier abortion.
The subject of the programme will be 30 Years of Abortion in New Zealand.
The programme will begin on Sunday 29th at 8.12 am and will be repeated on Monday 30th at 9.06 am.
It may be available as a podcast for download following the programme by following this link
Shine TV has featured the recent High Court’s decision on Right to Life New Zealand’s case against the Abortion Supervisory Committee on its currrent affairs programme NZone.
link to You Tube video featuring the programme