Narelle Henson

Narelle Henson’s column (September 9) on the irrefutable humanity of life in the womb was a masterpiece of logic and upto-the-moment science.

So it was sad to see that correspondent Edward J Lye, who tells us that he protested outside this country’s first abortion clinic, has lost his fervour for the sanctity of human life in the womb. Like many, he is prepared to barter these vulnerable lives for some of the good social points in Labour’s manifesto, and decries ‘‘right-wing Christian’’ Ms Henson for taking a stand with her vote on moral issues.

But the quality of our social life is always dependent on our moral life. A people that is taking the lives of 15,000 unborn babies every year to make life easier will never overcome or even fully understand family and social dysfunction, and especially not the concept of equality. Taking the lives of babies immediately becomes a social issue as well as a moral issue.

The right to life is obviously the most fundamental human right – if your life is unjustly taken you no longer need the rights Mr Lye now prefers to vote for.

Decriminalising abortion was the first issue Jacinda Ardern wanted to support when she entered Parliament. Like Narelle Henson, I too would consider voting Labour if Ms Ardern were now to develop the courage to steer her party away from death-linked solutions.

How long before the ‘‘progressive’’ parties realise that comprehensive progress lies in another direction? When that happens, swathes of former supporters might come back into the fold.

Tony Molloy

Morrinsville

confused with it. MAID addresses the manner of dying where a person has extreme suffering at the end of their life. Nor is there any evidence that it encourages irrational suicide – in fact the suicide rate has decreased in some of the legalised jurisdictions.

Jack Havill

Hamilton

proven and successful track record than in unicorns.

Bea Braun

Hamilton