8 March 2013
Parliament Must Protect Human Rights and Freedom

New Zealand Christian Network is calling on Parliament to do a proper job of protecting people’s human rights and freedom of conscience and belief in the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill.

“The best thing to do” says National Director Glyn Carpenter “is to reject the bill at the next reading. This would avoid violating people’s legitimate human rights and safeguard the next generation from being raised with a muddled view of what marriage is all about”.

Carpenter says it is clear from the recent media statement by Family First and the legal opinion by Barrister Ian Bassett that the so-called “conscientious exemption clause” introduced into the bill has made it into an absolute dogs breakfast which does nothing to protect human rights and freedom of conscience for the majority that are not covered by the clause.

“A survey two weeks ago showed less than 50% of the country want this bill, and this number is dropping the longer the discussion goes on as people realise the argument about equality is a smoke screen. That politicians are trying to ram this through and stifle debate is shameful. People are really concerned that their own human rights and freedom of conscience and belief will be violated, and more and more are telling us that this is going to be a vote-defining issue at the next election” said Carpenter.
[ENDS]

New Zealand Christian Network is a broad-spectrum network of churches and Christian leaders, with a Board of Reference that includes leaders from all the main denominations. It seeks to present a biblically orthodox position on issues, reflecting the views of the majority of Christians in New Zealand.