'SAFE' AREAS DEADLY FOR BABIES COMING TO A HOSPITAL NEAR YOU

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Police seemingly cede to protestors who now control access to Parliament grounds

While we're all enthusing over the takeover of Parliament grounds by freedom fighters, the 'Safe Areas' Amendment Bill - which would make public footpaths around abortion mills deadly for the unborn and criminalise those who support their right to life - has passed its second reading.

108 - 12. What does that vote tell you about our MPs? That they're pretty representative of their electors, that's what.

The right to life is the cornerstone of democracy but we took it away when we legalised abortion in 1975. So what did we expect? The loss of freedoms being rightly protested now at Parliament grounds has followed the loss of 500,000 unborn babies, their lives, careers, children and grandchildren, just as naturally as night follows day.

Some of the MPs who voted yesterday to stop pro-lifers offering mothers an alternative to murdering the child in their womb were political activists themselves in their day, exercising their right to free speech and protest in order to get themselves noticed and a seat in Parliament. They now deny that right to altruistic Kiwis who offer their time, prayer, practical advice and moral support to pregnant women.

Trevor Mallard and Chris Hipkins were arrested, back in the day, for protest activity. No surprise to hear that Attack Dog Mallard's been in trouble with the law - but Head Prefect Hipkins? Who'd have thunk it? Was he wearing his old school tie at the time?

Not in this pic, but back in the day Chris Hipkins was among those arrested 

For future reference, here are the names of the pitifully few who voted against the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill:

Harete Hipango Simeon Brown Simon O’Connor Chris Penk Penny Simmonds Louise Upston Michael Woodhouse Melissa Lee Maureen Pugh Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki Jamie Strange Neru Leavasa Please note that before he became National's leader, Christopher Luxon, a self-proclaimed Christian, opposed this Bill. But he's not included in the roll of honour above. That tells us something about National Party philosophy, does it not?  You can't follow Christ by opposing the right to defend His little ones in the public square (or footpath)..The Defenders Dozen deserve congratulations and encouragement for their stand with regard to any further debate and for amendments to be proposed and voted on.  The next sitting may be Wednesday 23 February, after which it has its third and final reading. Michelle Kaufmann of Family Life International says "It is quite reasonable to expect that the Bill will become law within the next few weeks, prior to the upcoming 40 Days for Life vigil. "As mentioned previously, it appears that the Committee members did not intend the law to reach so far as to prohibit people praying silently within a so-called “Safe Area”.  However, this point is ambiguous within the legislation and does need to be clarified. "Former abortion workers in the United States have stated that up to 75% of women booked for an abortion will not show for their appointment when there is a peaceful, prayerful presence outside.  Even if that number is smaller here in New Zealand, it still means that lives are saved without us even knowing (read about one such saved here).  "The abortion lobby is afraid of us – because we offer pregnant women real choice.  And we do it in the most loving way possible.Sacrificing your time to be present outside abortion centres is an act of love and mercy. Here’s what you can do: Contact your local MP and respectfully ask that they change their vote on the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill in the third reading.  It is an attack on the freedom to gather. It is an attack on the freedom of religion (it is a spiritual and corporal act of mercy to be present outside an abortion facility). It is an attack on the freedom of expression. This is not a situation where these freedoms can be limited in a free and democratic society, for if someone was to truly breach civilised behaviour, the law already allows for them to be dealt with by the Police. Follow this link to Parliament for contact details.   Sign up to pray outside abortion facilities in Auckland and Wellington this Lent.  The vigils will go ahead even if the law changes.  Be assured that we will not ask you to do anything unlawful.  Depending on the final outcome, this may mean that the vigil site will be moved down the road from the abortion place. Please let us know when you are available to be a peaceful, prayerful presence on the street.  This helps us ensure that every hour is covered and that no one is left alone. Auckland:  Monday to Saturday 7am to 1pm with extended hours on Wednesdays 7am to 7pm Contact:  Simon Archer 021 400 729 or simon@fli.org.nz Wellington: Monday to Friday 7am to 1pm and Saturday 8am to 12pm Contact:  Maria Hammond 027 354 7367 or mariahammond@hotmail.com Not a lot of harassment going on here ...       Join in the 40 Days for Life vigil from home. No matter where you live you can get involved and pray for an end to abortion.  If you’re in Auckland and Wellington and you’re able to get out and about we encourage you to be physically present at the vigils in Auckland and Wellington.  But that may not be possible for everyone.    If you’re housebound, or unable to be physically present at the vigils, or if you live outside the Auckland and Wellington areas, please fill out this form, we’d love to have you as part of the prayer team!   My dear friend in this great battle to end abortion in our nation.  Prayer is our greatest weapon, for our fight is in the spiritual realm.  Satan is after souls.  He is attempting to destroy God by destroying His precious children, made in his image and likeness.  There is no restriction at this present time that can compare to the pain and suffering endured by the little ones who are so brutally discarded or that of mothers and fathers who carry the burden of a past abortion. Let us do all we can in the coming week to try and change hearts and minds for the sake of the mothers and their babies. In the womb - every year, for 50,000,000 babies the most dangerous place on earth

And Karl du Fresne, veteran journo and right-to-life defender, weighs in: 

... (The Bill) has been promoted on the pretext that vulnerable patients attending abortion clinics risk being intimidated, obstructed and harassed. Yet the Christchurch-based anti-abortion group Right to Life submitted Official Information Requests to 20 district health boards inquiring whether patients or staff had suffered any such harassment or intimidation during the two years from 2019 to 2021, and none reported any.

So the need for “safe areas” has not been demonstrated and the Bill should be seen for what it is: an attempt to shut down legitimate protest against a practice that conservative Christians regard as profoundly wrong, but which is celebrated by the political Left as a defining triumph of feminism.

The Bill is bound to become law because of its overwhelming support from Labour and the Greens, but interest will centre on whether any MPs change their position now that the Bill has been through the select committee process. The vote will be a test of their commitment to the principles not just of free speech but of freedom of assembly and religion.

Seymour wasn’t the only person concerned about the threat to free speech. Even David Parker, who as Attorney-General was statutorily obliged to report to the House on whether the Bill complied with the Bill of Rights Act (BORA), conceded that a clause which would have criminalised the act of “communicating” with abortion patients in a manner likely to cause distress was “overly broad” and appeared inconsistent with BORA.

In its submission opposing the Bill, the Free Speech Union agreed with that conclusion but pointed out to the select committee that the legislation wasn’t necessary in the first place because protection against intimidation or threats is provided under existing law. The Summary Offences Act, for example, makes it an offence to direct insulting or threatening words at another person. There is also a legal prohibition against harassment – a word whose definition, the union said, would be expanded under Wall’s Bill.

... In a spirited defence of the right to dissent, it said: “We are flummoxed by the suggestion that in a democracy, where government is created by people of different interests and beliefs, some ideas are deemed too different or disagreeable to be allowed. This suggestion is antithetical to democracy.”

Regardless of their views on abortion, those who believe in free speech and the associated right to protest should take careful note of how MPs vote. National and ACT MPs, in particular, will be watched to see whether their votes align with their parties’ supposed commitment to freedom. (Hah! - ed).

 

St Bernadette of Lourdes
Feast day February 18 (in France)

 

 "My hope is in you, Lord. Be my refuge, for You are my strength.... Into Your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me, Lord, God of Truth."