The Catholic Weekly 2 August 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 2, August, 2020 Call 02 9649 6423 or visit www.catholiccemeteries.com.au Consecrated lawns and chapels Sydney’s only Catholic crematorium Monthly mass for the Repose of Souls Funeral directors available for a Catholic service Bereavement pastoral care Serving the Catholic community for over 150 years A PROFESSOR of Bioethics at the University of Notre Dame, Margaret Somerville, is call- ing the spread of euthanasia legislation around the world akin to an extremely danger- ous ‘slowmoving pandemic’ – not unlike the COVID-19 pan- demic at large. “It seems to be infectious - one jurisdiction after another - and the carriers of that infor- mation are the pro-euthana- sia lobby,” she told The Catho- lic Weekly . “They believe they are do- ing something good and that it is a compassionate, merciful response but [euthanasia] is extremely dangerous at a so- cietal level.” Professor Somerville’s comments come in response to the most extreme euthana- sia legislation to date in Aus- tralia to be presented to the Tasmanian Upper House in August through Independent MLC Mike Gaffney. Gaffney’s Tasmanian ‘End- of-Life-Choices’ Bill, which models itself on similar legis- lation in Victoria and Western Australia, takes an extreme turn where, unlike euthanasia legislation on the mainland, there is no proviso requiring terminal illness within the next 6-12 months as a criteria for euthanasia. Instead, in Gaffney’s Bill, euthanasia is defined as: ‘a disease, illness, injury, or medical condition of the per- son that is serious, incurable and irreversible.’ “This definition would open the door for people with conditions such as Type 1 Di- abetes or Chronic Asthma to meet the eligibility criteria,” said Ben Smith of Live & Die Well – a Tasmanian group ad- vocating for better palliative care as a euthanasia alterna- tive. “Tasmania has on average Euthanasia is the ‘new pandemic’ the highest population with chronic illnesses and disabili- ties in Australia. We also have on average the most elderly population in Australia. We are a vulnerable population,” he said. “Live & Die Well’ is hoping to either block the bill or force substantial amendments mandating increased provi- sions for palliative care. Mr Smith also warned that the Bill could slip through Parliament under the distrac- tion of the coronavirus pan- demic. “The bill has not been Ethicist Margaret Somerville compares the spread of euthanasia legislation to a ‘slowmoving pandemic’. properly thought through.The COVID-19 lockdown period has been a major distraction to members of the public and medical professionals, [and] has limited their bandwidth to scrutinise the bill,” he said. “In order to ensure the pro- tection of the vulnerable, the ‘Gaffney Bill’ should be ful- ly consulted with the public via an independent inquiry before it is debated in Parlia- ment. “Other states are currently doing enquiries for bills such as this with life and death de- cisions. It’s important there is proper due diligence. “Tasmania has not had an enquiry in this area since 2009. We are well overdue to look at this properly.” Professor Somerville ac- knowledged the noble inten- tions of the pro-euthanasia lobby. But she emphasised the un- acceptability of hasty policy applied to issues of terminal illness, disability and chronic pain – citing improved ap- proaches to palliative care and pain relief as viable and more human alternatives. “The pro-euthanasia lob- by aims to relieve suffering and to be compassionate and those are absolutely goodmo- tives but to do it this way is ethically unacceptable,” she said “With our advanced re- search on pain - and methods dealing with it - we can do that without killing the person and in fact it’s been shown in research; eliminating pain ex- tends life.” I n this edition News Streaming Archbishop’s homily World Opinion, comment 1-7 8-9 14-16 11,17-19 20-21 12 75 YEARS AFTER ARMAGEDDON Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5144. The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by ACM Australian Community Media, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond NSW, 2754. LEAVE A GIFT Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic CHARITIES Order your FREE Wills and Bequests Guide today 1800 753 959 or [email protected] myWill SUPPORTINGTHE MINISTRIES OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Leaving a gift in a In order to ensure the protection of the vulnerable, the ‘Gaffney Bill’ should be fully consulted with the public via an independent inquiry before it is debated in Parliament.” Ben Smith ¾ ¾ David Ryan EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 David Ryan (02) 9390 5408 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa