Family Integrity

Author: HEF Admin

  • Archives

    Wednesday, 12 December 2007

    12 December 2007 – Family Integrity #325 — U4L; Weekend events

    —–Original Message—–
    From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
    Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:36 PM
    To: Craig
    Subject: U4L; Weekend events

    Hi All,

    The new signature count is 239,000 signatures. The website thermometer will be updated tomorrow.

    Urgent,

    Below is an itinerary of Larry Baldock’s movements across the country this week, bit late with this notice however if you can attend any of these meetings it will be fruitful. There was a meeting in Christchurch and it did link more good folk together, many hands make light work.

    Dec 12th Petition training and FNZ Meeting The Silverstream Reformed Church 8 Blue Mts Rd, Silverstream at 7-45pm
    Dec 13th Petition training and FNZ Meeting Masterton Community Church lounge at 7pm-9pm

    Dec 14th Training session for Petition collectors Palmerston North. Contact Yvonne Walton for Details 063576646

    Dec 15th Petition training and FNZ Meeting Chapel Hill Church Hamilton contact Anton Roest 078554380

    regards
    Larry

    Below is some events this weekend, ALL COORDINATORS WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR HELP

    Wellington
    Contact lowerhutt@unityforliberty.net.nz

    Hawkes Bay
    We’re looking at going to the Dannevirke Christmas Parade next Saturday
    Contact hawkesbay@unityforliberty.net.nz

    Christchurch
    There are several tables around town,
    Contact chch@unityforliberty.net.nz

    West Coast
    hopefully another two tables in Greymouth on the 14th. These will all be outside supermarkets, so I’m hoping frazzled, stressed-out Christmas shoppers will take the time to sign.
    Contact chch@unityforliberty.net.nz

    Catlins
    Contact catlins@unityforliberty.net.nz
    There are several tables and activities around the Auckland area, we need to know who is interested to assist as to coordinate these events. Please contact your local coordinator

    Auckland craig@unityforliberty.net.nz
    North Shore northshore@unityforliberty.net.nz
    Rodney rodney@unityforliberty.net.nz

    Thanks,
    Craig Hill
    021 746 113
    http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

    All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing” (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

    Coming Events

    Hi everyone,

    Just a quick update for the team in Christchurch. (Auckland & Otago people, I’m forwarding this on to you also to keep you in the loop 🙂

    We had a motivating meeting with Larry and Barbara Baldock on Monday night where we discussed plans for serving our community by gathering signatures for the referendum in Christchurch.

    We were reminded that there are thousands of people out there who want to sign, it’s just up to us to go out there and put the petition in front of them so they can sign it.

    We’re at 236,100 signatures currently (See the “signature thermometer” on the Unity for Liberty website for the most recent count).

    This Saturday – come on guys, lets hit Christchurch with at least three tables. Lets go from about 9:30am til 2:30pm, with people most welcome to stay later if they like, but the best time is around the lunch-hour, when the city really gets bustling. I’ve got 3 tables, plenty of signs, plenty of petition boards and pens. We just need you guys now, so get back to me asap, as I need to book a couple of spots with the City Council.

    Let’s get Saturday out of the way, and then we can plan for getting tables at the big events coming up in January and February.

    Come on Canterbury, Let’s blow Auckland out of the water with our signature count for this Saturday! Auckland guys, the pressure is on!!!

    Great to meet those that were at the meeting, thanks so much for coming along, keen to get involved!

    Remember, “All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing” – Edmund Burke.”

    Kind Regards,
    Andy Moore
    www.equipbiz.co.nz
    phone: 021 1140 751 or 357 4599
    http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz
    God Defend New Zealand.

  • Questionable smacking case before the court

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00093.htm

    Questionable smacking case before the court
    Sunday, 9 December 2007, 2:45 pm
    Press Release: The Family Party

    http://www.thefamilyparty.org.nz

    The Family Party is raising concerns over the arrest and prosecution of a single father of four, who has been charged with assaulting his 11-year-old son under the new anti-smacking legislation.

    The Nelson Mail reports the man ‘hit’ his son on the bottom with a wooden spoon for disobedience. He is also alleged to have ‘clipped’ the boy around the face. The boy later called the police and the father was arrested, handcuffed and put before the courts. He is now barred from associating with his son until he next appears before the court. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4315830a11.html refers.

    “Without knowing the full circumstances of this case it is difficult to comment on criminal liability, particularly with regards to the ‘clip around the face’ allegation. But for all we know, it could have been a clip around the ear, which many of us got at some stage growing up from a parent, school teacher or even the local constable. My concern is that we could have a decent father trying to raise four children on his own, who is now facing the full force of the justice system for administering discipline in his own home according to his Christian values,” says Mr Lewis.

    Mr Lewis emphasised a cautious approach to the case without knowing the full circumstances but noted the fathers comment about only occasionally using the wooden spoon when his son’s behaviour was particularly bad. Lewis also points out that the use of emotive words (in reporting) such as ‘hit’ don’t necessarily reflect the true circumstances of the case.

    “There was quite possibly a better way to handle this situation without arresting a father of four and throwing him in the clanger! But that’s what repealing Section 59 was all about,” Mr Lewis added.

    ends

  • French parents back smacking

    http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/08/stories/2007120853521300.htm

    French parents back smacking

    Emilie Boyer King

    Most French children are used to the odd spank from their parents, and many think there is nothing wrong with that, a new survey suggests. An Internet poll by the Paris-based Union of Families in Europe (UFE), an organisation which defends families’ rights in France, shows that 65 per cent of children in France think la fessee — French for a smack on the bottom — is a normal part of their upbringing, with more than half thinking they de serve it.

