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The Parish. The Nation. The World.
Thursday January ,
Western Australia’s award winning Catholic newspaper
Perth, Western Australia ● $2
Wilson on Rohr
science
Should we kill disabled babies?
Archbishop PHILIP WILSON of Adelaide defends the Church from criticism by popular spiritual writer and US priest Fr RICHARD ROHR - Page 4
Expert in infant pain says ‘no’ - Page 12
Amniotic stem cell study hailed for potential
A SISTINE MOMENT
It’s not magic - it’s an invitation to eternal life
Perth’s biggest archdiocesan welfare agency, disability service provider i.d.entity.wa, is facing chronic recruitment and staff retention problems along with the disability sector throughout the State. I.d.entity.wa is also considering the merits of moving its status to that of a “private” Catholic organisation, so its board has increased decision-making authority. This would mean Archbishop Barry Hickey relinquishing some, possibly most of his decision-making responsibilities for the organisation. Carlo Calogero, WA state manager of ACROD (originally the Australian Council of Rehabilitation for the Disabled, now otherwise known as the National Industry Association
■ By Nancy-Frazier O’Brien
Continued on page 6
BATEMAN BOOK ON OFFER The southern Perth Parish of Bateman has issued a book celebrating two decades of parish life and contributions from its people and priests.
Page 13
Disability services provider, along with other similar bodies, finds staff retention tough going because of funding shortfalls ■ By Anthony Barich
Fluid surrounding child in womb can be source of medically useful stemcells; study adds weight to position of the defenders of embryonic human beings, erodes case for killing and harvesting.
WASHINGTON (CNS) - The recent announcement by scientists at Wake Forest and Harvard universities that the amniotic fluid surrounding a child in the womb can be the source of medically useful stem cells is just the latest in a series of studies showing the research value of the byproducts of live birth, according to the deputy director of the US bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. The announcmeent comes barely two months after Australia’s Parliament voted to legalise the cloning of embryonic human beings so that they could be killed for their stemcells. Richard Doerflinger told Catholic News Service on January 8 that various studies have shown that the placenta, cord blood, the umbilical cord itself and other byproducts of birth “may all contain very versatile stem cells, with many of the advantages of embryonic stem cells without the practical disadvantages or moral problems.” “With 4 million live births every year in our country alone, an ample supply of these cells lies readily at hand,” he added.
Perth church agency faces staffing crisis
Continued on page 7
Bishop bows out
Moment of joy: Pope Benedict XVI baptises a child at the end of the Christmas season. He told those attending that baptism is really an invitation to eternal life. FULL STORY - PAGE 4 Photos: Alberto Pizzoli/Reuters
INDEX Editorial/Letters I say, I say The World Reviews Classifieds/Panorama
It’s over: Pope Benedict this week accepted the resignation from canonical office of Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus of Warsaw, above, whose appointment caused controversy after he admitted collaboration with the former Polish Communist secret police. FULL STORY - PAGE 5 PHOTO: CNS
WE HAVE STORIES TOO - Page 6 - Page 11 - Pages 12-13 - Page 14
An enobling book comprising stories from people with disabilities adds to the culture of respect for all human beings. It includes many contributions from WA.
- Page 15
Page 14