News

Published: 04 February 2020

Donald Trump has become the first US President to address the annual March for Life in person.

The event takes place in Washington, DC and has been held every year since 1974, the first anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision.

In his remarks, Trump said they were all gathered for a very simple reason.

“To defend the right of every child, born and unborn, to fulfill their God-given potential.

“All of us here understand an eternal truth: Every child is a precious and sacred gift from God. Together, we must protect, cherish, and defend the dignity and the sanctity of every human life.

“When we see the image of a baby in the womb, we glimpse the majesty of God's creation.

“When we hold a newborn in our arms, we know the endless love that each child brings to a family.

“When we watch a child grow, we see the splendor that radiates from each human soul,” said President Trump. 

This year the event was reportedly attended by hundreds of thousands of people, highlighting the strength of the country’s pro-life movement.

Commentator Matt Walsh says that Trump’s decision to speak in person at the event is significant.

“Optimistically, this could be viewed as another sign that the political winds have to some degree shifted on abortion,” he said.

“Republican politicians are perhaps beginning to realize that the pro-life position is not one to shrink away from or be ashamed of.”

President Trump also designated January 22, the anniversary of Roe v Wade, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day.

The Proclamation signed by the President, in part, reads:

“Every person — the born and unborn, the poor, the downcast, the disabled, the infirm, and the elderly — has inherent value.  Although each journey is different, no life is without worth or is inconsequential; the rights of all people must be defended.

“On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our Nation proudly and strongly reaffirms our commitment to protect the precious gift of life at every stage, from conception to natural death.”

Published: 27 January 2020

By Darryl Budge

Australia Day is a day to remember in our history - the date of the First Fleet landing, in 1788.

Efforts to change the date arguably represent historical revisionism, which, rather than healing people, will produce merely a temporary change in external emotions.

Lasting change in individuals and across society comes from forgiveness and inner reconciliation, not outward platitudes.

This was reflected in public prayers of reconciliation made in 1988.

In that year there was a service in St Andrew’s Cathedral to mark the 200th anniversary of the gospel arriving on this continent.

The Primate of the Australian Anglican Church made this public statement… addressing Australia’s first Aboriginal Bishop, Arthur Malcolm of Yarrabah.

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??? ? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ???-?????????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ?????? ??? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ??????, ???? ??? ???????? ??? ????. ?? ?????? ??? ???’? ??????????? ; ??? ?? ???? ???? ??????????? ?? ? ?????? ?? ???? ??????, ??? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ????. ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??????. ?? ??????? ??? ????????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ????. ?? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ???????? ????????, ????????? ??? ?????????? ???? ?????. ???? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ???. ???? ?? ?? ????? ???? ???.

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In the Cathedral that day in 1988, our first Aboriginal Bishop, Bishop Arthur Malcolm then led in prayer.

???? ???. ??? ???? ???????? ??? ????; ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ??????? ???? ?????. ???? ?????, ????? ??????? ??? ?????????????? ?? ???? ??????, ??? ???? ?? ? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ?????. ?? ?????’ ???? ??? ??? ??? ????. ????.

To accomplish healing of deep hurts, it seems proper to keep the Australia Day date and what it commemorates, as it maintains an honest view of history.

It may also be necessary for many to have another date to mourn, weep and lament.

In Australia the 26th of May is National Sorry Day, and there is a celebration of Aboriginal culture during NAIDOC week, the first full week in July each year.

This suggests there are already eight days of reflection on Aboriginal causes, when many rightly lament the real suffering upon their people.

It seems adequate to have one annual day in Australia that is a celebration of the positive contribution of Christian and western culture to our nation.

Published: 18 December 2019

Published: 11 December 2019

The passage of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2019 tells Western Australians that a vote for Labor is a vote for the tragic suicide of vulnerable dying patients, according to FamilyVoice WA Director Darryl Budge.

“Kevin Rudd’s warning that ‘complex bioethical questions’ were being ‘glossed over in a rush’ (The Australian, 6/12/2019) tells us that he knows the party’s embrace of euthanasia has the potential to do electoral damage to Labor,” said Darryl Budge.

“All compassionate voters would agree with Kevin Rudd that ‘Nothing is more fundamental than life’.

“The WA government will fund a large specialist team to supply on-demand suicide of dying patients in regional areas, but has refused to fund one on-demand palliative care specialist or nurse to go anywhere in WA.

“Regional, dying patients will have a Hobson’s choice between suicide experts and non-specialist life-giving care.”

The legislation now enters an 18-month implementation phase in which administration details and conflicts with federal law will be resolved. The type of lethal poison will be determined in that phase.

“We put on record our concern that eventually abuses of this legislation will occur, and we highlight the view of English neurosurgeon Henry Marsh who said, ‘Even if a few grannies get bullied into it, isn’t that the price worth paying for all the people who could die with dignity?’

“FamilyVoice worked alongside with many pro-life Legislative Councillors, include Nick Goiran, and we thank them for their efforts lessen the number of possible wrongful deaths by this bill. However, one can only mend something so much before it is exposed as irretrievably broken, as this ill-considered legislation will be.”

Those who voted against the bill were:

Liberals - Nick Goiran (South Metro Region), Ken Baston (Mining and Pastoral), Michael Mischin (North Metro), Donna Faragher (East Metro), Simon O'Brien (South Metro), Peter Collier (North Metro), Steve Thomas (South West)

Independent - Charles Smith (East Metro)

Shooters, Fishers Farmers - Rick Mazza (Agricultural)

Labor - Adele Farina (South West)

One Nation - Colin Tincknell (South West)

FamilyVoice supporters are invited to write to the no-voting MPs to express your thanks for their defence of life.

In total, MPs passed 55 amendments (including 25 from Nick Goiran MLC, and 12 from Labor, as per attachment) to the Premier’s self-proclaimed “safe” Bill. Some of these amendments included:

• Neither of the two doctors authorising euthanasia can be a family member of the patient or a beneficiary under the patient’s will;
• Doctors must show reasonable care and skill, not merely ‘act in good faith’;
• Patients in the process must be informed about the palliative care and treatment options available to the person;
• Only doctors and nurses can suggest euthanasia and assisted suicide, down from 16 occupations including health care workers, podiatrists and Chinese medicine practitioners.

Mr Budge said that the bill still has manifestly unsafe provisions, and that it is less safe than both the Victorian legislation and the inoperative NT legislation, citing the following points:

• A patient can self-administer the poison without any supervision;
• Doctors are compelled to falsify the death certificate, which must not list euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide as cause of death (a vote to change this clause was narrowly lost 17-18);
• Medical staff who conscientiously object will be forced to provide information on how to access the scheme;
• There is no requirement to store the lethal substance securely;
• Doctors are not prohibited from steering patients towards suicide, even when other palliative care options are available. They can legally raise the possibility of euthanasia but not “influence” the patient. The trust of ‘medical experts’ by patients was not considered.

The FamilyVoice WA Director expressed disappointed that MPs were unduly pressured to bring forward the final vote in the upper house, because, he said, “This effectively denied proper consideration for the promised conscience vote.”

“We will enter a different kind of campaign next year, as details emerge during the 18-month implementation phase,” Mr Budge said.

“Next year we also face a WA government review of equal opportunity laws for schools and exclusion-zone proposals that will stifle free speech and deny help to fearful women. Stay tuned!

“Though we have lost this fight for now, FamilyVoice and all Christians will continue to provide comfort and peace to a lonely and hurt world that needs His love, wisdom and justice.”