THE campaign to oppose Queensland’s proposed surrogacy laws has stepped up with further meetings between senior government figures and Church and pro-family leaders.
A new website with information on problems associated with the proposed legislation has also been set up by the Family Council of Queensland.
Last Wednesday, a delegation including Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane and Queensland Bioethics Centre (QBC) director Ray Campbell met with State Attorney-General Cameron Dick to discuss amendments to lessen the impact of the legislation.
The proposed legislation is expected to be debated and put to a conscience vote in State Parliament in the coming weeks.
Mr Campbell said among concerns expressed to the attorney-general was “the desires of adults were being put before the interests of the child”.
He said one of the “disappointing things” in the surrogacy debate so far was “the lack of discussion of the common good”.
“Part of the common good is the sustaining of the natural family unit – that is a husband and wife bringing up their children,” he said.
“This is the best foundation for the common good of society.
“The proposed legislation will deny to some children their fundamental rights to both a father and a mother and to know and to be reared within his or her own biological family.”
Mr Campbell said the Church taught that surrogacy “no matter what form it took, is not responsible motherhood and is against the marital good”.
Family Council of Queensland (FCQ) president Alan Baker, who was among heads of ecumenical pro-family groups attending last week’s meeting with Mr Dick, said the council had launched an information website on the issue last Wednesday.
The website www.kidsrightscount.org.au is a resource for those who want to lobby their state MPs against the legalisation of altruistic surrogacy (where a woman bears another person’s child for no financial benefit).
