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26 JOHN STREET, PERTH
328 1388
P.O. BOX 50 PERTH ABERDEEN STREET,
6000
Registered by posting as a NEWSPAPER Category "A" (1 1 )
PERTH, THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1980
No. 2192
Price 30 Cents
Vatican's blunt condemnation of euthanasia VATICAN CITY: Following its insistent condemnation of abortion the Vatican has now issued a blunt condemnation of euthanasia as "a violation of the divine law and an offence against the dignity of the human person". dies, even that may cause given the most advanced "It is a crime against life and an attack on humanity," says the Declaration on Euthanasia released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith today: The document clearly defines euthanasia. It is not just the intention to have an easy death without suffering.
ALL FORMS
As Brother WOODRUFF (left) packed his bags for Rome this week he got some words of encouragement from the provincial superior Brother BOWLER (centre) and councillor Brother CA RRIGG
WA Christian Brothers head to go to Rome Former Aquinas College head and W.A.-S.A. provincial superior, Brother W. Woodruff is to take up a senior Christian Brothers' appointment in Rome.
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He will become assistant to the superior general for the remaining four of the present administration's six-year term. He is assistant to Canadian Brother Gabriel McHugh. B rother Woodruff received the appointment following the resignation from the general council of another Australian, Brother Regis Hickey. Brother Woodruff, originally from Victoria, has spent 17 of his 33 teaching years on the W.A. Christian Brothers scene. Entering the Christian Brothers in 1942 he began in Geelong in a career that saw him always stationed at a boarding college. He came to W.A. in 1963 as headmaster of Aquinas College and during his six years there he supervised the construction of the new chapel, the completion of the front residential wing, and the biology laboratory and lecture theatre.
When the new W.A.S.A. Holy Spirit province was established in 1967 he became a councillor and in 1970 provincial bursar, rising to the position of provincial superior for the six years from 1972. After a Sabbatical year of study in spiritual leadership at Denver he joined St. Patrick's College Geraldton this year. In his Rome appointment he follows in the footsteps of former W.A. -S.A. provincial superior Brother Levander, now in retirement at Manning, who served in Rome as general bursar for six years. Brother Baptist Healy, also well known in Perth, is at present on the Rome staff editing the congregation's records. Other Australian Christian Brothers take it in turn to attend in Rome a three month renewal course on general religious topics and the spirit of the congregation.
0891
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HISTORY OF CHURCH IN W.A. Parishes are requested to replenish their stocks from the Chancery Office, 21 Victoria Square, or from Vanguard Service Print, 26 John Street, for bulk orders in cartons of 48.
The euthanasia that is condemned covers all forms of mercy killing whether of abnormal babies, mentally incurables or those placing a heavy burden on society or families. The condemnation is explicit: • No-one can permit the killing of an innocent human being, whether foetus, embryo, infant, adult, incurable or dying. • No-one can ask for the killing of himself, or another, nor consent to it impicitly or explicitly.
THE PLEA • No authority can lawfully recommend or permit such an action. A careful distinction is made between this condemnation and the imputation of guilt. People recommending euthanasia may make a genuine error of conscience and a plea for euthanasia by a gravely ill person may be really a plea for help and love. But separations that would be painful to people in full health are often rendered more bearable by nature, and illness, old age or even neglect may make the acceptance of death more easy.
DRUGS The use of painkillers may have a special significance for Christian people. Suffering for a Christian person has a special place in God's plan as a share in the suffering and sacrifice of Christ. Christians might, therefore, moderate their use of painkillers. But it would be imprudent to impose such an heroic way of acting as a general rule. Human and Christian prudence suggest that the majority use pain reme-
semiconsciousness or reduced lucidity. Those unable to speak for themselves can be presumed to wish the use of such painkillers. But painkillers that cause unconsciousness must be used in the light of the obligation of a person to fulfill moral or family duties or prepare consciously to meet Christ. Technological attitudes a re threatening to become an abuse against the dignity of the human person and Christian concept of life. The so called "right to die" does not mean by one's own hand or another's but should mean right to die peacefully with human and Christian dignity. Situations call for the application of ethical principles. Instead of the moral principle of never being obliged to use "extraordinary" means, some prefer today to distinguish between "proportionate" and disproportnate" means: • A patient may be
medical treatment even with a certain risk. The use may be even in the service of humanity. • Such treatment can be interrupted if the results fall short of expectations. • Account will be taken of the reasonable wishes of patient, family or doctors who may judge that the strain imposed is out of proportion to the benefit to be gained by the patient. • A technique cannot be obliged on a person if it is a risk or burdensome. Such a refusal by the patient is not the equivalent of suicide and may arise from a disproportion between the treatment and the benefit gained or the desire not to impose excessive expense. • At the approach of inevitable death a person may refuse treatment that would only prolong the burdensome life, provided normal care is not interrupted. In such cases the doctor need not reproach himself for failing to help the patient.
Pope to Carter on 'abundance' and peace VATICAN CITY (NC)/Pope John Paul I told President Carter that the United I States had world responsibility because of its abundance, and that freedom and human rights had to be emphasised. "Every gift that comes from God creates a r esponsibility in the recipient. This is very true of America, where god's gifts have been abundant," the Pope said. It echoed his call to Americans last October in New York's Yankee Stadium to "take of your substance and not just of your abundance" to meet the needs of the world's poor. The Pope particularly emphasised the rights of people to freedom and truth. "Freedom is fragile," he said. "Any distortion of truth
or dissemination of nontruth is an offence against freedom. "Any manipulation of public opinion, any abuse of authority or power, or, on the other hand, just the omission of vigilance, endangers the heritage of free people," the Pope said. "But even more important," he continued, "every contribution to promoting truth in charity consolidates freedom and builds up peace. "When shared responsibility for freedom is truly accepted by all, a (CONTINUED P. 5)