CHURCH’S VIEW: Contraceptives for those under 16

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34123, 8 April 1976, Page 3

CHURCH’S VIEW: Contraceptives for those under 16

f.Vew Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 7. ~ The Presbyterian Church today’ came out in favour of y oung people under 16 being allowed contra* ceptives, provided they are prescribed at the discretion of a doctor.

The Church was making submissions to the Royal Commission on contraception, sterilisation. and abortion, sitting in Wellington. “The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, through its public questions committee, takes very seriously the issues before the commission,’’ its submission said. “We would affirm not only the sanctity of life but the sanctity of persons, their m-

dividual development, and their relationship together and within families. “In the moral aspects, we believe there is no one moral law which unequivocally fixes our answers andi actions. This is clear in the different opinions responsibly) held within the world church j as in the rest of society.” On contraception, the) Church put forward five recommendations to the commission, including the giving iof contraceptives to young people under 16 at a doctor’s discretion. The Church also asked that contraceptives be available free. “Where unmarried people I choose to have sexual i relationships, it should not (necessarily mean the risk of I unwanted children,” the subi mission said. “In these circumstances, for example, it lis better■ to make available Ithe pill to young girls than Ito put at a disadvantage a I new life.” ■

The Church said it accep-) ted that “therapeutic abor-: tion” was permissible as longj as a mother’s life appeared) to be endangered by a con-) (tinuing pregnancy. While the Church favoured) (such clinics as the Remuera Medical Aid Clinic it did not appear to favour “abortion on demand.” Such clinics must provide abortions performed within the guidelines , of a law on therapeutic abor- : tion. “It is clear from replies ■ received that the Presbyterian Church, while not absolutely opposing abortion, sees it as undesirable,” the submission said. “It empha- ’ sises prevention rather than cure. It accepts contraception as a means of preventing unwanted pregnancies. It i emphasises both a responsible (attitude to family planning land the family as the key of I society.”