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[[[[[[[[[[THE atheists are challenging the bishops in the latest euthanasia debate as a federal inquiry examines attempts to allow Australians the legal right to die.The atheists have declared any politician using religious grounds to oppose euthanasia should abstain from voting or "join the priesthood".The bishops say the compassionate response to a dying person is to care for them as best we can.]]]]]]]]]Greens senator Bob Brown wants to re-instate Northern Territory's euthanasia laws allowing NT, the ACT and Norfolk Island to make laws to help terminally ill people die. Former Liberal MP Kevin Andrews led a private members' Bill in Parliament overturning the NT legislation in 1997.Both the Atheists Foundation of Australia Inc and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference are among 1001 submissions to a Senate inquiry examining Senator's Brown's proposal.The atheists have called Mr Andrews' overturning of the Bill a "reprehensible display of bigoted religious ideology"."Governments responsible for not introducing a system of legal voluntary euthanasia are to be condemned for the suffering produced," they said.The bishops' submissions contends: "There is a compassionate response to terminal illness and that is good palliative care."Changing the law back will only put pressure on the terminally ill to end their life, the bishops' submission contends."They will feel pressure to consider whether 'for the sake of the family' or 'for the sake of society' they should request euthanasia."The Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs conducting the inquiry is expected to report back on June 23.As in the days of Noah....
