Ethics and Religion - CathNews New Zealand

Choose which word is the odd one out

denisohagan — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 04:59:50 +0000

Consider the following words: cricket, affluence, deceit, corruption, fame, bribery, euphoria, herd instinct, patriotism, manipulation, politics, suppression, poverty, disappointment, gentlemen and religion. Which is the odd one out?

Many would say that the odd word is the last one- religion. But how can an all-pervasive fixation like religion be totally forgotten when we discuss our worst problems- be they on politics, economics, medicine or sport?

Religion hardly enters into any important discussion on issues that form the very foundation of our social life. Simply ask why religion is a nonissue in any important discussion on the most serious problems in life - you will only make them horrified by your naivety. Read more

Choose which word is the odd one out

HRC: Religious ministers have right to refuse to marry a same-sex couple

admin — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:30:22 +0000

"Religious ministers have the right to refuse to marry anyone. That right will not change if the Bill becomes law," says Human Rights Chief Commissioner David Rutherford. "It will be up to any individual marriage celebrant, including those who are religious ministers, to decide whether or not they wish to marry a same-sex couple."

The Human Rights Commission says:

If the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill became law no religious minister would be required to marry a same-sex couple, anywhere, including in a church. Section 29 of the Marriage Act states "a marriage licence shall authorise but not oblige any marriage celebrant to solemnise the marriage to which it relates".

A religious marriage is a core part of practising a religion. Religious officials and leaders are free to refuse to perform marriages that are not in accordance with their religious beliefs. In New Zealand, the discretion currently given to marriage celebrants in section 29 of the Marriage Act 1955 allows any marriage celebrant, including religious ministers who are licensed celebrants, the right to refuse to marry someone without breaching the unlawful discrimination provisions of the HRA. In part this reflects the fact that religious ceremonies and services are not an area of public life covered by the HRA. Similarly ceremonial or consecrated spaces, or any other religious premises that are not made available for the public to hire, are not covered by the HRA.

Source

The Human Rights commission
Image: Ignitum Today

HRC: Religious ministers have right to refuse to marry a same-sex couple

NZ Human Rights Commission endorses same gender marriage

admin — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:30:11 +0000

The New Zealand Human Rights Commission has formally endorsed same gender marriage and a non-discriminatory approach to adoption that gives primacy to the best interests of the child.

The conclusion to The HRC's short paper states:

"In order to ensure formal legal equality, including the right to found and form a family regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, the Commission formally:

endorses marriage equality - namely the right to marry, form a civil union or a de facto partnership regardless of one's sexual orientation, sex or gender identity.
endorses adoption equality - ensuring primacy is given to the best interests of the child irrespective of each person's sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability or the couple's marital status."

The paper can be downloaded from the Human Rights Commission.

The Commission also recommends legislative change to allow same gender couples to adopt children.

"Restricting the right to adopt to couples who are married or to opposite sex de-facto couples amounts to discrimination under the Human Rights Act and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The Commission recommends amending the Adoption Act to ensure adoption equality that focuses on the best interests of the child, and does not discriminate against parents because of their sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or marital status."

"The Commission's paper notes two proposed members' bills that would allow same-sex couples to adopt."

Source

The Human Rights Commission
Image All Rights For All

NZ Human Rights Commission endorses same gender marriage

Religion hindering sexuality education in Pacific

admin — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:30:07 +0000

Pacific Island countries have been challenged to to rally against religious conservatism to ensure young people can make informed decisions about sex and pregnancy.

The call was made by Papua New Guinea MP Dame Carol Kidu who was among several Pacific politicians attending the New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development's annual meeting in Wellington. The focus of the meeting this year is the sexual and reproductive health and rights of Pacific adolescents.

"The religious conservatism, we've got to work at it subtly and gently, I know, but we have to move fairly fast because there are people dying, there are people dying of HIV who should not be dying because they're too ashamed to go and get treatment - it shouldn't be happening, young people, good young people," said Kidu.

A New Zealand politician attending the meeting said there is a risk of a Pacific population explosion if Pacific Island teenagers are not given better sexuality education and access to sexual health and reproductive services.

"We know that 56 per cent of the population in Pacific island countries is under 25 and the next generation or two there will be a doubling of that population and quite frankly the countries cannot sustain that," says Dr Jackie Blue.

She says that any sexuality education occurring in Pacific Island countries is done "in a very haphazard and patchy way" and there is no standardised sort of format or information that's given out.

Dr Blue is a National Party list MP and chairwoman of the New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development.

The NZPPD provides a forum for New Zealand parliamentarians to engage and act on international population and development issues. It is a cross party group, with currently 45 members representing just under 40 percent of all New Zealand MPs.

Source

Religion hindering sexuality education in Pacific

Do you need religion to be ethical?

admin — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:00:29 +0000

Atheists, agnostics and people who do not have any religious affiliation are often annoyed by what they consider to be an arrogant assumption on the part of believers that you need religion to be ethical.

Some of them point out that the is no shortage people big on belief and short on ethical behaviour. Some terrible things have been doen in the name of religion they say. Some even suggest that, maybe the opposite is true; can you have a religion and be ethical?

Religious organizations have a wide variety of comprehensive services, programming, groups, lectures, readings, models, and so forth that can regularly impart, support, and provide corrective feedback about ethical principles and guidelines to their members. The secular community just doesn't seem to have the organizational structure to do so

This article concludes that the answer to the question, "Do you need religion to be ethical appears to be, "no but it could help."

Source
Psychology Today

Photo Credit
Psychology Today

Do you need religion to be ethical?