Catholic schools fear they may be sued if they help a student secure an abortion without parental permission

When New Zealand’s top Catholic bishop charged
that
liberal government policies are turning the country into a "moral wasteland" he
unfortunately was not engaging in hyperbole. Judging by this
article he is dead on.

The Care of Children Bill before Parliament re-affirms a 27-year-old law allowing
girls under the age of 16 to have an abortion without their parents’ consent
or knowledge.

Catholic schools say the law may force them into a legally dangerous situation
if they help a girl obtain an abortion without having access to her family’s
medical history.

"This legislation gives carte blanche approval to send a youngster down
the road to get an abortion," New Zealand Catholic Education Office executive
director Pat Lynch said.

"How does a guidance counsellor know whether a young woman might have
complications from anaesthetic or clotting problems?" Brother Lynch said.

"It seems to me we are talking about a life or
death situation, let alone the morality of it. Schools could open themselves
up to litigation. Surely
parents who brought a youngster into the world have a right to know (if their
child is pregnant). It would be very unwise for schools to get involved in
this."

Girls have been able to seek an abortion without parental consent since 1977
following a Royal Commission into contraception, sterilisation and abortion.

Brother Lynch said the new bill was an opportunity to have this clause overturned.

Christchurch’s St Mary’s in the City school principal
David O’Neill said schools were being put in a "horrible situation" but
were legally obligated to help a pregnant student obtain an abortion.

"It puts a huge amount of pressure on principals to make a decision like
that," he said.

"Schools have to look at this and ask themselves
what they will do in this situation."

I would like to see the direct quote of what the Catholic schools
there are saying. I really hope that the view portrayed in this article is
mistaken. That the only concern about a school helping a young girl get
an abortion is the concern about family medical history and getting sued. For
this Catholic school principal to say that they were in a "horrible situation"
but were legally obligated to help is really scary. By the moral law we are
obligated to fight against and to resist unjust laws and not to say "oh well,
it’s the law."

And another story from New Zealand School says sorry over students’ pre-ball
condoms

Teenagers at an Auckland high school were offered complimentary condoms when
they bought tickets to their school ball.

The students, from Edgewater College in Pakuranga, were handed an envelope
containing a condom, sexual health advice and pointers on sensible behaviour
surrounding alcohol and transport home from the ball.

The ball was held last Friday night at Sky City and was a huge success, according
to the school.

But some parents were left seething over the pre-ball freebie.

"What kind of a message is this sending out?" said
one parent, who declined to be named.