Churches are challenging New Zealand politicians to take a stand on moral issues such as abortion, same-sex adoption and gambling in this year's election. Catholic bishops and the Salvation Army have issued pre-election guides and this week a number of church leaders have supported a call for politicians to "front up to the issue of reducing persistent levels of poverty" in New Zealand.
The bishops have highlighted issues such as abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, euthanasia and same-sex adoptions, all of which the Catholic Church opposes.
"When parents are forced to work long hours at the expense of time spent with each other and with their children, we see children and young people who are left without the comfort and security of traditional family interaction," their statement said.
Catholics are urged to consider the needs of refugees and ask which parties will implement New Zealand's commitment to increase aid to 0.7 per cent of gross national income by 2015.
The Salvation Army's election guide, A New Journey, calls for tighter control of liquor and poker-machine licences, and says tougher jail sentences do not work.
Working for Families and the 20-hours free childcare scheme had favoured middle-class families rather than the poorest, with one in five Kiwi children still living in poverty, it said.
The country's social development over the last five years had been "mixed progress, at best".
This week, church leaders from several Christian denominations gave their support to an open letter issued by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS).
The council calls for policies to eliminate poverty, support families and protect children, provide for the elderly and enable access to affordable housing.
"NZCCSS is concerned that political parties have not done enough to spell out policies that could lead to better ways to utilise our nation's prosperity to reduce poverty," it said.
"At minimum we seek ... a basic assurance that the impact of all policy-making decisions be measured in terms of the quality of life of those who are the most vulnerable and who are most affected by poverty in our society."
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(Source: Stuff.co.nz)