SW News:

Ignoring the appeals of the Catholic Church and pro-life organizations, New South Wales (NSW) has become the last Australian state to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide. Denouncing the move, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP of Sydney described it as “truly a dark day for New South Wales.” 

With the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 passed by the Upper House on Thursday, May 19, New South Wales has become the sixth state to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide. According to ‘The Catholic Weekly,’ a publication of the Archdiocese of Sydney, the bill was passed by 23-15 votes and has been sent to the governor for approval. Once approved, the bill will come to effect in 18 months. 

Lashing at the legislation, Archbishop Fisher said, “If a civilization is to be judged by how it treats its weakest members, the NSW parliament has failed miserably and has set a dark and dangerous path for all posterity, determining a new and disturbing definition of what it means to be human.” 

Various Catholic health and aged care providers condemned the legislation. While it was being debated in the House, they strongly campaigned for faith-based elder care facilities to be exempted from the law, citing freedom of conscience. Catholic Health Australia, an NGO providing aged care, stated, “Our members have made it clear they cannot conscionably participate in assisted suicide, and yet the Parliament has passed a law that forces our aged care members to facilitate it.” 

Bishop Anthony Randazzo of Broken Bay diocese also joined the chorus of protesters and expressed his disappointment over euthanasia being legalized. Emphasizing the Church’s teaching, the prelate said, “We should be considering and caring for the rights of all citizens to be well, to have the care they need, and not lost to the margins.” 

Independent MP for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, introduced the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill in 2020 after previous attempts to pass the bill were blocked in 2017. The bill will allow any individual suffering from a terminal illness who is expected to die within six months to seek euthanasia. It will also enable health professionals to walk into a care home or similar facility and provide assisted dying without informing the authorities concerned.