Information reproduced with permission.
Life Network Australia reported that the Victorian Government voted against an investigation into the deaths of 54 babies born alive after failed abortions and left to die, in 2007.
Reverend Mark Durie tabled a motion to bring this information before the Anglican synod, who supported the decriminalisation of abortion in Victoria in 2008.
The motion was that this Synod:
Examine:
- a reported six-fold increase in late-term abortions being performed at the Royal Women's Hospital since the introduction of the Abortion Law Reform Bill in October 2008;[1] and
- a reported 52 cases in 2007 of late-term abortions (15% of the total in that year) which resulted in babies being born alive;
Call upon the State Government of Victoria to investigate and report to the people of Victoria on the following matters:
- How many late-term abortions are being performed in Victoria every week, and at how many weeks gestation?
- What are the reasons these abortions are being performed, and in what proportions?
- For those babies born alive as a result of a late-term abortion, were the neonates given the medical care at birth which a new born infant would normally be entitled to, and what was their cause of death?
- What has been the effect on staff morale of the reported six-fold increase in late-term abortions being performed at the Royal Women's Hospital?
- What impact has the reported increase in late-term abortions had on policies for recruitment of staff at the Royal Women's Hospital?
[1] Channel 7 News, 17 April 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AeFdCG4gEg>
[2] Annual Report for the Year 2007, The Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, p.11. <http://www.health.vic.gov.au/ccopmm/downloads/ccopmm_annrep07.pdf>
News Weekly reported that "Unfortunately, Dr Durie's motion at the Anglican synod was not voted on as Rev. Dr Ray Cleary, a theology lecturer and former chief executive officer of Anglicare Victoria (Victoria's largest provider of support services for children and families), moved that the synod move on to the next item on the agenda".
Disappointment is an understatement, given the extreme impact of this decision (and that of the Victorian Government's refusal to investigate) on late term babies being aborted and left to die if born alive. It is appalling and heartless that these babies do not warrant even a debate.
Reverend Durie prepared a speech to present but was denied the opportunity to - his speech can be found here.
Comments
We are worse than animals.
Q. Why did Rev. Dr Ray Cleary, move on to the next motion?
Q. Is he now turning a blind eye to the horror of an abhorrent practice that the Victorian Anglicans have supported?
Q. Being a theology lecturer does Cleary not feel that abortion is cleary against the word of God? (oops misspelled that one)
Q. Being a former chief executive officer of Anglicare Victoria, doesn't Cleary see the irony in supporting the open killing of babies is a little bit in opposition to supporting the family?
Q. Does Cleary feel proud that the Anglican church supports the unrestrained abortion of babies by the state for people such as Ms. Keli Lane who is a serial aborter and killed her own new born baby.
Q. Can Cleary explain why Ms. Keli Lane is going to prison for a single murder when the doctors and hospital, with the strong support of the Anglicans, have committed as many as 52 for similar reasons (money).