Bishops are dissatisfied' Number 2490
PERTH, WA. July 31, 1986
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Prelate critical about boycott GLASGOW --The Commomwealth Games boycott and the decision to ban the South Africanborn athletes Zola Budd and Annette Cowley were criticised by Archbishop Winning of Glasgow. The boycott was "a snub to Scotland" which would not help to bring about an end to apartheid, he said. While he could understand the frustrations of African nations over the British government's policy on South Africa, the boycott would only bring about further divisions. "At a time when the various parties should be doing their utmost to effect reconciliation and find a peaceful end to apartheid, I am saddened by this boycott of the Commomwealth Games," Archbishop Winning said. "The boycott can only cause further divisions. Sporting events should be a means of healing relationships between peoples and countries
·,·Mr
and should not be brought into the political area." Zola Budd issue was relevant to the boycott, but I would have to say it is pathetic that this worldclass athlete will not be able to show her talents to the world. "While we must respect our government's decision, I pray they will change their minds."
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Archbishop Winning He appealed to the nations concerned to reconsider their decision "and not try to correct one wrong with another". "f cannot believe the boycott will herald any serious move to end apartheid, and it is ironic that the Scottish people who have expressed their wish for sanctions are the ones who are being
snubbed," he said.
"I don't really think the
At a time when the various parties should be doing their utmost to effect reconciliation and find a peaceful end to apartheid, I am saddened by this boycott of the Commonwealth Games. The boycott can only cause further divisions. Sporting events should be a means of healing relationships between peoples and countries and should not be brought into the political area." 11
The Australian Bishops Conference has told the Human Rights' Commission it is dissatisfied with replies it has received so far on the treatment of severely handicapped babies. The bishops say also there is a division between the views of the chairman of the commission, Dame Roma Mitchell and the deputy chairman, Mr Peter Bailey- both on their views of infanticide and on a recently produced discussion paper. Following correspondence begun the latest letter from the bishops asks for specific answers in a case that would involve a spina bifida child.
Archbishop Clancy
'Hastening death' • Record reporter COLLEEN HOWARD talks with a remarkable Italian family who settled in Perth's hills districts and were determined to 'give it a go'. See pages 10 and 11. • Young Manjimup housewife and Guides' leader chosen as the only Westem Australian to work on UNICEF project in Bangladesh to help the health of children there. See 'Different revolution' story and picture, Page 6. • A combined churches education authority holds discussion on introducing Christian teaching and principles to more schools. See picture and story, page 7.
• Perth group works to help Australian Catholic Relief by using handicrafts and art cottage industries to promote their cause and raise funds. See story page 2.
The bishops say they are dissatisfied with a statement by Mr Bailey in May this year: "In the case of the severely disabled infant, the parents should have the right to an informed decision whether or not to hasten the infant's dying-"
pertinent to ask what
benefit will the severely handicapped infant get from either Australian legislation, international conventions of UN declarations which assert either directly or indirectly that "Every human being has the inherent right to life" when these instruments are or are to be administered by the A statement from the Human Rights Commisbishops' secretariate this sion. "The bishops now put week commented "If the deputy chairman was to the Human Rights speaking for the Human Commission a concrete Rights Commission, it case and ask for answers seems clear that, con- to a series of questions "The concrete case destrary to the claim of its chairman, the Human cribes a baby who has Rights Commission does survived for some measufavour legislation to per- rable period of time indemit infanticide in the pendently of its mother case of the severely dis- and continues to survive with nourishment and abled. "If that is so its seems treatment but is found to
be suffering from a very
severe form of spina bifida.
"The questions are as follows • is the baby a "human being" for purposes of Article 6 of the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 18 of the proposed Australian Bill of Rights Bill? • is the baby a "child" for the purposes of Principles 2, 4 and 5 of the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child?
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