https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/drop-dead-disgrace/

What a disgraceful, vitriolic editorial is “Drop dead disgrace” (Catholic Weekly, 25 May) From the title to the picture of a young child holding an anti-Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) placard at the end of the article, it displays a total lack of empathy.

The unnamed author castigates NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Opposition Leader Chris Minns, both committed Catholics, for not doing more to scupper the VAD bill, describing their failure as “one of the most humiliating examples of meek acceptance of evil ever seen”. An incredible claim that, from any rational viewpoint, is blatantly untrue.

I suppose we should be thankful that the editorial did not openly advocate Perrottet and Minns be excommunicated.

The editorial portrays the NSW VAD law as imposing state-sanctioned killing. We will put aside for a moment the evil of Catholic sanctioned “killing” during the Crusades, in religious wars, the Inquisition, the burning of witches, the ‘troubles’ in Ireland, and the fact of the Catholic Church coverup of paedophile priests that led in turn to the tragic suicides of so many of their innocent victims.

A few facts…

• VAD is not killing. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Law is legislation to give a terminally ill person, who is already enduring suffering they find intolerable, their right to request assistance to end that suffering quickly and peacefully, at a time of their choosing.
• There is clear evidence that many patients given approval after their request for a VAD death, actually live longer and have a better end quality of life than those who do not request assistance.   The VAD law provides peace of mind and is palliative in its own right. Many assisted deaths, even of a person wracked with cancer, are described as ‘beautiful’.
• Advocates for VAD choice respect the need for Palliative Care but recognise that PC can never provide the complete answer and VAD provides the additional option to avoid futile suffering. In Oregon USA, with a law for almost 25 years, 90% of patients using their Assisted Dying choice are already in some form of hospice or palliative care. Note that in Oregon one third of patients approved for assistance do not proceed to take their fatal medication – it is like having an insurance policy you hope you never need.
• For the Catholic Weekly to compare Voluntary Assisted Dying choice with “the consignment of ethnic groups to the concentration camps”, is quite frankly obscene. As has been pointed out elsewhere, the Holocaust and the agony inflicted on the Jewish community and others has no connection whatever with the Voluntary Assisted Dying end-of-life choice.

Any person who disagrees with the Voluntary Assisted Dying choice is perfectly free not to initiate the rigorous assessment process needed to access the VAD option, and is perfectly free to choose to accept all suffering that comes their way as they are dying.

Many people were heartened and admired the honesty of Dr Robert Olvera, a Harvard-educated physician in California, and what he stated prior to the passing of the End of Life Choice Bill in California,

“As a Catholic and a physician, I feel compelled to dispel the myths about these bills perpetrated by the Roman Catholic Church, some disability groups, and the American Medical Association (AMA).

My 25-old daughter Emily Rose desperately pleaded for this option during the final few agonizing months of her life last spring when she suffered in horrific pain from terminal leukemia, despite getting great home hospice and palliative care.

As a Catholic, I pray to God for the passage of the bills authorizing medical aid in dying. These laws would ensure that dying Americans have the option to pass peacefully in their sleep, suffer less, and spare themselves the pain of a lengthy and prolonged death that my daughter had to endure.”

Personally, as a Christian, I found it informative that Dr Olvera was praying to God that the VAD Bill be passed, and those opposing VAD were praying that it not pass.  Olvera’s prayer was answered, and the End of Life Choice Bill passed in 2015. May we draw a conclusion from this?

Equally informative is the fact that the California Bill was signed by Gov. Brown, a committed Catholic, who had formerly trained as a Jesuit, and as Governor he actually had the right to veto this Bill.  Instead, in a very rational and compassionate letter, he concluded –

“In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death.  I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill. And I wouldn’t deny that right to others.”

Religion, and the Christian Bible have long been used to support opposition to change, just as it was used to resist the abolition of slavery, university education and voting rights for women, use of pain relief for women in childbirth, and in attempting to prove that Earth was the centre of the universe.  History has shown this use of the Bible to be inappropriate.

A significant majority of Christians, including Catholics, believe the time has come to put love and compassion for a fellow human ahead of theological differences of opinion. This is why VAD legislation has been passed in every Australian state, and the VAD choice accepted by Australians generally. We would argue that Perrottet and Minns both acted responsibly – speaking against the Bill as they were entitled to do – but not abusing their position and power to frustrate the democratic process.

To reiterate – the key words are ‘voluntary’ and ‘choice’.

Ian Wood, Spokesperson for Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Assisted Dying. www.christiansforvad.org.au

Read more: Rev Michael Dowling and his address to South Australia Parliament in support of VAD as an end of life choice.  https://christiansforvad.org.au/rev-michael-dowling-presentation-to-south-australian-mps/#more-735

Read more. Rev Cardy from NZ expresses his religious support for VAD
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/09/euthanasia-referendum-how-religious-kiwis-are-deciding-which-way-to-vote-on-the-end-of-life-choice-bill.html?

Read more: Rev Kilgour of NZ – Sermon in support of an assisted death after his nephew in Canada used MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying). https://christiansforvad.org.au/rev-craig-kilgour-new-zealand-sermon-my-nephew-had-an-assisted-death-in-canada-it-was-compassionate-it-was-humane-it-was-right-and-good/#more-560

Read more: Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu of Capetown and his support for VAD as an end of life choice. https://christiansforvad.org.au/archbishop-desmond-tutu-gives-his-blessing-to-the-voluntary-assisted-dying-campaign-in-australia/#more-371

By working together we have made this happen!

Our grateful thanks go to Kyam Maher MLC for initiating this Bill in memory of his Mother, Viv.  What an outstanding memorial!!  Thanks also go to Dr Susan Close for her contribution in the House of Assembly.  Then more thanks to all involved in the campaign including the VADSA team led by Frances Coombe, together with Anne Bunning, Susie Byrne, and Julia Anaf.  Plus Dr Roger Hunt, Jane Qualmann, Angie Miller, Kym Watson, Rev Michael Dowling and Rev Dr Craig de Vos have all been invaluable SA advocates for compassionate end-of- life choice. Apologies to those I have omitted!

At this time we also remember with gratitude those campaigners who have died waiting for the law to be passed.  These include our group Co-founder, Rev Trevor Bensch, our former Patron Kym Bonython, Bob Such MP and folk such as Mary Gallnor.

Others outside of SA who have mentored and assisted me to reach this stage include Tanya Battel, Penny Hackett, Shayne Higson, Geoffrey Williams, Adrian Price, Rev Ken Devereux, Mike Gaffney and Norma Jamieson, also Andrew Denton and Kiki Paul of Go Gentle Australia, ……………

Now we shift our focus to Queensland, New South Wales and the 2 Territories.

Ian Wood, Co-founder and Spokesperson, having a quiet celebration.

The encouraging news from South Australia is that on Wednesday 5th May 2021 the Legislative Council voted 14 yes and 7 No to pass the Kyam Maher MLC, Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill.  It now goes to the Lower House for consideration and Premier Marshall has indicated debate could start there as early as Wednesday 12th May.

Candles for Compassion will go ahead, either to continue to show MPs that legislation for compassionate end-of-life choice is needed, or to say thank you to the MPs who voted to pass the VAD Bill and as a memorial to those who died waiting for the choice

Our South Australian Representative, Rev Michael Dowling, gave an excellent presentation to members of the SA Parliament on Tuesday 16th March 2021, prior to debate starting on the latest Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill.  Dr Roger Hunt and Susie Byrne also spoke in support of VAD representing doctors and nurses, respectively.

Here is Rev Dowling’s presentation, in full, published with permission…….

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you as the local representative for Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Assisted Dying. It’s a privilege to be involved in this important discussion.

I suspect that some of you here today identify with a particular religious tradition, and that some do not. When it comes to the matter at hand – VAD legislation – I wish to address both groups; and I wish to do so in a way that moves beyond religious stereotypes, stereotypes based upon very vocal adherents of a particular viewpoint; stereotypes that propagate the myth of a monolithic “Christian view” on social issues; that, for example, all Christians oppose gay marriage; that all Christians wish to criminalise abortion; and that all Christians oppose voluntary assisted dying (VAD). Such is not the case. Within the Christian faith there is a wide variety of views on these subjects.

In particular reference to VAD…

The group I represent are:

Christians who believe that, as a demonstration of love and compassion, those with a terminal or hopeless illness should have the option of a pain-free, peaceful and dignified death with legal voluntary assisted dying.

According to the 2019 “Vote Compass,” some 3 out of 4 Christians in Australia are in favour of legislation for the choice of VAD.

“But how can that be so?!” I hear some of you say.

“Surely the Christian faith and the Bible have a blanket prohibition against voluntary assisted dying?!”

If you thought this, you would be wrong.

As previously mentioned, “Christianity” is far from monolithic when it comes to social views, including views on VAD.

As for the Bible, it has nothing, nothing whatsoever, to say on the specific subject of voluntary assisted dying.

Christian opponents of VAD, if they use the Bible to support their argument, are forced to rely on generalities and then seek to extrapolate from these generalities to the specific case of VAD. They might quote, for example, the biblical commandment, “Thou shall not murder” and then curiously equate murder with VAD. Christian opponents to VAD might also claim the inviolable “sanctity of life,” stating that human life is so sacred that it can never be deliberately ended, even if the person in unrelievable suffering has requested its end.

