Bishops turn up the heat on MPs

The Catholic Church is urging its members to take note of the way their MPs vote on the Civil Union Bill today when deciding who to support at the next election.

The pressure from a church deeply opposed to homosexual marriage, comes as Parliament prepares for the second reading debate on the bill.

Catholic bishops have sent their unprecedented message in a letter to parishes, to be read from pulpits this Sunday.

In the letter, the bishops say they feel obliged to take their action because of the grave implications of the legislation.

MPs say they have faced unparalleled lobbying on the bill, which allows gay and heterosexual couples to form legally recognised "civil unions".

MPs' in-boxes were yesterday flooded by hundreds of emails. Some said they had received 800 messages.

The majority were from supporters of the bill, worried about the number of MPs indicating they might change their "yes" votes to "no".

The Maxim Institute, which opposes the bill, and members of the Campaign for Civil Unions and Christians for Civil Unions were knocking on MPs' doors at Parliament.

Wavering Labour MP Winnie Laban, who abstained on the first reading, revealed last night that she would support the bill.

National MP Pansy Wong also confirmed her continued support, but colleague Lockwood Smith will now vote against the bill.

Unless last-minute changes are made, this would give the Government 65 votes today.

That excludes Act MP Gerry Eckhoff, who said he would meet the proponent of the bill, Labour MP Tim Barnett, this morning before making a decision. But the signs are that he is likely to vote against the bill.

The vote is much closer than predicted by the Government, which was tipping 70 "yes" votes.

Two New Zealand First MPs voting in favour today have refused to guarantee continued support if their party's call for a referendum is rejected during next Thursday's final reading.

Associate Justice Minister David Benson-Pope yesterday described the support as "very solid".

"But equally there is still a lot of discussion still to happen."

Mr Benson-Pope said he believed the Catholic Church often issued such rallying cries to members.

But he wasn't going to get into a scrap with the bishops, who had rejected earlier invitations to discuss the issue.

"I'm sure most MPs would be quite delighted to stand on their electoral record with their communities, including on issues like this."

People had to remember the issue was the subject of a conscience vote and MPs were not voting on party lines.

Christians for Civil Unions spokeswoman Rev Dr Margaret Mayman said the bishops had the right to make whatever suggestion they chose.

"But Christians have the responsibility to act according to their own consciences. Fifty-nine per cent of New Zealanders support the legislation and I imagine Catholics are well-represented in that group."

National leader Don Brash was particularly targeted yesterday, after withdrawing his support for the bill this week.

This drew criticism from his party's youth branch.

Labour MPs attacked the National leader in his absence in the House, suggesting he had compromised his principles.

They brandished as evidence a statement he made on the Christian station Radio Rhema last week on the bill.

"I'm not willing to prostitute my conscience for any vote," he said.

"And if that means voting for or against something which is popular then so be it."

Campaign for Civil Unions spokesman Cameron Law said Dr Brash would lose gay and lesbian votes if he did not support the bill.