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Support Bill against euthanasia: Bishops
F t
Perth: September 5, 1996
of sight ot ro i gh d soun o cedd Edmund iRn
"As the reality and consequences of the legislation have become more widely Australia's Catholic Bishops on Tues- known, as the true meaning euthanasia day urged the Australian Parliament in has become more clearly understood, Canberra to grant passage to the the support which the initiative enjoyed Euthanasia Laws Bill to be introduced at first has waned." "People were shocked by the realisaby Victorian Liberal backbencher tion that this law went beyond what any Kevin Andrews next week If passed, the Bill would effectively other government in the world had been prepared to allow. outlaw the making and passing of "Not even in Holland had the law gone euthanasia legislation in all States and so far." Territories of Australia. The bishops said that the Northern TerThe Bishops, in a statement released on ritory legislation, which the Andrews Bill lliesday in Sydney where the Central is designed to override, was not about Commission of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference was meeting, providing treatments which ease sufferdescribed the current Northern Territo- ing and which might shorten life, nor was it about ceasing burdensome and ry legislation, the Rights of the Termifutile treatment of patients. nally Ill Act, as a "shoddy piece of "It allowed direct killing. And it offered Bishop Peter Quinn of Bunbury, merchandise." left, Archbishop and Bishop John Jobst and Bishop Robert scant assurance that the killing would be Healy prepare to offer the Eucharist in thanks forHickey, Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Irish ChrisThe Bishops said the limits of the NT restricted only to those who might tian Brothers. Photo Bnan Coyne, CEO Media Off/car legislation were uncertain. request it," they emphasised. "The necessary bond of trust between and John Jobst at the Mass celebrated by By Colleen McGuiness-Howard They added that since the legislation patient and carer are still threatened," had been passed it had also become Archbishop Barry Hickey. Archbishop Hickey urged the students they said. The stage at the Perth Entertainment Cenclear that the safeguards against abuses "The deep disquiet of the Aboriginal and miscalculations in implementing the tre last week was transformed into a sanc- present to "try and discover the central people is still unheeded. Allowing doc- law had been shown to be unworkable, tuary emblazoned with colour, adorned as mysteries in the Mass which will unite you tors to kill their patients is still wrong." resulting in it being recalled to the Ter- it was with magnificent wildflowers and with Jesus, and you and Jesus with tiny eucalypts which would have made Almighty God." The bishops also described the ritory's Legislative Assembly "to be tin- Christian Brothers' founder Edmund All need that deep life-long connection Andrews legislation as a chance for Aus- kered with again." with God, he said, "and in the example of Ignatius Rice very proud. The bishops' call to Federal Parliament tralia's political leaders to "finally put Three to four thousand people, mostly Edmund Rice we can see what effect it can comes following the defeat of a legal students gathered from their various Chris- have on a human being when we allow Australia back on track" "The Bishops repeat their claim that the challenge to the Northern Territory laws tian Brothers-linked schools, to celebrate Jesus to work these miracles in our hearts." A seventy-piece band under the baton of direct killing of the dying and the suffer- In the Territory's Supreme Court last the work this great man commenced in month. Robert Braham led the 120 student choir, 1802, and express their Joy at his forthing, even if ills made legal, is always giving coming honour beatification The to the founder of the BrothCoalition Against scheduled Euthanasia, in Rome repwrong," they said. ers. resenting a variety of church and pm-life on October 8. They said the Andrews Bill, dealing groups, and which mounted the A five by eight metre banner made in his Student also participated in the Mass chalwith an issue which was "literally a mat- lenge, said that it planned to appeal the honour by Aquinas College art teacher with readings, prayer offerings, and an ter of life and death" would be the most decision to the High Court in Canberra. Paul Jacobs and his students hung behind Edmund Rice reflection. important legislation this session of ParSt Joseph's College, Albany; Catholic The law passed by the Northern Terri- the altar. liament considered. The man who turned a dream into tangi- Agricultural College, Bindoon; John Paul, tory's Legislative Assembly and made "Ever since the Northern Territory Leg- effective from 1 July last is the world's ble reality, starting from the teaching of Kalgoorlie; Tardun Christian Brothers AgriIrish street children to the Christian Broth- cultural College; Nagle College, Geraldton; islative Assembly, in the small hours of first piece of euthanasia legislation. ers' phenomena of today where they have Clontart Kolbe; Aranmore; Aquinas; Mini25 May 1995, passed the misnamed The bishops congratulated the Howard spread their enterprises world-wide, ty; Chisholm; CBC Fremantle; and Ursula Rights of the Terminally Ill Act, a sense Government for allowing the Andrews' would have been very proud of unease has grown around the coun- Bill to be debated "in the forum where Boy priests present who of his 40 Old Frayne were all represented to state their assisted along pride in being a part of Edmund Rice's try" the bishops said. final responsibility lies." with Bishops Robert Healy, Peter Quinn, Influence in education. By Peter Rosengren
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