These arguments can be rebutted on two grounds.

First:

The movement from a prohibition against murdering someone who doesn’t want to be murdered to a prohibition against ending the suffering of someone who fervently requests for their suffering to be ended, is a logical non-sequitur; it just doesn’t follow.

Second:

If the Christian opponents of VAD assert that “sanctity of life” and “prohibition against killing” are timeless and inviolable Christian injunctions, then they are either wilfully ignorant or just plain disingenuous.

If behaviour is any guide, then over the centuries, Christians have been, not infrequently, quite enthusiastic about killing, and quite indifferent to the sanctity of life. Crusades, religious wars, persecutions, pogroms, torture, and burning at the stake have all been conducted by those who could point to holy Scripture for its justification. In more recent times, many conservative Christians in countries such as the United States, are enthusiastic supporters of the death penalty.

The reason that some Christians can quote the Bible, when it suits them, as justification for killing, is that the Bible itself is quite ambivalent about killing, and quite ambivalent about the supposed sanctity of life. Yes, on the one hand, the Bible contains many admonitions to us to love one another. On the other hand, the Old Testament biblical authors, not infrequently, portray a tribalistic God who orders the wholesale genocide of entire groups of people. For some troubling bed-time reading, try Book of Numbers chapter 31, but only if you have a strong stomach.

The Christian Bible says many things that have inspired and motivated the lives of the most sublime and saintly people.

The Christian Bible has also been used to justify the most appalling and callous behaviour.

When we Christians feel compelled to offer ethical advice to the wider society, in this case ethical advice as to the sanctity of life, we would do well to remember Jesus’ adage, an adage as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago: we should first cast the log out of our own eye before seeking to remove the speck of sawdust from the eye of another.

But when it comes to the specific case of VAD, the Christian Bible says…precisely nothing.

And so, just like other members of our pluralistic society, Christians need to examine the proposed VAD legislation on its merits and with a willingness to engage in some uncomfortable self-scrutiny.

If, hypothetically, I was a Christian who felt uncomfortable about voting in favour of VAD legislative, do I really believe that my discomfort is more important that the unrelieved agony of the person requesting VAD?!

We human beings are endlessly self-referential. Almost invariably, everything comes back to me.

I believe we each need to ask ourselves the fundamental question:

“What or whom do I see at the very centre of this debate?”

Is it my personal ethics?

Is it my understanding of God?

Is it my feelings of discomfort?

Or…am I prepared to move out of the centre?

Am I prepared to see at the very centre of this debate, not myself, but rather the person in unrelieved suffering who is requesting VAD?

To the Christians present:

The gospels recount that Jesus was a great healer.

We recall his healing of a man with leprosy.

A person whom no-one would help.

A person whom no-one else would touch.

It was this man whom Jesus touched.

It was this man who moved Jesus with compassion.

The Greek word used to describe Jesus’ reaction was a word etymologically related to the gut.

Jesus was moved in his gut; he was moved viscerally by the man’s plight.

If the gospel accounts can be believed, perhaps Jesus had few limitations when it came to healing and relieving suffering.

Sadly, modern medicine does have many limitations when it comes to healing and relieving suffering.

If Jesus could see the plight, today, of those whose suffering is extreme and unrelievable, would Jesus not be moved in his gut to compassion for them?

I simply pose the question:

What makes you think that Jesus would not be whole-heartedly in favour of legislation for the choice of voluntary assisted dying?

In conclusion, I speak to the religious and non-religious alike:

When we speak about legislation pertaining to VAD, we are considering circumstances that none of us would choose for ourselves, namely circumstances of unrelieved human suffering. If we are lucky, these circumstances will never befall you and I. Sadly, these circumstances do befall some people, and it is the unrelieved suffering of these people – not religious sensibilities – that must be our focus. When suffering is intolerable, when suffering is unrelievable, and when the person who suffers wishes fervently for their suffering to end, must not our society’s compassionate and loving response be to ask, “How can we help to end your suffering?”

Michael Dowling

My background in brief:

My working life has been a career in two parts. In the first, I worked as an analytical chemist, and then for more than two decades in the field of scientific instrumentation. The second involved a major change in direction, surprising no-one more than myself, of moving into church ministry, first as an aged care chaplain and then, more recently, as a minister of a Uniting Church congregation in the Adelaide Hills. I have a beautiful and blended family, children and grandchildren, and also have the enormous good fortune to have remarried, last year, to my beloved Karen, some 20 months after the death of my beloved wife Joy after many years of chronic illness.  For many years, I have had a strong belief in the right to voluntary assisted dying, and recently was invited to be the local representative for the group I speak on behalf of today.

On behalf of:  Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Assisted Dying