The NZ Catholic Bishops are encouraging people to make submissions to Parliament on the proposed changes to our abortion laws.

“To treat the matter solely as a health issue for a woman is to ignore that there is another human life involved – a life that has no voice of its own,” the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference said in a recent media statement.

“There needs to be a stronger focus on strengthening and extending policies and organisations that support women who are pregnant. Making abortions easier to get, as the new law proposes, does nothing to address [any] serious underlying issues.”

The NZCBC has outlined three ways Catholics can respond to the suggested reforms:

“Political: We are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We have an obligation to advocate for the right to life of the unborn child and the well-being of mothers. We encourage every one of you to exercise your democratic right to make a submission to parliament and to contact your local MP.

“Prayerful: Every human life is a gift from God. Just as parents spontaneously pray for their unborn child, so we are called to pray for all the unborn, as well as for their parents and extended families. We also pray for wisdom for our MPs.

“Pastoral: Our belief in the sanctity of life is demonstrated in the way we show love for both unborn children and their mothers. The message others hear from us will be shaped not just by our words, but also by the way in which we speak and act. We need to ask: ‘After this debate is over, will our faith communities be seen as places of love, compassion and care that women facing the challenges of a pregnancy will want to turn to?’”

Submissions on the Bill close Thursday 19 September. CLICK HERE for a guide to making a submission.