    Spanking is certainly central in a French education if the survey is anything to go by. More than 95 per cent of the 2,000 grandparents, parents, and children polled said they had been spanked at some point in their lives.

    A nationwide poll carried out nearly 10 years ago revealed that more than 85 per cent of French parents spanked their children compared with 87 per cent in the new survey. While spanking may still be popular in France, other forms of punishment, such as a slap on the cheek or a kick are rarely used and are considered dangerous by many parents, the survey showed.

    — ©Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2007

  • Dad argues for right to hit son

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4315830a11.html

    Dad argues for right to hit son
    By SALLY KIDSON – The Nelson Mail | Friday, 07 December 2007

    SPARE THE ROD: Rowan Flynn of Nelson is prepared to go to jail to assert his right to smack his four children.

    A Nelson father charged with assaulting his son, in one of the region’s first prosecutions under a controversial new child discipline law, says he is prepared to go to jail for his right as a parent and a Christian to hit his child.

    Rowan Flynn has been charged with two counts of assaulting his 11-year-old son under the new legislation, which came into effect in June and removed a parent’s right to use “reasonable force” when discipling a child.

    The 52-year-old denied the charges when he appeared in the Nelson District Court this week, and has chosen to have a judge and jury hear the case.

    Mr Flynn, who has four children, told the Nelson Mail his son called the police two weeks ago after he hit the boy.

    Mr Flynn disputes the police summary of facts. He estimated that he hit his son five times on the bottom with a wooden spoon after he was disobedient, and said it was a “tiny issue” that blew up.

    While the police visited him at home to talk to him, they did not take any action at that stage, he said.

    “But I made it quite clear to the cop that if it was needed again, I would smack.”

    Mr Flynn said that about a week later, he “clipped” his son around the face.

    Several days later, he was at home cooking dinner when the police arrived and he was arrested.

    Mr Flynn said he wanted to speak out about his case because he thought he would not have been charged under the old law.

    “I believe very strongly in smacking as a form of discipline. I’m a Christian, and believe it’s what I’ve been commanded to do.

    “I’m not going to lay down and take it. I’m going to kick and scream to the very end.”

    He said he only occasionally used the wooden spoon, when his son’s behaviour was particularly bad.

    He believed that passages in the Bible gave him the right to use the spoon, or “rod”.

    “Parents must have the right to correct their children and give them a good whack if that’s what they need.

    “All this law is doing is making criminals out of good parents. I’m not afraid to say `I smack my kids’.”

    He believed that smacking was effective because it was an immediate form of discipline.

    “We have to have it there, because the kids just know they can get away with anything if it isn’t there as a punishment.

    “I don’t beat my kids. I don’t thrash them.

    “This new law is going to destroy families. It’s already started.”

    Mr Flynn, who is separated from his wife, said his son had been living with him under an informal arrangement until he appeared in court on Tuesday.

    Mr Flynn was granted bail but refused to sign the bail bond because of a condition that he not contact his son. He said he was handcuffed, searched and spent several hours in a holding cell before being released. He intends to appeal the bail condition, and is due back in court on January 18.

    Nelson Bays police area commander Inspector Brian McGurk declined to comment on the prosecution, other than to say it had always been illegal for a parent to assault a child.

    A 33-year-old Masterton man recently became the first parent convicted under the new legislation. Last month, he was sentenced to nine months’ supervision and counselling for grabbing his son and smacking him three times.

    Green MP Sue Bradford, who campaigned for the legislation, said the law had changed to put the rights of a child to be free of violence before the rights of the parent.

    “What the law is about is protecting babies, children and young people from violence.”

    Ms Bradford said there were many alternatives to hitting children.

    “It’s a huge fallacy to think that beating them is helping them. It’s hurting and humiliating them.”

  • It’s OK to Smack – American College of Pediatricians

    4 December 2007

    It’s OK to Smack – American College of Pediatricians
    The American College of Pediatricians (ACP), a national medical association of licensed physicians and healthcare professionals who specialise in the care of infants, children, and adolescents has released a position statement on the smacking of children.

    “This research backs up the argument put forward by Family First and other pro-family groups against Sue Bradford’s anti-smacking law,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First.

    “The ACP reviewed the available research on corporal punishment and concluded that disciplinary smacking by parents can be effective when properly used. They say that the evidence suggests that it can be a useful and necessary part of a successful disciplinary plan when not relied upon solely to control their child’s behaviour.”
    “They say that smacking is most appropriate with children 2 to 6 years old, and when milder types of correction have failed.”

    The ACP has published a one page handout for parents titled “Guidelines for Parental Use of Disciplinary Spanking.” This can be viewed here:
    http://www.acpeds.org/index.cgi?BISKIT=1607656558&CONTEXT=cat&cat=10040

    They have also published an extensive review of the scientific literature on smacking.

    Family First is welcoming this balanced, objective and thorough research on the issue of smacking by professionals.

    “It flies in the face of the blind ideology peddled by the UN, politicians, Children’s Commissioner, and child welfare agencies who have failed to identify and deal with the real causes of child abuse,” says Mr McCoskrie.

    Family First continues to call on both the government and other political parties to change the current law on smacking so that parents who use the types of smacking recommended by the ACP are not committing a criminal act, and not be at the mercy of police discretion or unwarranted CYF investigation.
    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
    Bob McCoskrie JP – NATIONAL DIRECTOR
    Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42