Victoria’s bishops have written a pastoral letter to the community in response to the Victorian Government’s plans to amend the state’s euthanasia and assisted suicide laws. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
In the letter, the bishops urge the community to write to their local members of parliament and voice their concerns around weakening protections for vulnerable patients and reducing protections for medical practitioners who conscientiously object to euthanasia and assisted suicide.
“The Government’s bill seeks to remove many of the limited protections offered by Victoria’s so-called ‘voluntary assisted dying’ (VAD) laws,” the bishops write.
“The changes would, for the first time, allow medical practitioners to raise euthanasia and assisted suicide with patients who have never asked about it – patients who may be at their most vulnerable.
“The changes would also force medical practitioners who conscientiously object to euthanasia and assisted suicide to provide patients with information about euthanasia and assisted suicide – as determined by the Government.”
Instead of attempting to expand euthanasia and assisted suicide, the bishops urge members of parliament to continue expanding access to good palliative care to all Victorians, particularly for those in the regions.
As well as the pastoral letter, Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli earlier this year joined with other faith leaders to write to members of parliament and to the Department of Health, calling on the Victorian Government to abandon its proposed changes to VAD laws.
FULL STORY
Victorian bishops urge faithful to oppose changes to state’s euthanasia laws (Melbourne Catholic)
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