The Catholic Weekly 6 February 2022

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 6, February, 2022 AS ATTACKS on the dignity of human life escalate in NSW, a State MP has launched an eP- etition in the latest attempt to stop the passage of the Volun- tary Assisted Dying Bill 2021. Well-known pro-life cam- paigner, Labor MLC Greg Donnelly, has established the short yet unambiguous pe- tition as a way for people to make their voices heard to all members of the NSW Legisla- tive Council. It states: “To the President and Members of the Legisla- tive Council, the petitioners of New South Wales state that they are completely opposed to the passage of the Volun- tary Assisted Dying Bill 2021, in any form, which provides for state sanctioned/funded assisted suicide/euthanasia. “A cornerstone of our legal system is that ALL human life has inherent value and must be treated with dignity and respect. “The petitioners request that the House unanimously oppose the bill, in any form, and reject it.” Mr Donnelly said it was vital as many people as pos- sible sign the ePetition and help protect the vulnerable in our society. “There are some very pro- found and existential matters playing out which go to the very heart and question of what our humanity is, what it means to be a human being and what does it mean to re- spect human life,” he said. “At the end of the day, we Catholics and Christians can- not direct and control what other people do in a totalitar- ian sense, but we must play Archbishop supports a new petition opposing assisted suicide ¾ Debbie Cramsie Stand against death bill: MP a very direct, strategic and critical role in stepping up to the plate, entering the public space and arguing these mat- ters. “It is important that we maximise participation in this important ePetiton, don’t put it off until later, it only takes 2-3 minutes to com- plete, sign it, pass it on and promote it as far and wide as you can.” Sydney Archbishop Antho- ny Fisher OP has urged all to sign the petition and write to MPs opposing the introduc- tion of the dangerous laws. “As the oldest and largest An online petition to the NSW Upper House seeks to have current VAD Bill scrapped. PHOTO: PIXABAY health and aged care provid- er in the world, the Catholic Church has long operated to uphold the dignity of the el- derly and the dying and com- passionately to relieve their suffering, never entertaining killing them or collaborating in bringing about their early death,” he said. Euthanasia and assisted suicide laws are currently op- erating in Victoria and WA. They have also passed the South Australian, Tasmanian and Queensland parliaments and will likely begin to oper- ate in those jurisdictions next year. Victoria recorded 325 deaths in its first two years of operation. WA has record- ed 50 deaths in its first six months. Euthanasia and assisted suicide laws have passed the NSW Lower House. The Leg- islative Council committee will report back to the Upper House on 22 February, after which we expect a debate and vote. To sign the ePetition go to the Legislative Council’s eP- etitions webpage where you can directly access it or go to https://www.parliament . nsw.gov.au/lc/pages/epeti- tions-list.aspx. I n this edition News Movies, books Archbishop’s homily Editorial & Letters 1-11 8-9 17 20-21 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Kenny (02) 9390 5348 EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 Debbie Cramsie (02) 9390 5396 Adam Wesselinoff (02) 9390 5400 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Katie Clarke (02) 9390 5402 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Faith in the trajectory of life catch it now at: thiscatholiclife.com.au 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 5220. 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