Day 31 of 40 day fast

In NZ the first private abortion clinic opened in Remuera 17 May, 1974. It survived a concerted effort to close it. NZ abortion laws of 100 years proved ineffective. This clinic sparked the beginning of the major battle. The medical profession, legal profession and key Govt departments were divided on the subject.

Dr Pat Dunn and Sir William Liley had joined forces to prepare for when pro-abortionists would begin their major thrust. The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child was formed March 1970 ad by 1975 had 40,000 members and 56 brances.

The Royal Commission on Contraception, Sterilization and Abortion began its investigation in 1975. The law was passed Dec 1977. (google 1977 New Zealand government abortion and find some very interesting things about the start and current status of abortion)

In June 1975 the United Women’s Convention was held in Wellington, with some 2,200 women attending. The NZ feminists were a small vocal group who argued for abortion as a liberating force for women. Their prevailing attitude, and agenda, of anti-family, anti-child, anti-Christian, and in some cases anti-male, began to be increasingly spoken out and worked out in NZ. (www.life.org Marilyn Pryor) (Helen Clark was part of this group in 1975 and her policies in Parliament have reflected this in the subsequent laws passed in her party and leadership as PM). Their strategy of 30+ years ago is working!

Let’s pray together: Lord we thank You for the stand that was made by churches in the 1970’s regarding abortion and that many Christians spoke out, protested, marched, and made their views know. We confess that this has been such a contentious issue in NZ, one of the defining issues in the 1970-80s that divided the political environment and many were hurt in different ways and pain probably still lingers.

Lord we confess that our nation as been markedly influenced by the radical feminist agenda and we can now see the fruit of their work in the laws that have been passed in the disintegration of families, the divorce rate, the belittling of men resulting in weak and/or fathers and lack of strong male leadership in families and in different spheres in NZ.

Lord we are sorry for these sins. We ask that You would heal the pain and carry the sorrows that still linger in NZ from the 1970-80s. Would You lift off this nation the weariness of the spiritual battle, the sense of defeat and hopelessness that have resulted from the abortion/pro-life war. These have been caused in part by the way various governments have handled - not honouring - the many petitions presented to them.

Lord, would You raise up a new generation of radical, zealous reformers who, with God-given courage, will battle in the ways You reveal to completely complete the task of seeing righteous laws in place, the Body of Christ living according to Your Word, honouring life, and strong, loving families being the mainstay of society.