Woe to you who do not defend life!

Media Release 24 April 2026

Right to Life welcomes the Vatican’s timely publication of the pro-life document, “Life is always a good.”

This important document celebrates the 58th anniversary of the brilliant pastoral care encyclical “Humanae Vitae” given to the world by Pope Saint Paul VI in 1968.

This prophetic encyclical accurately revealed the evils that would result from the introduction of the intrinsically evil contraceptive pill, abortion, infanticide, IVF, the breakdown of the family and divorce. He had predicted that it would lead to widespread marital infidelity, a general lowering of moral standards, a loss of respect for women by men, and coercive government intervention in reproductive matters.

The document reiterates the truth that protecting life is a shared mission that requires the full engagement of the entire Church community.

The document was sent by the Catholic Church’s Vatican Dicastery for Laity Family and Life to the Bishops of all 3041 Catholic dioceses in the world, including the 6 dioceses in New Zealand.

Right to Life believes that the document is timely, as New Zealand is increasingly succumbing to a violent culture of death.

There have been more than 532,000 unborn children murdered in their mother’s wombs and their mothers wounded, since the passing of the Contraception, Sterilisation & Abortion Act in 1977. There have also been more than 1,200 vulnerable patients assisted in suicide, or being given a lethal injection by their doctor since 7 November 2021. State funded contraception, IVF and surrogacy are promoted.

The Catholic Church is at the forefront in the defence of life and family. Right to Life recently wrote to the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand to express our support for the implementation of the document in New Zealand.

The central message of the document is to reaffirm that every human life possesses an "infinite dignity" that is inalienable and independent of any condition or ability.

The fundamental themes of the document encompasses life from conception to natural death addressing:-

• Beginning of Life: Addressing abortion, contraception, IVF, and surrogacy.

• Throughout the Course of Life: Covering issues like human trafficking, poverty, and violence against women.

• End of Life: Focusing on end-of-life care and opposing euthanasia and suicide.

• Cross-cutting Research: Promoting ethical scientific research that respects human dignity.

The document highlights the fundamental truth that protecting life is a shared mission, which requires the engagement of the entire Church community.

For the triumph of the culture of death all that is necessary is that good people do nothing.

Ken Orr,

Spokesperson,

Right to Life New Zealand Inc.