M.p.s Called Cowards (Press, 5 July 1975)
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Summary: M.p.s Called Cowards (Press, 5 July 1975)
On 4 July 1975, during a session of the House of Representatives, 23 members chose not to vote on the Crimes Amendment Bill, prompting criticism from Rev. F. C. Donnelly, a Roman Catholic priest and senior lecturer at the University of Auckland Medical School. Donnelly, who is a prominent advocate for homosexual law reform, described the absence of nearly a quarter of elected representatives as "complete irresponsibility and moral cowardice." He acknowledged that some members could have been absent due to illness or urgent matters but deemed it unacceptable for so many to miss a vote on legislation that significantly impacts their constituents. In his remarks, Donnelly expressed concern over the quality of debate among politicians, suggesting that many lawmakers were driven by ignorance or religious bias when casting their votes. He noted that despite references to compassion made by some politicians during the discussion, their attitudes and voting behaviour did not reflect any true sense of compassion towards the issues at hand. This commentary highlights the tension surrounding the bill and the differing perspectives among those in Parliament regarding topics related to homosexuality and reform.
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