Every elderly, disabled, chronically sick, suffering or dying person should be offered loving support and assured by that care that we think their lives are not ‘a burden’ but something sacred, says Bishop Anthony Fisher, Episcopal Vicar for Life and Health.
The bishop said we must never relegate anyone else to the ‘better off dead’ category. “Our goal in the end must be not just good laws, but a situation where people are so loved and supported that no-one – apart from the euthanasia ideologues – would want such a thing,” he said.
Bishop Fisher was responding to news that a Federal parliamentary committee has backed a push by the Australian Greens to restore right-to-die laws in the Northern Territory and pave the way for their introduction in the ACT.
A bill introduced to the Upper House by Greens leader Bob Brown in February aims to repeal the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 and thereby allow the NT and ACT to make legislation permitting voluntary euthanasia.
It also proposes to revive the Northern Territory Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995, overturned by the Commonwealth nine months after it came into force.
Senator Brown said euthanasia was legal in the Netherlands and Belgium, and Australia will “follow suit” at some stage.
Bishop Fisher said: “It looks like the euthanasia debate will not go away any time soon.
“Despite the fact that almost every civilised country has banned the practice of doctors and nurses killing people – even severely suffering people, even if they request it – there are some people who will never give up on pushing for it here.”
He added: “For Catholics this means we must be ever-vigilant in ensuring that the right people represent us in parliament and the courts, that our representatives know our view that a lethal injection is not the right way to deal with suffering, to be ready with the arguments for our friends and for the media, and for us also to be offering positive alternatives, not just saying ‘no’ all the time.
“The great work done by palliative care services deserves to be better known and better supported.”
Newsreader Tracey Spicer has revealed that she came within moments of suffocating her mother, an admission likely to further ignite debate on whether euthanasia should be made legal.
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A foundation stone blessed in the Vatican by Pope Benedict was set in place at Chester Hill last Sunday by George Cardinal Pell to begin the building of a new seminary for priests in the archdiocese. [More]
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