In New Zealand, the Southland District Health Board has been unable to find a doctor or nurses at the Southland Hospital to assist in terminating the lives of unborn children at the Hospital. In August, a senior paediatrician, Dr Vili Sotutu, resigned in protest against abortions, but was later re-employed after discussions with hospital authorities. Read more
The Abortion Law Reform Association, Family Planning and Women’s Health Action have formed a coalition calling for abortion to be decriminalised. Last week, for the first time, they marked the world International Day of Action for the Decriminalisation of Abortion on 28 September. However a spokesperson for Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Government has no plans to Read more
An anti abortion club at Auckland University may be disaffiliated after students complained about being harassed by its members. Prolife Auckland was affiliated in 2011 after the removal of an 8 year ban against pro-life clubs. Auckland University Student Association president Arena Williams has called for a special general meeting next month, which could see Read more
Papal Knight Dr John Crowley was buried last Friday after dying peacefully at his Palmerston North home on 13 March. Dr Crowley was well known for his work in promoting Catholic teaching on beginning and end of life issues. He was Founder President of the New Zealand Association of Natural Family Planning, drafter of a Read more
A recently published article argues that since abortion is largely accepted even for reasons that do not have anything to do with the fetus’ health, after-birth abortion’ (killing a newborn) should be permissible in all the cases where abortion is, including cases where the newborn is not disabled because: 1. Both fetuses and newborns do Read more
Health boards have been told their employees must be allowed to refuse to assist with abortions, after a Christchurch Hospital technician says she was called to a disciplinary meeting after refusing to prepare instruments. Ken Orr, spokesman for anti-abortion group Right to Life, said a Christchurch Hospital technician had sought help from the group in Read more
Recently released statistics show 16,630 abortions were performed in New Zealand in 2010; down from 17,550 in 2009. One in five were performed on teenagers 44% were performed after the first nine weeks of pregnancy. For 39% it was not their first abortion The overall rate dropped from 19.2 per thousand women in 2009 to 18.1 in 2010 The highest age-group rate (33 Read more
The media have more or less ignored the Catholic Bishops’ recent press release titled “Euthanasia dangerous threat to society”. Right to Life has applauded the Catholic Bishops for their timely warning and has expressed disappointment that it has not received more publicity. “The Bishops are the spiritual leaders of more than 500,000 baptised Catholics in New Zealand Read more
“Prenatal testing must respect the right to life of the unborn child. At the same time we have to consider the pressure parents are under” says Mr Kleinsman. In 2008 the Bioethics Council (now disbanded) carried out extensive consultation with New Zealanders on the question of prenatal testing. Among the findings released in its report to Read more
“Millions of men and women have experienced abortion loss across the world,” says Vicki Thorn. “When they are ready to heal the wound, the Church needs to be there.” “The faith community needs to be a “prophetic voice” heralding the sanctity of life, as well as a source of comfort for those affected by the Read more