Record PERTH, WA: October 4, 1990
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Embryo tests 'no' MORE THAN HALF OF PUBLIC'S VIEWS CALL FOR LAB BAN
Over one half of 120 public submissions on reproductive technology addressed the issue of human embryo experimentation and most opposed it, the Minister for Health, Mr Keith Wilson, said last week. "It is the Government's view that the balance of the community view at this time favours the position that all experimentation and research on human embryos should be banned:' he told a meeting of the Fertility Council of Australia. "Whereas your constituency is primarily those who seek progress, and therefore results, in infertility treatments; the Government's, indeed the Parliament's, added responsibility is to ensure that legislation accurately reflects the appropriate balance of community attitudes
towards the issues concerned. "Strong differences of opinion exist within medical and scientific communities over the usefulness and necessity of embryo experimentation. "It is the view of the Government, which is strongly supported across the community, that specific procedures need to be prohibited in the practice of reproductive technology." Mr Wilson explained that 300 interested individuals and organisations were in December 1989 forwarded legislative proposals and of the 120 submissions received, nearly 60 per cent came from the general public, nearly one quarter from the infertile in the community and about 10 per cent each from IVF practitioners and other doctors.
Significantly, the minister said, there was broad agreement as to the need for the regulation of IVF practice. He also said that other procedures, namely the creation of human clones, the formation of animal human hybrids and embryo biopsy will likewise be banned, and "embryo flushing", a process which seeks to provide live embryos for research, will also be prohibited. "The Government considers these bans as vital, since the moral and social significance of these procedures is great and their implications are far reaching. "The Bill seeks to regulate the reproductive technology industry and to ensure the compassionate treatment of those who need it.
Way to go for Catholic unis Four basic elements of a Catholic university reiterated by Pope John Paul last week have not been altered from a 1973 statement by Rome. Essential characteristics of a "Catholic" university says the 49page document From The Heart of The Church are: • A Christian inspiration of not only individuals but the university community. • Reflecting on human knowledge in the light of faith.
• Fidelity to the Christian message as it comes through the Church. • Commitment to a transcendent goal that gives meaning to life. The 1990 document which was one of the first projects commissioned by Pope John Paul in 1979 quotes the characteristics almost word for word from a 1.973 statement. Although the latest document went through many revisions, it
seems initially to have won approval from most of those who were apprehensive. Cardinal Laghi, head of the Vatican Congregation for Education says the adjective Catholic does not diminish the academic scientific character and the specific goal of a university. "We expect that it be Catholic and free," he said. • See Pages 6 and 7.
Praise for all The Catholic Charities Appeal, Appealathon, the Commonwealth and State governments all got praise last Saturday for their contributions to a new respite home for handicapped children at Riverton. Archbishop Foley said the Catholic Charities contribution was the way the Church showed support to those in need in the community. Appealathon workers and donors could feel encouraged he said that their efforts are well founded and a response to real need. Commonwealth and State governments and the Church had worked
together to make the house available to children, the archbishop said. For Catholic Care for the Intellectually Handicapped (CCIH) the Riverton house is a homeaway-from-home exclusively for up to six children who have up to three staff per shift to look after them while the families take a short break. Mr Arthur Cox, chairman of ccrH, pointed out that while the premises were being readied, 71 children had been offered respite care over five months in temporary alternative in accomodation Applecross.
Reviewing the struggle for CCIH to get approval for the venture, Mr Cox said he was confident that ratepayers will find their fears were unnecessary and that CCIH is looking forward to developing good relationships with neighbours. Intentionally the respite house is wanted to look like any other suburban .home. Only a bedroom has been added and improvement made to the toilet and wet areas. This first respite home just for children joins CCIH's five other residences for the mildly disabled, plus a multihandicapped duplex for both extended and respite care.
The CCIH respite house co-ordinator Dolores Finnin holds the holy water while Archbishop Foley gives a bed a special blessing at the Riverton opening last Saturday. Picture by Stephen Van Vlimen.