Church issues warning after SA euthanasia defeat
By Anthony Barich
National Reporter
The Archdiocese of Adelaide has warned Catholics to be vigilant leading up to the State’s March 20, 2010 election after a Greens-sponsored euthanasia bill was narrowly defeated in the early hours of November 19.
Adelaide Archdiocesan Family and Life Officer Paul Russell told The Record that with two staunch pro-life Liberal MPs Robert Lawson QC and Michelle Schaeffer about to retire, the movement is set to lose control of the Upper House.
“People need to remember the closeness of this vote in the future, vote below the line in the next election and give priority to those identified as pro-life,” Mr Russell said.
A euthanasia bill is almost certain to be introduced after the March election, as Independent MP Bob Such has repeatedly introduced his own ‘dying with dignity’ bill into the Lower House, which until now has given it scant attention and is unlikely to reach resolution.
Independent MP Ann Bressington, whose vote was expected to be the deciding one on November 19, abstained after three of her amendments were rejected during third-reading debate.
“As a society, we’re not ready for this yet. I don’t believe we are responsible enough,” Ms Bressington said.
While pro-lifers expected her abstention to give the bill successful passage, atheist David Ridgway, a passionate supporter of euthanasia throughout the debate, stunned both sides of parliament when he changed his mind on the last day after his mother died during the week.
The bill was defeated 11 votes to nine.
“I don’t come to here with any great religious disposition as some members who are opposed to the bill or any other real position,” he said. “I just, at this point in time, don’t feel comfortable supporting the bill. There are some parts of it that … my conscience just won’t allow me to support, so with those few words I indicate I won’t be supporting the bill,” Mr Ridgeway said. Mr Russell said that this was the miracle pro-lifers were praying for. Australian Family Association State Secretary Damian Wyld said that “common sense has prevailed. The public might sometimes question our democratic institutions, but I think this vote should restore their faith for the moment. The failed bill was a shocker”.
“It didn’t restrict itself to terminal illness, but would have been available to anyone suffering an ‘intolerable’ condition, which would include all manner of disabilities,” he said. “Heaven knows where we could have ended up with such a scheme. We might have truly become ‘New Holland’, complete with the Netherlands’ euthanasia horror stories.”