Religion did not influence abortion vote say most M.P.s

Press, 4 March 1978, Page 1

Religion did not influence abortion vote say most M.P.s

Religious affiliations disclosed by members of Parliament in a survey by ’•The Press” have been related to voting on the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Bill.

In view of the continuing controversy over the legislation and suggestions that churches might have had undue influence on the voting, “The Press” wrote to all members of Parliament inviting them to disclose their religious affiliations. They were told the reason for the inquiry and were invited also to add any comments they wished to make.

The response was good. Some members of Parliament will be overseas until later this mouth, another six declined to state their affiliation, some did not reply, but it has still been possible to establish the religious affiliation of 69 of the 87 members of the House: roughly 80 per cent.

Among the comments appended by the Parliamentarians, most made plain their view that religious affiliations had not intruded on the way they had voted. Mr W. L. Young, of Mirimar , for instance, stated his affiliation as Roman Catholic and added: “I voted in general in support of the Royal Commission recommendations and supported measures on contraception and sterilisation which my religious affiliations oppose.”

In a similar vein were Mr E. G. Latter (Anglican) who said, “I voted for the majority wish of my electorate”; Dr I. J. Shearer (Prebyterian) who said, “It required only common sense. I am opposed to the present legislation, particularly with regard to rape and mental abnormality”; and Mr H. C. Temp 1 e t o n (Presbyterian), whose comment was - “Our task is to work for sound and fair legislation in the general interest.” Sir Basil Arthur (Anglican) commented: “I believe it is in line with the wishes of the majority of people in my electorate”; and Mr P. Blanchfield (Roman Catholic), who was overseas at the time of the debate, said: “My membership of the Church does not affect the way I vote, whether the matter be against capital punishment completely, or for treason only. The same applies to abortion on demand. or for some now murderous reason, for abortion.” Mr B. P. MacDonell said his first reaction had been to throw the survey questionnaire in the wastepaper basket. “On reflection I decided to answer it as 1 would not want you to think that I was ashamed of mv religion. I do not think that the fact that I am a Catholic influences my thinking on abortion, rather the fact that I belong to a Christian Church. I cannot imagine any practising Christian supporting the

Aotea Clinic or a liberal abortion system.”

A quite long comment was received from Mr J. G. O'Brien, who said: “While I have no objection to anyone knowing my religious affiliation (which is Roman Catholic), just as the public are entitled to know your religious and political affiliation, I do question the reason for the survey. “There seems to be an implication that the result will be used to endeavour to draw false conclusions from a seeming assumption that because a member of Parlament is a Catholic he adopts a certain stance on abortion. “In my case this is false, as my respect for life in all its forms is a fundamental of my political philosophy. I see my role in politics as being to expand and develop life, and my opposition to disrespect for life stems from a abhorrence of what is basically a fascist philosophy - that life can be categorised as ‘convenient’ and ‘inconvenient,’ which latter will eventually include not only the unborn, but the elderly, the physically and mentally handicapped, and any others classifiable as inconvenient,” said Mr O’Brien.

Among those opposed to the survey were the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling), and his deputy (Mr Tizard), both of whom declined to state thei affiliations.

Mr Rowling said that in New 'Zealand society people were not obliged to deciare their religious affi'iations or beliefs unless they desired to do so.

‘I must confess that from time to time I feel

that members of the public are entitled to know the political affiliation or commitment of editors, programme directors, and other members of the journalist profession who control so much of the information that people receive through the mass communications media,” he said. “Generally I do resist the temptation to make this point, for where would it end? Lawyers, doctors, teachers, ’ and other opinion-formers may web be placed in a position that jeopardises their career or . inhibits them from free expression,” said Mr Rowling.

Mr Tizard responded to the invitation: “I think I would be just as entitled to demand from all newspaper editors details of their salary and financial interests as a means of assessing from my point of view their ability to present news objectively to the public, as you are to demand the religious affiliations of members of Parliament.” Mr K. M. Comber replied: “I shall be happy 7 to respond — but only if you disclose your own religion and that of your editorial staff in the same article.”

Mr J. B. Bolger questioned whether the survey had public interest. “Having spoken to three meetings in the Rangitikei byelection and 10 branch meetings in my own electorate — including the women’s section— without receiving one question on abortion, confirms my opinion that the public are sick of this issue but the press are desperately trying to keep it alive.”

Twenty-one members of Parliament did not reply to the survey. Of these, seven are overseas: Messrs R. L. Bell, W. F. Birch, G. P. A. Downie, B. S. G. Lambert, D. R. Lange, D. Maclntyre, and F. L. Rogers. The affiliations of others who did not reply have been stated previously and, where known, have been included in the results. Of the 71 members in the House to vote on the crucial Birch amendment, the .voting and religious affiliations were distributed as follows: FOR Adams-Schneider (B). Arthur (A), H. N. Austin (N.R.), Bailey (U.P.), Bell (N.R.), Birch (N.R.), Bolger (R.C.), Brill (R.C.), Colman (U.P.), Comber (R.C.), Connelly (R.C.), Cooper (R.C.) ' Couch (L), Courtney (N.R.),| Downie (N.R.), Drayton (A),! Elworthy (A), Falloon (A), Fenton (P), Fraser (P), Gill (R.C.), D. M. J. Jones (N.R.), Lambert (R.C.), Lange (M), Lapwood (P), Latter (A), McCready (A), MacDonell (C), McLachlan (U.P.), Mai-; colm (P), Muldoon (U.P.), i O'Brien (R.C.), Rata (D), Reweti (N.R.), Schultz (M), Talbot (A), Thomson (P), Walker (A). Wall (R.C.), Wellington (Ml, Wetere (R), Wilkinson (U.P.), V. S. Young (A), W. L. Young (R.C.).

t AGAINST Christie (D), Dewe (M), j ■(Elliott (U.P.), Finlay (1), | s Freer (D), Friedlander (A),| ’ I Gain (2), Highet (P), Holland! (U.P.), Isbev (N.R.), N. P. H. i • Jones (P). Kirk (U.P.), Lith-j ;|gow (U.P.), Maclntyre: “)(N.R.), McLay (A), Marshall )(M), Minogue (N.R.), Quigley) |(A), Rogers (N.R.), Shearer' ’ (P), Taiboys (A), Templeton: ’ (P), Tirikatene-Sullivan 1 (N.R.), Tizard (D), Walls (P), .(Waring (U.P.). In addition, the member Ifor Auckland Central, Mr R. W. Prebble, who abstained > from voting on the Birch I amendment, voted against - the passage of the bill on its i third reading. He declared r himself to be an Anglican, i None of those who voted t on the Birch amendment ■ changed their votes on the I third reading of the bill, al-

though some members were absent for the third reading, f Five of the members who > were not present for the i voting on the Birch amendment voted on the third . reading. Their votes and . affiliations were distributed Las follows: ; FOR Allen (N.R.), Faulkner r (N.R.), Luxton (A), T. J. • Young (C.C.) . AGAINST 1 Gandar (N.R.). ’ wrv IYE, I A, Anglican: B, Baptist; C. Is e 1 f-designated Catholic; iC.C., Associated Churches of •! Christ; D, declined to state : affiliation: L. Church of [Jesus Christ of the Latter : Day Saints (Mormon): M, Methodist; N.R., no reply reIceived; P., Presbyterian; R., .IRatana: R.C., Roman CathoI lie; U.P., unspecified Protestant; 1, Dr Finlay declared I himself as “Not Roman Catholic,” 2, Mr Gair replied: “I support the Christian ethic, but am not a member of any particular denomination.”