<\/p>\n
On the Friday afternoon of May 22 just prior to Synod’s commencement, I was contacted by the ‘Mercury’. My rather longer interview comments were reduced in the Saturday newspaper to ‘the proposal set off “all his alarm bells”.’<\/p>\n
I had elaborated on four basic points:<\/p>\n
On the way home from Synod I was contacted by ‘Examiner’ reporter Ellena Midgley whose report, ‘<\/span>Church condemns euthanasia bill’<\/span><\/a>, appeared Monday May 25:<\/p>\n “THE Anglican Church has condemned the latest bid to legalise voluntary euthanasia, while new polling has shown that three- quarters of Tasmanians want the option.<\/p>\n “Bishop John Harrower said he strongly opposed Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick McKim’s Dying With Dignity Bill, and encouraged MPs to vote against it for the betterment of Tasmania.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This Tuesday’s May 26 ‘Mercury’ has brilliant comment by the highly respected and experienced Hobart Dr Paul Dunne in an article by Sally Glaetzer, Doctor challenges death Bill<\/a><\/span> In part,<\/p>\n TASMANIANS will lose the ability to “grow” from the experience of death if euthanasia laws are passed, an expert says.<\/p>\n Hobart palliative care physician Paul Dunne said he often marvelled at the benefits a family got when their loved one was on their deathbed.<\/p>\n “It is one of the remaining rituals that we have in our society because that person lying in the bed is very powerful in bringing families together.”<\/p>\n Dr Dunne said (if the euthanasia legislation was passed) the result would be a “throw-away society”.<\/p>\n “As a society we’re going to lose a hell of a lot of wisdom, that ability to grieve properly and live properly,” he said.<\/p>\n “It is really treating life like a commodity.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Australian Christian Lobby is participating and has a link<\/a><\/span> to a Sunrise interview on the Tasmanian bill. ACL also provides links: click here<\/a><\/span> to view the piece and to Channel Seven’s blog discussion <\/a><\/span>which you may wish to join.<\/p>\n Bishop Ross Nicholson is participating on a ‘Hypotheticals’ panel for the palliative care unit in Launceston.<\/p>\n I have been asked to write an article to appear on Friday in the Examiner newspaper.<\/p>\n It’s all happening in Tassie! We work and pray, pray and work. Please join us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On the Friday afternoon of May 22 just prior to Synod’s commencement, I was contacted by the ‘Mercury’. My rather longer interview comments were reduced in the Saturday newspaper to ‘the proposal set off “all his alarm bells”.’ I had … Continue reading