New Zealand Pro-Life Group Wants Stronger Anglican Church Abortion Stance

International   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 21, 2007   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

New Zealand Pro-Life Group Wants Stronger Anglican Church Abortion Stance Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 21,
2007

Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) — The leading pro-life organization in New Zealand is calling on the Anglican Church there to take a stronger stance against abortion. Right to Life of New Zealand says is disappointed that the Anglican Bishops declined to make a public statement in defense of unborn children.

In September, Right to Life wrote to the Anglican Bishop’s Conference and three other major denominations encouraging them to make a public statement against abortion.

The statements are important because the island nation marks 30 years of legalized abortion next month. Lawmakers there approved the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act in 1977.

In a letter to the pro-life group, Anglican Church officials said the Archbishops "believe strongly in the sanctity of life and that the Church has well developed pastoral ethics in this area."

However, the official added that, "They would however prefer to communicate those ethics in our own Churches and in our own ways and not through media statements."

Right to Life told LifeNews.com that "Abortion entails the violent killing of God’s precious infants; it constitutes a grave offense to God who is the author of life."

"It inflicts serious spiritual damage on vulnerable women who are the second victims of abortion. We should recognize that every child is a unique an unrepeatable miracle of God’s loving creation," the group added.

As a result, "Churches have a serious duty to God the Creator of life to speak up loudly in the public square in defense of the right to life of God’s precious infants" the group said.

The group said the church’s failure to speak up against abortion leaves the impression nationwide that New Zealand’s Anglican leaders condone the 350,000 abortions that have taken place there.

New Zealand Right to Life also said it was disappointed that the Anglican bishops sent pres statements out in September in opposition to the current imprisonment and planned deportation of Ali Panah, an Iranian Christian.

"This is an important justice issue, however it does not compare with the murder of innocent children," the group argues.

"Right to Life urges the Anglican Bishops to reconsider their decision not to speak up publicly," the pro-life organization concluded. "They should become the champions of unborn children, who are the weakest and most defenseless members of our human family."