Thousands of people rallied for a second time outside New South Wales Parliament House to oppose an “evil” bill that could force Catholic hospitals to provide abortions, while removing the conscientious objection rights of health care workers across the state. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
It came as Labor MPs were denied a key conscience vote on whether the Parliament would be allowed to debate a ban on sex-selective abortions.
Present in the crowd on Wednesday night were dozens of clergy and people of different faiths including Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Melkite Bishop Robert Rabbat, and Maronite Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay.
Archbishop Fisher later posted to social media that he appreciated they “united in disgust” regarding the Greens bill.
“For a state with some of the most permissive abortion laws and highest abortion rates in the world to move the kill the bodies of even more babies is dumbfounding,” he said.
“But the determination to kill the souls of health professionals and institutions as well, by forcing their participation or by co-opting our nurses and midwives is truly fearsome, indeed hellish.”
Former prime minister Tony Abbott was a surprise addition to the speakers, telling the crowd the bill is a “fundamental assault” on freedom of conscience.
“This bill is designed to drive conscientious health professionals out of the system, and it’s designed to take religious institutions out of our health system,” he told the crowd.
“It is a shameful attempt to cancel Christianity and change our society for the worse.”
Many began filling Macquarie Road nearly an hour before the rally began, with protesters singing Amazing Grace in one poignant moment.
Joanna Howe, anti-abortion advocate and rally organiser, said the turnout was a reflection of the moral reprehensibility and “dirtiness” of the bill.
“[Labor] removed their conscience vote to block any amendments [on Wednesday] because they said it wasn’t in the spirit of the bill,” Professor Howe said.
“That shows us with crystal clarity that this is a bill about killing poor babies, and the people have spoken, they and we will fight this bill for the next 18 months.”
The debate in Parliament is set to run into next week.
FULL STORY
Sydneysiders turn out in their thousands in second anti-abortion rally (By Alex Woolnough, The Catholic Weekly)
