From North to South
Catholic Education Director RON DULLARD this week joins the growing list of Record contributors. His first column sets out the scope of Catholic education in the nation's largest State and what it takes to keep Catholic schools running - and growing. "Be indefatigable in your purpose and with undaunted spirit resist iniquity and try to conquer evil with good, having before your eyes the reward of those who combat for Christ." -BISHOP .WATTHEW GIBNEY 1874
THE PARISH. THE NATION. THE WORLD. Western Australia's award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 - Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Perth, Irestern Australia $2
Bill is suicide says Bishop Sproxton Proposed law will allow anyone to kill themselves for almost any reason, says Auxiliary Bishop NOW that the Hon Robin Chapple's proposed euthanasia Bill is available for public scrutiny, it will be obvious to all MPs that it is far more a suicide bill than it is a euthanasia bill, Bishop
Don Sproxton, Auxiliary Catholic Bishop of Perth, said today in a statement to The Record. Bishop Sproxton said that the common understanding of 'euthanasia' is that it is release from an incurable and very painful disease. "However, this Bill imposes no such requirements," he said. "Instead, it provides that a person can apply for euthanasia if it is likely that in the normal course of their condition it will lead to their death within five years. "The applicant need only state that because of pain, suffering or
debilitation arising from his/her condition, she/he has no desire to continue living. Doctors assessing the application need only to affirm that death within five years is likely in the normal progress of that illness. They are not required to assess the nature of the pain, suffering or debilitation nominated by the patient or whether the lack of desire to continue living is reasonably attributable to the illness. Members of Parliament will need to consider such open legislation in terms of its effect on families and the community as a whole.
"The suicide of a loved one is a most painful and confusing experience for families and friends. Even if not personally aware of it, most MPs will be conscious of it through their close association with large numbers of people in their electorates. "Using community resources to approve and to carry out even more such unwelcome deaths is really a community declaration that a person's life is not of much value to himself or anyone else. Please turn to Page 5 US Bishop issues guide - Page II
Bishop Donald Sproxton
A new performance of an opera about Carmelites persecuted by the French Revolution is set to open
OPERA
Dialogues of the Carmelites Martyrdom story promises a memorable night at the opera
IF
rancis Poulenc's luminously beautiful score of Dialogues of the Carmelites, with its memorable finale, is coming to the main stage of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in October. Showcasing WAAPNs Classical Vocal students under the direction of Sydney-based theatre director, Kate Gaul, and with musical direction by David 'Wickham, Dialogues of the Carmelites will be performed for a week-long run from Saturday, 10 October to Saturday, 17 October at 7.30pm in the Geoff Gibbs Theatre. Supporting the singers on stage will be the largest orchestra yet assembled in the Geoff Gibbs Theatre. Based on historical events that befell the Carmelite monastery in Compiegne in 1794, Dialogues of the Carmelites is the compelling tale of a group of nuns struggling to survive persecution by the leaders of the French Revolution. First performed in 1957, Poulenc's libretto follows Blanche de la Force, an innocent and oversensitive daughter of nobility, who leaves pre-Revolution French society to seek sanctuary in the Carmelite convent. As the Revolution's Reign of Terror threatens to destroy the order itself, Blanche flees the convent and the remaining nuns take the vow of 9 martyrdom. The opera's powerful finale, as the voices of the nuns drown out the mob chorus in the shadow of the guillotine, is one of theatre's great climaxes. Please turn to Page 5
Morgan Cowling plays Blanche and Matthew Ward plays Le Chevalier de la Force in the upcoming WAAPA concert.
READERS OF THE RECORD CAN WIN one of five free double passes to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts'presentation of Francis Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites. To enter the draw, simply send a self-addressed envelope with your email or telephone number to: Dialogues of the Carmelites Competition, PO Box 75, Leederville WA 6902. Winners can choose which performance they would like to attend: 7.30pm on 12, 13 or 14 October. Entries must be received by Tuesday, 6 October.