PERTH, WA: November 8, 1990
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Pointed interest
The Vatican was obviously taking a pointed interest in Bishop Quinn of Bunbury this week when he caught up with Papal Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Franco Brambilla who had come from Canberra to spend some days as the guest of Bishop Hickey of Geraldton before moving down for a similar visit to Bunbury after celebrating the annual clergy Mass for St Charles' Day at the Guildford vocational residence.
Row simmers CATHOLICS 'HOPEFUL' MATTER WILL BE RESOLVED
The top negotiator on behalf of Catholic nursing homes says he is "hopeful" of a better outcome in the dispute but it will depend on the amendments that the government will provide. After a 100-minute meeting on Tuesday between four Catholic representatives and Federal Minister Peter Staples and his staff, Bishop Edward Kelly said the minister seemed more conciliatory and that the mood had changed on the part of the minister. Bishop Kelly said that he gained the impression that the funding of the Catholic institutions would no longer be a question. Before the meeting, Senator Tate, Minister for justice, showed some amendments to Bishop Kelly. At the end of the ministerial conference Bishop Kelly said it was now up to the government to set out the amendments and the Catholic bodies would consider their response. The amendments are in the critical sections 8.3 and 9.3 of the Agreement that must be signed
between proprietors and the government. The two sections deal with sexual choice and sexual preference and currently read: "8.3 . . . and has the right to have language. sexual and emotional needs and choices accepted and treated with respect, except to the extent that the public physical and verbal expression of such needs would clearly and unreasonably offend, or infringe upon the rights of, the proprietor, nursing home staff and other residents; and "9.3 not be discriminated against on the basis of the resident's age, gender, sexual preference, race, colour, culture, language, religion, political or other option, national or social origin, birth or other status." Bishop Kelly said that since it was also an agreement between the residents and the proprietor "in Catholic homes we had to stand by the teaching of Christ in the matters of sexual choice and sexual preference." "We could not forego those principles and we
do not intend to," Bishop Kelly said. On the further issue of medical ethics Bishops' Conference secretary Monsignor Manning drew the meeting's attention to a recent Monash University survey revealing some doctors who had actively participated in euthanasia and others who advocated that it be legally allowed.
"I am more hopeful than I was but we will have to see what they come up with and whether they propose to accept amendments acceptable to us. We will not know until the final document. They could switch at any time."
In Perth this week the Catholic Health Care Association said it did not have anything Regarding earlier on air further to add and the claims by Mr Staples, Knights of the Southern that he had consulted Cross said they would be with Catholic bishops on dealing with the matter the matter, Bishop Kelly through their national challenged the minister homes chairman (see to name those bishops page 2). with whom he allegedly In WA there are 377 spoke to, but the minister nursing home beds did not provide names. under the supervision of Asked whether the ten Catholic bodies the absence of copies of both largest being the Knights the charter and the of the Southern Cross agreement, eg, in Perth along with the Little up till early this week, Sisters of the Poor, the was an experience Nazareth Sisters, the around Australia, Bishop Daughters of Charity and Kelly pointed out that the a number of institutions Little Sisters of the Poor catering primarily for in Sydney had got their elderly religious. copies three days after The controversy the matter was tabled in became public last week parliament. when Bishop Kelly "It looks as though they issued a statement on wanted to get it through behalf of the Health Care without anyone knowing Committee of the Ausabout it," commented tralian Bishops Bishop Kelly. Conference.
The statement said: "The bishops accept the desirability of having a Charter of Rights and Responsibilities and do not object to a form of agreement that seeks to promote loving care for residents: to ensure humane treatment for everyone; and to protect all involved in nursing homes from injustice. "But we do not accept that any Government has the right to deprive operators of nursing homes of financial assistance simply because they cannot in good conscience enter into agreements that would require them to allow their premises to be used for purposes that are a their violation of consciences. "The minister has chosen to include in the form of Agreement explicit rights for residents to have their sexual needs and choices accepted and treated with respect and not to be discriminated against on the basis of sexual preferences — this offends the consciences of Catholics, and I believe, of many others. "In addition for opera-
tors and residents it imposes more extensive obligations than the Sex Discrimination Act. "By granting to each resident an unqualified right to medical services of their choice the Charter and Agreement as tabled would prevent operators from excluding from their nursing homes medical practitioners who are unwilling to abide by the operators' philosophy of health care service in as such matters euthanasia. "Advice from legal advisers is that the proposed form of Charter and of Agreement as tabled by the Minister is shot through with drafting defects which raise serious difficulties for all concerned." Bishop Kelly said "the bishops' preference is for the legislation to be amended so that the tabled documents can be withdrawn and new forms of Charter and Agreement drafted after effective consultation with all concerned with the operation of nursing homes". Bishop Kelly said that such consultation had not occurred.
Why the fuss?
VATICAN CITY (CNS): Brazilian Cardinal Aloisio Lorscheider said he "does not understand the small scandal" caused by his statement that Pope John Paul II has approved the ordination as priests of two married permanent deacons in Brazil as long as they live "as brother and sister" with their wives. The cardinal said he was asked a question and told the truth. "It could be that because the synod did not offer hot items, the press thought a lot about making some noise by squeezing out the juice of my statement," he said. The cardinal added that it is erroneous to talk of a shortage of priests when the real problem is a shortage of committed and trained Catholics. It is the entire Catholic community that has responsibility for pastoral activities, he said. Talking about a priestly shortage is the result of "a mentality that must be changed," he said.