Call for Justice Vigil – We must continue to speak up until this law is overturned
Here’s my speech at the Call for Justice Vigil, held on the steps of Parliament on 15th Mar 2023…
On the 23rd March 2020, Jacinda Ardern made a speech that the whole nation stopped to listen to.
There was a sense of fear and anxiety because of a threat to life. To many lives. Perhaps thousands of lives.
Perhaps as many as 13,246 lives. (That figure might sound familiar.)
The speech included these statements:
“ultimately save lives.
“up to tens of thousands of New Zealanders could die
“Everything you will all give up – it will literally save lives. Thousands of lives.
“The worst case scenario is simply intolerable. It would represent the greatest loss of New Zealanders’ lives in our country’s history. I will not take that chance.
“I would rather make this decision now, and save those lives… I hope you are all with me on that.
“Failure to play your part in the coming days will put the lives of others at risk.
“Now is the time to act.
This was the 23 March 2020 as this Parliament voted to put us all into lockdown – to save lives. To protect the vulnerable. To be the team of 5 million. To be kind.
You will be shocked, angry, stunned – or perhaps you won’t – to know that on that same day as that speech, the very same day as we as a country changed the routine of our lives, made sacrifices, thought of others, protected the vulnerable, at the very same time, this Parliament voted to bring into force (received Royal Assent) a law which is one of the most extreme abortion laws in the world.
- No recognition of the unborn child in ANY way. Not a single right afforded to our most vulnerable
- No explicit ban on sex selection abortions
- No explicit legislation to protect against coercion of vulnerable women
- Late term abortions with a wink and a nod from… abortion providers with a vested interest
- No protection for the unborn child from foetal pain of an abortion
- The removal of time limits for disability abortions
- No parental notification
- Less freedom of conscience for medical professionals
- No explicit protection in the legislation for a child that survives an abortion.
The sheer hypocrisy of this place. it seems like a cruel sick joke.
A number of years ago, I visited the Children’s Commissioner’s office. On the wall hung a big visual image of this statement from Dr Seuss – “A person’s a person, no matter how small!”
It’s not the whole quote: It is “A person’s a person, no matter how small! And you very small persons will not have to die. If you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY!” Are we helping to make them heard?
We should take encouragement from the overturning of Roe v Wade. The pro-life community didn’t sulk, pack up their tent, give up. No – they strategised, united, energised, focused.
It took almost 50 years. Are you willing to dig in for the long haul? It may not be until 23 March 2070 that the front page of the NZ Herald says “Unborn child given right to life”. It will be worth every bit of energy.
Proverbs 24:11-12 says “Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die. Don’t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. For God, who knows all hearts, knows yours, and he knows you knew! And he will reward everyone according to his deeds.”
Rev Billy Graham said “When a brave man takes a stand, it stiffens the spine of others.” When you and I speak up, it gives boldness to others to also speak up.
We must continue to speak up until this law is overturned.
Bob McCoskrie
CEO / Founder – Family First NZ
