ARCHBISHOP John Bathersby of Brisbane has spoken out against “the 80,000 abortions that happen each year in Australia”, in his annual Advent pastoral message.
At the same time Archbishop Bathersby has called on Catholics to support women struggling with such decisions “as they deal with profound pressures that very few of us could face”.
Pro-life groups have hailed the archbishop’s message as “wonderful to hear” and an important comment on “an issue that goes to the heart of our faith and life”.
Queensland Bioethics Centre director Ray Campbell said “the fact that Archbishop Bathersby has chosen a pastoral letter on the issue of abortion indicates how seriously he considers the matter”.
Cherish Life Queensland president Teresa Martin said the archbishop’s leadership was important “to galvanise people power and send a message to politicians that the community would not accept legislation that enabled an open slather on abortion such as last year in Victoria”.
Pregnancy Crisis Inc president Patti Camp said the archbishop’s support in launching PCI “is helping to save the innocent lives of defenceless children”.
In his pastoral message, Archbishop Bathersby said the issue of abortion had been raised because of “the unfortunate legislation that was recently framed in Victoria and could just as easily be implemented here in Queensland”.
“During Advent let us all pray passionately that this will not happen,” he said.
The archbishop led up to the anti-abortion message by noting that “because of Jesus, each and every one of us is a child of God in whom God’s Holy Spirit lives, giving each one of us a profound dignity that nothing can destroy”.
“Nevertheless despite that dignity we are all capable of evil manifest through violence, in anger, alcohol, drugs, theft, sheer selfishness, and finally in the destruction of our environment, or at its worst in the destruction of human life, deliberately or indeliberately.
“In the midst of such violence the profound dignity of people is forgotten, as selfishness reigns supreme and respect for life vanishes.”
Archbishop Bathersby acknowledged the work done by “excellent organisations, mostly Catholic, (that) exist in our archdiocese to help people in need, namely Walking with Love, Pregnancy Counselling Link Pregnancy Crisis Inc and Priceless Life”.
Mr Campbell (pictured) said he knew through personal conversations how deeply concerned Archbishop Bathersby was about the issue of abortion.
“Through the Advent pastoral message the archbishop is reminding the whole Catholic community of the archdiocese that this is an issue that goes to the heart of our faith and life and is not something we can ignore,” he said.
“Pro-life groups look to the Church primarily for moral support and encouragement.
“However I think they get the most encouragement out of seeing the Church itself getting involved in the issues.
“The archbishop’s letter and his establishment of the Walking with Love groups and support of organisations with similar goals in the archdiocese is a sign of that involvement.”
Ms Martin said “it was wonderful to hear a Brisbane Church leader announcing his support for unborn children”.
“Such leadership can encourage people to oppose any relaxing of abortion laws in Queensland where 15,000 abortions a year already occur.
Mrs Camp said Archbishop Bathersby’s leadership “by prayer and practical support is helping to prevent the tragedy of women being abused and even worse consequences being visited upon their innocent children”.
