The Record Newspaper 07 August 1986

Page 1

THIS • Progress

at

A~PR.di Wongan Hills with

new buildings at local church. Story and picture, page

7.

we .''& • Protests at ABC re-programming Church scripture readings. See story page 2.

Number 2491

PERTH, WA: August 7, 1986 LOCATION: 26 John St. Perth, (off Fitzgerald St) POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Perth Aberdeen St, WA 6CXX)

PRICE 60¢

TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388

MELBOURNE: The Victorian bishops have protested strongly against what they term "the indecent haste" of the Parliamentary Social Development Committee's Inquiry into Options for Dying With Dignity. The bishops state that such a serious matter needs more time given to it for serious public reflection and assessment. "Matters concerning banking, tariffs, industrial relations and the like are given ample time for public ventilation and thorough assessment. 'The lives of old and/or dying citizens are far more significant than any topics such as those," they said. As well as calling for more time for the inquiry, the bishops in their nine-page submission urged parliamentarians to: • Give serious thought to the "great questions of life and death" being tackled by the inquiry. • Exercise "moral courage" and stand up for "the principles of the inalienable right to life" in any legislation which may result from the inquiry. The Victorian public, they said, should support their MPs on this issue. The terms of reference included in the inquiry which cause the Bishops concern are: • Whether legislative action is desirable and practicable for establishing a right to die. • Under what circumstances, if any, a person should have a right to die. • Whether or not a person should be 'assisted in dying". • Whether individuals can have a right in certain circumstances to direct that they be allowed to die or "assisted in dying".

• Newman Col-

lege has Its 12th

annual Artcenta auction and exhibition. See page 2.

A greeting

for hostage ROME: The Pope has thanked the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Runcie this week for his part in securing the release of Father Lawrence Jenco, held by Mos1 em extremists in Beirut for 19 months.

1

Father Jenco, 51, parish

priest at Wanneroo in 1977 was received in private audience by the Pope on Wednesday, when he delivered a secret message from the kidnappers.

The bishops stress in their submission that in all circumstances related to dying. the principles of the inalienable right to life and the intrinsic value of every human being must be upheld. 'The attack on the inalienable character of the Right to Life has been seeking to woo allies by appealing to two very different motives," they said. "One is an appeal to pity: to pity the pain or the tedium of the chronically sick or the senile. "In its more aggressive form it finds expression in phrases such as 'they shoot horses, don't they?'

□□□

He said afterwards "T brought the Pope a confidential message from the men who abducted me, and this will also be taken to the Archbishop of I'm Canterbury. frightened to say much more or to give details of the audience and the pope's reaction, or what I feel about my captors, because I have a deep feeling that it could be detrimental to the safety of my dear brothers still held captive in Lebanon. In my silence I pray for their release, as does the Holy Father. "But I want my captors to know I kept my promise and took their message to the pope. In my heart there is only compassion and understand-

Gentler modes

ing for my jailers. There is love and reconciliation. There is no resentment. They are forgiven. I shall now keep my vow to fight for the release of the other hostages." "I last saw the Holy Father in a Thailand refugee camp about two years ago,

Father Jenco said.

"I never believed I would

be a refugee one day. I was here before the Holy Father by the grace of God - my prayers answered and after 19 months of agony. It was a tremendous joy for me and an ordeal for my family," Father Jenco said.

Father Lawrence lenco gives the pope a message from the Moslem extremists in Beirut who kidnapped him 19 months ago. The American priest was given a private audience on Wednesday with the Arch-

bishop of Canterbury's special envoy Mr Terry Waite, who helped to secure Father lenco's release.

------------"" " "'-------------------------------

In gentler modes of expression, it takes such forms as: 'he/she would be better off dead. It's the kindest thing, really'. "The other motive is much less worthy. "The London Economist (14 June, 1986) had a full-page article in its section World Business headed: 'It's so expensive for nations to grow old'. "This speaks for itself. "Every euphemism and sophistry will, increasingly, be sought to build up a public opinion that an increasingly large section of the community is too expensive to keep alive. "Every sort of rhetoric will be sought to persuade old persons that it is selfish and extravagant of them to expect society, or their family, to keep them alive. "In the near future, this discussion will focus on very expensive medical and nursing measures "If any sort of success is obtained by the Right to Die lobby, one must forsee the time when accountants and economists will be employed to prove that the cost-benefit equation of feeding helpless, senile or 'useless' people, and keeping them warm and entertained by television, cannot be justified in terms of economic rationalism."

Kalgoorlie sister's role in Chernobyl disaster

See story page 3


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The Record Newspaper 07 August 1986 by The Record - Issuu