The Catholic Weekly 10 May 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 10, May, 2020 BAGUETTES, JAM AND BLISTERS P12 When the elderly and vulnerable are isolated and anxious, while the government and community fight to protect and save their lives, how can (Mr Gaffney) promote assisted suicide?” Christopher Brohier PRO-LIFE LEADERS are ap- palled that an assisted suicide campaign in Tasmania will continue with minimal delay despite the coronavirus pan- demic. Independent MLC Mike Gaffney will introduce his private members bill to the Parliament’s upper house in September, after it was orig- inally slated for August. The End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2020 is the most ex- treme assisted dying regime the country has yet seen. It would allow assisted suicide for those who are not terminally ill, not cur- rently experiencing physi- cal or emotional suffering in relation to their medical condition, and without the need to be seen by a spe- cialist doctor. It comes as New Zealand also prepares to go ahead with its planned referen- dum on euthanasia in Sep- tember. “When the elderly and vulnerable are isolated and anxious, while the govern- ment and community fight to protect and save their lives, how can (Mr Gaffney) pro- mote assisted suicide?” said Australian Christian Lobby’s acting Tasmanian director Christopher Brohier. “He should learn from NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro, who pulled Na- tionals MP Trevor Khan into line for promoting assisted suicide during the bushfire crisis earlier in the year. “Whilst Mr Gaffney is saying COVID-19 respons- es will take precedence, he should cancel his campaign for assisted suicide indefi- nitely. “We need a statewide and national united front in ad- No limits: Tasmanian death push Euthanasia not just for the terminally ill: state’s draft assisted suicide scheme is themost extreme yet seen ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues Lidcombe honours its mothers ST JOACHIM’S Parish at Lidcombe has found a cre- ative way to celebrate Moth- er’s Day having the children in the parish communi- ty decorate and send in pa- per flowers with the name of their mother or carer. The team at St Joachim’s teamed up with Father Edu- ardo Orilla and the commu- nity to make this Mother’s Day truly one to remember ¾ ¾ Benjamin Conolly despite the COVID-19 re- strictions. More than a 100 families in the communi- ty responded to the call, writing the names of loved ones and heartfelt messag- es of thanks and sending them in to be positioned in the church pews, allowing parishioners to be pres- ent spiritually with Father Eduardo during the live- streamed Sunday morning Mass. Marianna Sanavio, St. Joachim’s CPS Family Educator, had originally planned the display as a way to celebrate Mary in the month of May. When the churches were forced to close their doors, Marianna repurposed the plan, ded- icating it to the mother’s in the parish. From the Mother of Jesus to our own mother’s and grandmother’s. “It started as an idea for a CONTINUED PAGE 3 dressing the COVID-19 cri- sis. “We also need consistent messaging from Tasmanian MPs that elderly vulnerable lives are worth saving.” The Tasmanian Austral- ian Medical Association (AMA) is also “strongly op- posed” to the push. “A doctor’s role is to care for patients, to treat them, provide comfort and sup- port, and to relieve suffer- ing, but not to intention- ally end a patient’s life,” Tasmanian AMA President Professor John Burgess told media. Professor Burgess also said the timing of the Bill’s introduction this year is in- appropriate, as the circum- stances around the pan- demic impede an effective consultation process. The Archbishop of Ho- bart Julian Porteous has re- peatedly said that the sick and dying need to be treat- ed with the best possible care and compassion and warned that any assisted suicide regime would put vulnerable people at risk. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Tasmania’s proposed law would allow assisted suicide for those who are not ill. A STRANGE LINE OF ARGUMENT P18 A statue of Mary in St Joachim’s watches over the names of Lidcombe mothers for Mother’s Day. PHOTOS: GIOVANNI PORTELLI