Rights advocate berates church

AN avid campaigner in favour of legislating voluntary assisted dying in Queensland has taken aim at comments made by Townsville’s most senior Catholic Church member.

Townsville grandmother Marjorie Lawrence, a member of pro-euthanasia group Dying With Dignity, is one of hundreds of people who have made submissions to the state government’s parliamentary inquiry into voluntary assisted dying.

Ms Lawrence said Bishop Tim Harris “didn’t speak” for all Catholics when it came to views on voluntary assisted dying and objected to his actions in introducing “No E u t h a n a s i a Sunday” to his congregation.

“Not all p people of faith are opposed to having a choice in how and when they die,” Ms Lawrence said.

“The Queensland bishops warn of ‘the consequences of legalising euthanasia’ (but) this is nothing less than scaremongering.

“I know from experience that the thought of being in control of the end of your life is an immense comfort.”

Ms Lawrence, who is in remission from pancreatic cancer, said Bishop Harris needed to listen to people like herself when forming their judgment on VAD.

Ms Lawrence said she didn’t want to suffer a “slow and painful death” isolated from family if her health deteriorated again.

“We need VAD – not in opposition to palliative care, but in conjunction with it,” Ms Lawrence said.

The Queensland parliamentary health committee has recommended passing the VAD legislation.