News

Monday April 19, 2010


Hundreds Take Part In New Zealand’s First March For Life

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

CHRISTCHURCH, April 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Over 300 people marched in Christchurch on April 10 to highlight the value of all human life, and to speak out against abortion.

The first ever March For Life held in New Zealand focused especially on the application by the pro-abortion Family Planning Association, a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, to the New Zealand Abortion Supervisory Committee for a license to use the chemical abortion drug RU 486 at their Hamilton clinic.

A press release from Prolife New Zealand says that approval of the deadly abortifacient drug would open the door to further destruction of human life in the country, which already has approximately 18,000 pre-born babies killed every year by surgical abortion.

“If they get approval for the Hamilton clinic, the other 29 clinics throughout NZ will be next,” Prolife NZ said.

“As a community we’re working hard to fight child abuse for children that have been born,” said March for Life spokeswoman, Sargia Harrison. “But when are we going to, as a community, speak up for the silent unborn citizens of our country and say – enough with the killing?”

“It is imperative that we all take a strong stand against child abuse, whether it occurs before or after birth. If we place a low value on pre-born babies, then at the end of the day, this attitude will impact on the value we place on all human life. It is a very dangerous way to go.”

“It’s time to stand up for the mothers who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy situation. It’s time for guys in New Zealand to stand up and support their wives, partners and girlfriends. A crisis pregnancy is a really scary thing for so many women, so instead of forcing them into a corner where they feel abortion is the only way out, we need to offer women real alternatives. We want women to be able to make a truly informed decision,” she said.

The inaugural March for Life started in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square following short speeches from a number of Christchurch high school students on the need for the young people of New Zealand to value life and speak up against abortion.

Rallying underneath the Bridge of Remembrance, President of Prolife Canterbury, Lydia Moore, spoke of the Family Planning Association’s application for a license to commit abortions with RU 486, chemically killing pre-born babies up to 9 weeks gestation.

“The Bridge of Remembrance serves as a memorial for us so that we never forget the sacrifice made by New Zealand men and women who fought for our freedom,” said twenty-two-year-old Sargia Harrison. “They sacrificed their lives for us to protect the innocent – why are we turning around and killing New Zealand’s most vulnerable, pre-born citizens?”

“It was great to see so many young people at New Zealand’s inaugural March for Life,” Harrison said.

“Young Kiwis are standing up against the complacency of our society which has created a culture of death, allowing abortion to kill so many of their own generation.”

New Zealand March for Life organizer Joseph Houghton told LifeSiteNews that Christchurch Catholic parishes were well represented, with at least 8 Catholic clergy present.

“The March for Life witnessed one of the largest presences of clergy a prolife event in New Zealand has seen,” Houghton said. “Many other denominations, such as Anglican and Baptist, were represented also.”

Young people from area Catholic colleges embraced the call to create a culture of life, according to March co-organizer Andy Moore, with students from St. Bede’s Catholic College, Villa Maria College and Marian College addressing the crowd together.

Houghton and Moore reported that the March for Life was supported by New Zealand Family First, Right to Life New Zealand, Focus on the Family, Family Life International, Prolife NZ and Stop Family Planning NZ.