The Catholic Weekly 14 February 2021

$2 14, February, 2021 REACTIONS TO the passing of a law in Victoria to ban so-called ‘conversion’ prac- tices have ranged from deep concern to dismay among those who warned that the bill was severely flawed and an attack on freedom of religion and of speech. The Change or Suppression (Conver- sion) Practises Prohibition Bill passed Vic- toria’s upper house 27 votes to nine on 4 February, despite strong opposition from faith leaders, ethicists, lawyers, doctors and psychiatrists. Critics say it is so broad in its definitions and the sanctions so severe that it risks criminalising people in their homes, work- places and churches who genuinely seek to assist those who ask for their support, as well as Christians and other people of faith. “With the passing of this Bill, Victoria has entered strange new territory in which cer- tain prayers, offered under particular condi- tions, could turn a parent or counsellor into a criminal,” Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli told The Catholic Weekly . “Despite every reasonable attempt to meet and discuss the problematic aspects of this Bill, faith leaders have met a wall of silence,” Archbishop Comensoli said. “Our great concern here is that opportu- nities to offer care and support will now be severely limited under the law.” Prior to the bill being passed, the arch- bishop joined with other faith leaders to write to Premier Daniel Andrews making it “abundantly clear” that they rejected all harmful and coercive practices. But they said the proposed law would not achieve its stated aim of protecting people from harm, and instead “ultimately hurt people who should be free to ask oth- ers for help”. Michael Quinlan, the Dean of Law at Notre Dame University, Sydney, said it was disappointing that the law will come into effect despite the concerns of faith leaders and the risk of “unintended consequenc- es” as expressed by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Royal Austral- ian and New Zealand College of Psychia- trists (RANZCP). “Clarity is critical in the law and it is par- ticularly important when a law intrudes into such important principles as indi- vidual rights, parental rights, freedom of choice and freedom of religion,” Professor Quinlan said. “Laws which lack clarity cause unnec- essary confusion and leave it to courts to provide certainty through case law. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues Who can be targetted? That’s the question observers and critics are asking in the wake of Premier Daniel Andrews’ bulldozing of the world’s most extreme law through the Victorian Parliament. PHOTO:AAP IMAGE/POOL, CHRIS HOPKINS Everyone – medical associations,gay advocacy groups, feminist scholars, churches and family advocates, to name just a few – is alarmed at the consequences of Daniel Andrews’ draconian newVictorian legislation for families,counsellors,ministers and healthcare professionals CHILLING VICTORIAN LAW