Caritas makes submissions on legislation before government and other decision makers. Our position on any issue is considered against the principles of Catholic social teaching, as well as Catholic Church experience in working with the poor and vulnerable in society.
Issues chosen for submissions are generally on the basis of:
- Whether the issue has been set as an advocacy priority for Caritas.
- Whether Caritas or Catholic agencies have hands-on experience in dealing with the consequences of government decision making in the issue under scrutiny.
- Whether there is Catholic social teaching on the issue, in particular whether the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference has previously spoken out on an issue.
Catholic social teaching does not provide technical solutions or answers to complex social issues, but rather guidance for considering particular issues against the principles provided by the Church. However, in commenting on the particular legislation in front of a Select Committee or other decision maker, Caritas makes our own judgment as a Catholic agency about the specific matters before us.
Submissions have most recently been made on:
2010
Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill
Submission on Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill.pdf
Foreshore and seabed consultation April 2010 - Joint submission of Caritas, Te Runanga o Te Hahi Katorika Ki Aotearoa, and New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference: Caritas-Runanga-NZCBC submission on the 2010 foreshore and seabed consultation.pdf
Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill amendments Submission (2) on the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill_5 March 2010.pdf
Discussion documents regarding the Statutory Framework for Financial Reporting Submission to Accounting Standards Review Authority.pdf
2009
Sustainable Biofuel Bill 2009 Submission on Sustainable Biofuel Bill.pdf
Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill 2009 Submission on Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill.pdf
Ministerial Review Group on the Holidays Act 2003 Review of the Holidays Act 2003.pdf
Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Bill 2009
Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Bill submission.doc
Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill 2009 Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill submission.doc
Ministerial Review Panel on the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Review 2009 submission.pdf
New Zealand government's report on its UN Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights Submission on NZ government draft UPR report.pdf
Budget Policy Statement 2009 Submission on Budget policy statement 2009.doc