The Cost of Challenging the Establishment
I am not a spokesperson for, but an ordinary member of, the Christchurch-based Right to Life New Zealand Incorporated [www.righttolife.org.nz].
Since May 2005 the Society has taken action through the highest courts to try and get legal recognition of:
• the status of the unborn child as a person having a right to life
• the duty of the Abortion Supervisory Committee to hold Certifying Consultants accountable for the lawfulness of the abortions they authorise[www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/abortio...].
The Court of Appeal rejected the Society’s case and the Supreme Court refused to accept an appeal.
Earlier, High Court Justice, Forrest Miller, held the view “that there was reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by Certifying Consultants.”
The Supreme Court found that the Abortion Supervisory Committee has the power and the duty to enquire into how Certifying Consultants were authorising 98% of abortions on mental health grounds but not to hold them accountable for individual decisions.
The Abortion Supervisory Committee has since recognised “the importance of monitoring” Certifying Consultants. A small victory that may save some precious lives.
Standing up for its principles, and the right to life, has cost the Society NZ$134,600 for its own legal fees, charged at a low concessionary rate, and it now has to pay NZ$77,575 towards the NZ$300,000 legal costs of the Abortion Supervisory Committee. The Committee wants this payment in full and will not allow the Society to pay by instalments.
The Society is currently fund-raising to enable it to make this payment and avoid being wound up and prevented from continuing to defend life.
Such is the cost of a small voluntary organization taking on the establishment in New Zealand.
Since May 2005 the Society has taken action through the highest courts to try and get legal recognition of:
• the status of the unborn child as a person having a right to life
• the duty of the Abortion Supervisory Committee to hold Certifying Consultants accountable for the lawfulness of the abortions they authorise[www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/abortio...].
The Court of Appeal rejected the Society’s case and the Supreme Court refused to accept an appeal.
Earlier, High Court Justice, Forrest Miller, held the view “that there was reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by Certifying Consultants.”
The Supreme Court found that the Abortion Supervisory Committee has the power and the duty to enquire into how Certifying Consultants were authorising 98% of abortions on mental health grounds but not to hold them accountable for individual decisions.
The Abortion Supervisory Committee has since recognised “the importance of monitoring” Certifying Consultants. A small victory that may save some precious lives.
Standing up for its principles, and the right to life, has cost the Society NZ$134,600 for its own legal fees, charged at a low concessionary rate, and it now has to pay NZ$77,575 towards the NZ$300,000 legal costs of the Abortion Supervisory Committee. The Committee wants this payment in full and will not allow the Society to pay by instalments.
The Society is currently fund-raising to enable it to make this payment and avoid being wound up and prevented from continuing to defend life.
Such is the cost of a small voluntary organization taking on the establishment in New Zealand.
No comments have been added yet.
