Family Life International (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Family Life International (FLI) is an independent Roman Catholic and pro-life
organisation based in Auckland
, New Zealand
. Although it initially had close ties with the US based group Human Life International, FLI no longer has any official relationship, or connection to Human Life International. FLI advocates pro-life perspectives and activities, opposing abortion
, contraceptives, sterilisation, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, certain types of artificial fertility technologies; the organisation also expounds the benefits of natural family planning
, sexual abstinence prior to marriage, as well as being strong advocates of the Catholic teaching on human sexuality known as 'Theology of the Body'.
FLI dedicates itself to providing education, advocating and carrying out practical work in support of Catholic life, faith and family. The organisation provides education and formation events and resources; advocates life, faith and family issues in the New Zealand media; and runs crisis-pregnancy centres, offering post-abortion counselling and training couples in natural fertility regulation.
FLI also runs crisis-pregnancy centres and post-abortion counseling facilities, which offer free practical and emotional support to women in crisis=pregnancy situations, or suffering from post-abortion trauma of any type.
They also provide officially recognized and trained tutoring in the Billings Ovulation Method of Natural Fertility Regulation (also known as Natural Family Planning).
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
organisation based in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Although it initially had close ties with the US based group Human Life International, FLI no longer has any official relationship, or connection to Human Life International. FLI advocates pro-life perspectives and activities, opposing abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, contraceptives, sterilisation, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, certain types of artificial fertility technologies; the organisation also expounds the benefits of natural family planning
Natural family planning
Natural family planning is a term referring to the family planning methods approved by the Roman Catholic Church. In accordance with the Church's requirements for sexual behavior in keeping with its philosophy of the dignity of the human person, NFP excludes the use of other methods of birth...
, sexual abstinence prior to marriage, as well as being strong advocates of the Catholic teaching on human sexuality known as 'Theology of the Body'.
Aims
The organisation's stated aim is to "promote the full dignity and wonder of human life (from the moment of natural conception to the moment of natural death), of human sexuality, of marriage and family, and to inform and protect kiwi women and their babies from the harm of abortion".FLI dedicates itself to providing education, advocating and carrying out practical work in support of Catholic life, faith and family. The organisation provides education and formation events and resources; advocates life, faith and family issues in the New Zealand media; and runs crisis-pregnancy centres, offering post-abortion counselling and training couples in natural fertility regulation.
History
In April 1992, FLI Director Colleen Bayer attended a pro-life/family conference in Ottawa, Canada, where she met Fr Paul Marx. Bayer was inspired by the apostolic nature of Father Marx's defence of life, faith and family, and established Family Life International in New Zealand in September 1992.Activities
Family Life International runs regular educational and formation events around the country of New Zealand, including large pro-life and family conferences featuring internationally renowned pro-life speakers. They also host regular pro-life prayer vigils and run pro-life activities for young people.FLI also runs crisis-pregnancy centres and post-abortion counseling facilities, which offer free practical and emotional support to women in crisis=pregnancy situations, or suffering from post-abortion trauma of any type.
They also provide officially recognized and trained tutoring in the Billings Ovulation Method of Natural Fertility Regulation (also known as Natural Family Planning).