By Anthony Barich
RECENT assaults on the conscience rights of medical professionals and The Greens’ continued push to legalise euthanasia have driven Victoria’s Bishops to put abortion and euthanasia at the top of their agenda in their advice to Catholics ahead of the 27 November State election.
While a Bill to legalise euthanasia was defeated in a conscience vote in 2008 during the life of the current Parliament, “already we are hearing of efforts that will be made following the election to again have euthanasia legalised”, Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart said in a joint statement issued to Victoria’s parishes with the Bishops of Ballarat, Sandhurst and Sale.
The Bishops also fought for the continued presence of Catholic public hospitals in Victoria and enough funds for their services, and urged Catholics to ask candidates what strategies they have to support the dignity of the elderly in the State.
A law which dramatically extended the availability of abortion was also passed through Victoria’s Parliament in October 2008 which also restricted the right of conscience of health professionals opposed to abortion to refuse to refer for abortion.
“True religious freedom would allow professionals opposed to procedures such as abortion to refuse to refer patients for procedures to which in conscience they are opposed,” the prelates said.
Victoria’s Bishops also urged candidates to uphold religious freedom and the right of religious organisations, schools, communities and individuals to express their faith in accordance with their religious doctrines, beliefs and principles.
The Bishops asked Catholics to consider whether candidates will work to provide better support for expecting and new mothers.
As families are the “cornerstone of our communities”, they also called for at least 3,000 additional social housing places annually and urged Catholics to press candidates to commit to a target of halving the 20,000 homeless in Victoria by 2020.
The Bishops noted that theirs is the only State in Australia where funding for Catholic schools is not linked to government school costs.
They asked that State funding to Catholic schools be transparently linked to 25 per cent of the cost of education in a Victorian government school.
“A permanent and transparent link is fair and reasonable, and will ensure that parents at Catholic schools are not forced to shoulder an increasing financial burden,” the Bishops said.
They also want a commitment to 25 per cent funding that includes funds to meet the needs of students with disabilities, refugees and recent arrivals, indigenous students and “students at risk”, as well as the information technology needs of all students.
It costs Catholic schools millions to ensure viability, the Bishops said, and parents should not be shouldered with the entire cost of new schools that serve growing communities.
Addressing criminal justice, the Bishops said prison should be the last option for the State against offenders.
“We have concerns about the increasing number of Victorians in prison and the lack of evidence suggesting that prison assists offenders to return to the community better equipped to make a positive social contribution,” they said.
They suggested maximising non-custodial programmes when appropriate that will ensure offenders “have a real opportunity for rehabilitation” and to understand and make amends for the harm caused, and to ensure those leaving prison are given every chance to re-integrate into society.
Considering the “major adverse affects” of drugs and alcohol on society and their impact on domestic violence, street crime, alienation of youth and general productivity and health, the prelates want the “binge” culture to be “systematically addressed”.