MOH - Right To Life asks: are prayer vigils allowed outside hospitals? (response update)
- rhysemcauliffe
- Aug 10, 2023
- 2 min read
29 July 2023.
Ruihua Gu,
Acting Group Manager,
Quality Assurance and
Safety Regulatory Services,
Ministry of Health.
Dear Ms Gu,
I would be grateful if you would kindly provide some clarification concerning the administration of the Safe Area designation for the Christchurch Public Hospital.
Right to Life conducts a weekly prayer vigil in Hagley Park within the designated Safe Area of the Christchurch Public Hospital. The prayer vigil’s intention is to pray for women considering an abortion, for the abortion staff and for an end to the killing of unborn children through abortion.
Section 13A of the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion [Safe Areas ] Amendment Act gives the following as a prohibited behaviour:-
- Engaging in protest about matters relating to the provision of abortion services.
Kindly advise, does our prayer vigil contravene Section 13 of the Act?
Situated in the Christchurch Public Hospital is a chapel where public services are regularly conducted. The chapel is within the designated Safe Area. In the event that a minister or priest preached in the chapel upholding the sanctity of life of the unborn child from conception and that the fifth commandment of God, “Thou shalt not kill.” prohibited abortion, would the minister or priest be in violation of Section 13 of the Act?
Yours sincerely,
Ken Orr,
Secretary, Right to Life
10th August 2023
Kia ora Ken,
I acknowledge your email received on 31 July 2023 relating to the Safe Area for Christchurch Hospital.
You have asked whether a prayer vigil or a person preaching in a hospital chapel about abortion would contravene section 13 of the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 (the Act).
As recently relayed to you, in response to your OIA request about the same issue, Manatū Hauora considers this query to be a request for legal advice, rather than official information. We stand by our response to you. You may wish to seek your own legal advice in relation to this subject.
Nakū noa, nā
Ruihua Gu
Acting Group Manager
Quality Assurance and Safety
