Sydney’s Archbishop, Anthony Fisher, has spoken of his own experience of severe illness as he opposes a proposed assisted suicide bill in New South Wales.
A draft assisted dying bill is currently being considered in the Australian state of New South Wales.
As reported by SPUC, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, a Catholic, has opposed the “culture-changing” bill, which passed the lower house of the NSW Parliament last month.
Now, Archbishop Fisher has spoken out against assisted suicide in NSW, which he, too, believes would constitute “a radical departure from one of the foundational principles of our society”.
“It confirms in law that some people are regarded as better off dead and that our legal system, health professionals and care institutions will help to make them dead”, he said.
Having suffered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an auto-immune disorder that attacks the nervous system, Archbishop Fisher cited his personal experience of serious illness, resulting, he recalled, in the type of suffering “that makes some people want to end it all”.
Despite having gone through “a very slow and painful process” alongside “patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease and other degenerative and ultimately fatal illnesses”, he came to appreciate even more “the reconciliation and peace that comes with letting these things work themselves through”.
“As difficult as these times have been”, Archbishop Fisher concludes, he knows that assisted suicide is not the answer to the challenges of illness and suffering.
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “Assisted suicide crosses a line that no civilised nation or state, wanting to protect the elderly, ill and vulnerable, should ever cross.
“In Scotland, a consultation on another proposed assisted suicide bill ends this week. We urge our supporters to respond to the consultation. Information and assistance, including a SPUC briefing, on how to respond can be found by clicking here.
“We must protect the vulnerable. Let’s take action now.”
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