AUSTRALIA’S Catholic bishops are to establish a task force to investigate ways of increasing support for anyone facing the dilemma of an abortion.
The bishops’ conference announced the move in a statement from its plenary meeting in Sydney from November 21-26.
Various Church groups such as Catholic Welfare Australia, Catholic Health Australia, diocesan life offices, and women’s organisations such as the Commission for Australian Catholic Women and the Catholic Women’s League are being invited to become involved.
The bishops have also called for a national forum to consider practical ways of assisting pregnant women who are considering an abortion.
They said such a forum should also consider ways of promoting constructive discussion on the abortion issue in the community.
The bishops said the Church already provides pregnancy counselling, adoption services and other support through its network of Centacare and associated agencies.
They said no woman should have to choose between her own well-being and the life of her child, and women with unplanned pregnancies need to be offered genuine alternatives to abortion.
The bishops noted the current public debate about abortion ‘has unearthed deep unease among ordinary Australians, especially about late-term abortions’.
The bishops welcomed continued discussion about ways of reversing the spiral of the abortion rate.
