Media Release 2 May 2023
Right to Life believes that the ACT Party has forfeited its right to sit in our Parliament. There is no place in our Parliament for those who refuse to accept their duty to protect the right to lives of every member of the community especially the unborn who are the weakest and most defenceless members of our human family.
Act's Deputy Leader Brook van Velden has made statements challenging siting MP Simon O’Connor for the Tamaki electorate seat. Her challenge was primarily because of his support for the right to life of the unborn, his opposition to their killing up to birth and doctors being permitted to kill their patients or assist in their suicide.
It was Benjamin Franklin, the famous American statesman who stated, “The first and only duty of the state was to legislate for the health and happiness of the people and not to preside over their destruction.” The community should be grateful that we have an MP like Simon O’Connor, who believes that Parliament has no authority to usurp God’s authority to decide who shall live and who shall die and no right to give permission for doctors to kill their patients.
Brook van Velden has had the privilege of an elite Christian education at the prestigious St Cuthbert’s Presbyterian Girls College in Epsom Auckland and should be well aware that the Fifth Commandment of God “Thou shalt not kill” prohibits the killing of the unborn and the vulnerable.
Right to Life believes that ACT (along with the Greens) is the most anti- life Party in Parliament. Act's 10 MPs support both the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 which allows the killing of the unborn up to birth and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, which allows doctors to kill their patients.
The statements made by ACT’S leadership reveal that they believe that there is no place in Parliament for those who are opposed to abortion and euthanasia.
This is false and dangerous philosophy which is a threat to every member of the community.
Brooke van Velden stated that "Over the past few years I've had a number of people in the Tāmaki electorate - especially women - say they do not feel repesented by the local MP because of his anti -abortion views," she said."I am pro-choice... I am pro freedom... I want everybody in this electorate to feel like they can have choices over those fundamental rights."
Why should we trust Brook van Velden and her colleagues to protect our lives when she is prepared to kill the unborn and the vulnerable?
Brook van Velden claims that she is “pro choice”, she claims that every woman has the right to kill their children before they are born. She believes that the unborn child is not a human being with a right to life until it is born. This is a legal fiction.
Right to Life encourages the voters in Tamaki and elsewhere to defend life by voting for a candidate who is committed to defend life and oppose the killing of the unborn and the seriously ill. The voters of Tamaki are most fortunate to have a sitting member who is passionately committed to defending the sanctity of life of every human being and to promoting the common good.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life New Zealand Inc