SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

Broadcasting Standards Authority uphold Seven Sharp complaint

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Prime-time current affairs show Seven Sharp has been issued with a complaint from the Broadcasting Standards Authority, after airing an “imbalanced” story about voluntary euthanasia in March of this year.

In light of the widely-publicised Lecretia Seales case which followed, the story proved extremely topical, timely and relevant however, according to the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA), also “lacked balance”.

The item was broadcast in March this year and featured the story of a terminally ill woman who is a long-standing voluntary euthanasia campaigner,” the BSA said in a statement on Monday.

“It also discussed the history of attempts to legalise voluntary euthanasia in New Zealand and overseas.

“The BSA found the item did not solely approach the issue of voluntary euthanasia from the personal perspective of the interviewee. It included a wider discussion of the voluntary euthanasia debate and law reform. This meant the broadcaster should have presented more than one side of the issue.” [Read more…]

Broadcasting Standards Authority upholds Complaint of Right to Life Against TVNZ Seven Sharp

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Right to life Media Release Monday 16th November 2015

Right to Life welcomes the decision of the Broadcasting Standards Authority [BSA] to uphold its complaint against the TV programme Seven Sharp. The decision was given on 10 November 2015. The item featured the story of a terminally ill woman who is a longstanding campaigner for euthanasia. The item which screened on 16 February 2015, also included a history of the attempts to pass euthanasia legislation in New Zealand and overseas. The item did not include any information on the views of those opposed to euthanasia such as those being put forward by the medical profession, disability groups or palliative care specialists. [Read more…]

United Nations attack on Religious Freedom – Right to Life Media Release

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United Nations attack on Religious Freedom

[Media Release issued 15/02/14 by Right to Life New Zealand Inc.  Published by SPCS to stimulate discussion]

The United Nations Committee for the Convention for the Rights of the Child presented its report on the periodic review of the Holy See’s compliance with the Convention.

The audacity of those who wrote this report is breathtaking. Under the guise of addressing sexual abuse within the Catholic Church the Committee attacks religious freedom. For Right to Life this is the issue. The Committee’s report is a flagrant and egregious attack on the religious freedom of the Catholic Church, her right and obligation to uphold the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life for every human being from conception to natural death. The Catholic Church is at the forefront at the United Nations in upholding the dignity of man and the sanctity of life. There are those who seek to silence the Church and to have her expelled from the United Nations. [Read more…]

Challenge Weekly – owned by registered charity – highlights “University ProLife Win”

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Challenge Weekly Newspaper, owned by a legal entity that was incorporated in 1975 and registered with the Charities Commission as a charity on 30 June 2008, runs a story on its front page this week “Prolife elated with win: University [Prolife] club survives expulsion bid.”

A student-run prolife group is celebrating a vote by its peers at the University of Auckland not to disaffiliate the club.

Prolife Auckland won the vote 227 to 125 at a special general meeting attended by a large and noisy crowd on July 18 and club president Amy Bowers is pleased with the result for a number of reasons.

“We had support from many students who are not members of our club and have no intention of joining. But clearly they recognised that freedom of expression is a right worth protecting for everyone, in particular in a university setting where academic freedom must be paramount.”

After a single anonymous complaint regarding the club’s ‘Right To Know’ pamphlets that were distributed around campus, the Auckland University Student Association (AUAS) executive put forward a motion to deny ProLife Auckland the right to exist as an affiliated club.

“The club ran this campaign in May which promoted a women’s right to know the facts when faced with a crisis pregnancy, which included the health risks of abortion and full statistics. Ironically, this attempt to shut us down has given us the chance to reach a far wider audience with our message, and that’s the whole reason that we exist as a club,” says Ms Blowers.

Prolife Auckland’s sister club at Wellington’s Victoria University is also thrilled with the result.

“Freedom of speech is a vitally important right in a society that truly claims to be open, free and democratic,” says LifeChoice Victoria president Mary-Ane Evers.

“University is the perfect place for discussion of controversial issues. Student Associations should encourage free and frank discussion and not shy away from these topics.”

Celebration has continued throughout the wider prolife community in New Zealand.

Right to Life spokesperson Ken Orr was delighted at the resounding victory for the right to free speech upheld by the students. “We congratulate the members of Prolife for its defence of free speech…” said Mr Orr.”The battle for recognition of the inalienable right to life of every human being from conception to natural death will be won or lost in our universities.”

Source: Challenge Weekly. July 23, 2012, Vol. 70 Iss. 27, p.1.

Right to Life Seeks Leave to Appeal to Supreme Court

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Media Release Right to Life Inc. 24 June 2010

Right to Life, has resolved to seek leave of the Supreme Court to allow an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal stated in its judgment of 1 June 2011 on the appeal of the Abortion Supervisory Committee and the cross appeal of Right to Life that the unborn child did not have a right to life. [Read more…]