SW News:

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP of Sydney has called on the faithful to raise objections against New South Wales’ move to legalize euthanasia and assisted dying. “I strongly oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide because we shouldn’t be telling sick people by our laws that we think they would be better off dead,” he said in a letter that was issued ahead of the debate on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 in the House on Friday. 

Next month, the Upper House committee will hold four days of public hearings on the bill and the report is due in February. In his letter, the Dominican prelate mentioned that believers and people of goodwill should speak out against the bill by sparing a few minutes to fill out an online form that is offered by the Upper House inquiry. The archbishop also said in his letter that everyone has to speak up for the sanctity of life, adding that the authorities should do more to improve palliative care facilities instead of decriminalizing euthanasia. 

The Catholic bishops of Australia have frequently voiced their concern over the move to legalize assisted dying. In their statement, they have repeatedly pointed to the Church teaching on protecting the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb. 

Meanwhile, New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet’s speech in the House calling for the dignity of life grabbed the attention of lawmakers. He is opposed to the legislation and said that more could be done to improve palliative care given to the terminally ill in care homes instead of legalizing euthanasia. 

If it is passed, the bill will allow the terminally ill patients who have less than six months to live to request euthanasia. It will also enable health professionals to walk into a care home or similar facility and administer assisted dying without informing the authorities there.