GOOD luck to Catholic Health Australia’s chief executive Martin Laverty with his appeal to the Federal Attorney-General to overturn the recent Victorian legislation effectively legalising abortion on demand (“Abortion breach in the spotlight”, CL 22/3/09).
Under that law doctors and other health workers are denied the right to conscientiously object to any involvement in referring for abortions.
Given that the right to choose an abortion is official Labor Party policy, it is extremely unlikely that the Federal Labor Government will do anything to negate the repulsive Victorian law.
And only a few weeks ago that same Federal Government voted to allow Australian overseas aid to be used for abortions.
On March 21, the Bligh Labor Government was re-elected in Queensland, and there is little doubt that a private member’s bill emulating the Victorian obscenity will be high on the local agenda.
To pretend otherwise is naive folly.
If all Catholics do not present a united and uncompromising front against the removal of all legal restraints on the murder of the unborn, then Emily’s List and its allies will win the day.
In that event, those of us too apathetic to take part in this war will have contributed unwittingly to advancing the barbaric culture of death.
The adage that prevention is better than cure is very relevant here.
United in resolve we have a chance of frustrating the introduction and passage of such evil legislation; but once enacted there is virtually no chance of having it repealed.
RICHARD CONGRAM
Carindale, Qld
