Diocese’s pro-life banner ripped off

by MICHAEL OTTO
A banner saying “Say No to Euthanasia” was ripped down from a plinth outside Hamilton’s Chanel Centre in late July.

This is one of several attacks on banners that have been put up outside the centre.
Hamilton diocese spokesman Jamie Cox told NZ Catholic that the banner before that one featured an
image of the Pope and someone had daubed a swastika on his head.
Another earlier banner, which focused on social justice and ministry, was vandalised with the images of prison chaplains having their throats slit.
Mr Cox said it is hard to know if those incidents were “an attack on the message, the Catholic Church, or just plain vandalism”.

The removal of the “Say No to Euthanasia” banner has been reported to police, Mr Cox said.
The incident is considered a burglary, because the banner was attached to the building.
Mr Cox said the banner went up “a few weeks ago”.
“We try to put a new banner up every couple of months, usually with a short but relevant message,” Mr Cox said.
A Christmas banner featuring Pope Francis with the words “remember the poor” received great feedback, Mr Cox added.
“The euthanasia debate is fairly topical at the moment, so we decided it was a good time to put up a banner addressing this topic.”
Chanel Centre staff were considering putting up another version of the Say No to Euthanasia sign in chalk.
■ Meanwhile, in Wellington, Cardinal John Dew has made suggestions to parishes about how to continue promoting a “culture of life”.
In a memorandum dated July 9, the cardinal asked that parishes consider including “regularly in the prayers of the faithful at Sunday Mass, a prayer focusing on the respect for life, for those who care for the sick and dying, and for politicians to exercise wisdom in their deliberations on euthanasia”.
Wellington parishes are also asked to consider choosing “individuals who would be able to be a point of contact for communications on matters related to euthanasia, and would be able to share that with the parish”.
It is also suggested that parishes take out a subscription to the Nathaniel Report, the journal of the New Zealand Catholic bishops’ bioethics centre, in order to keep parishioners updated on “this vital issue facing New Zealand at this time”.
The memorandum came after the Wellington Council of Priests reflected on the implications of
the Lecretia Seales court case and how parishes can continue to promote a culture of life, respect for the elderly, terminally ill and vulnerable people in society.
“We encourage parishes in their regular Mass of Anointing of the sick, and the formation and
support of those who take Communion to the sick and elderly. These are ways of keeping us
aware of the value of all human persons, no matter how ill and dependent on others they may be,” the memorandum stated.
■ This month it was announced that Parliament’s health select committee will hold an inquiry on the introduction of euthanasia laws.
MPs were presented with a petition signed by former Labour MP Maryan Street and 8974 others.
It demanded the committee examine public opinion on the introduction of legislation “which would permit medically assisted dying in the event of a terminal illness or an irreversible condition which makes life unbearable”.
Select committee chairman and National MP Simon O’Connor said he wants a “thorough investigation”.
“This is an important subject and the committee needs to think carefully about the best way to examine it,” he reportedly said.