Church and State

Press, 7 March 1978, Page 16

Church and State

Sir, — Your leading article was a necessary cut to the bone. It makes us faca the fact that we either subscribe to the Roman Catholic dogma of “no choice,” or we are heretics. In the matter of abortion the Church can be relied on to instruct its own. In the same matter the State has amazingly undertaken to harass 'the heretics and knock out of their heads any fancy notions of “the woman and her doctor,” The avowed aim of S.P.U.C. is a country without abortion, so the C. S. and A. measures to date can be taken as a forerunner and not a finale. In view of the threat, we heretics must demand that the State be thrown out of doctors’ consulting rooms. There is no workable compromise between “no choice” and “the woman and her doctor.” — Yours, etc., J. DUGDALE. March 5, 1978. Sir, — As an infrequent but regular non-Catholic visitor to Christchurch I was disgusted to learn today of the survey you had carried out among politicians and even more, to read your editorial comments. If sound journalism is built on investigative and news reporting that reflects impartiality and a high sense of social and moral values, “The Press” has sunk to a level that should not be tolerated from a main metropolitan newspaper. As a thirdgeneration New Zealander I say your actions in this matter are the opposite to everything 1 was taught, have lived for, and believe in our country. I therefore challenge you to recognise the grave disservice you have done to us all. — Yours, etc. J.A.D. HOLDEN. March 4, 1978. Sir, — Your Saturday editorial article amazes me. “If the 11 Roman Catholic members had voted against the amendment it would have been lost.” Why should they? Those who are not Catholics are voting 33 for, 26 against. Presumably, on your argument, the Catholics now enjoying the same freedom as the other members would vote six for, five against. I think Mr Bolger may well have a point. “The public are sick of this issue but the press are desperately trying to keep it alive.” — Yours, etc.. G. A. WILLIAMS. March 5, 1978. Sir, — Critics of your editorial miss the point that it is not Catholics who are being attacked, but the church

hierarchy, and the use of its propaganda resources. Very many Catholics (perhaps even a majority judging by survey results) do not support their church in spite of its extreme pressure on contraception and abortion. Professor Arrillaga can scarcely deny that the church is directly interfering in politics by its support of S.P.U.C., and is also directly interfering with other people’s freedom to make vital decisions about their own lives. I challenge any Catholic to make available for publication the complete set of “family life” teachings used in Catholic schools so that the public can judge for themselves the balance of the material, and the justice of the claim that the church resoects the freedom of the individual. — Yours, etc., ALAN L. WILKINSON. March 6, 1978.