by ROWENA OREJANA
Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn has strongly urged the faithful to consider making a submission to the Health Select Committee, opposing the legalisation of euthanasia.
“It is important that we have large numbers of individual submissions,” the bishop stressed in a pastoral letter released on September 15.
“Your submission can be just a few lines in the form of letter, or it can be lengthy. Don’t be afraid to draw on your personal experiences and stories, as they provide valuable insights to the committee,” Bishop Dunn added.
In his pastoral letter, Bishop Dunn explained that the committee will be seeking submissions on four points: 1) the factors that contribute to the desire to end one’s life, 2) the effectiveness of services and support available
to those who desire to end their own lives, 3) the attitudes of New Zealanders towards the ending of one’s life and the legal situation now, and 4) international experiences.
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference released a booklet called Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Myths and Facts that can help Catholics in making their submissions.
The Nathaniel Centre, the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre, released a guide on how to make a submission, and urged Catholics to write a submission to the committee.
The centre said submissions can be made online or in letter form. The committee requires two copies for written statements. The deadline for submissions is February 1, 2016.
A written submission must have a heading, the name of the select committee to which it is addressed and the title of the inquiry. In this case, the heading should be “Health Select Committee: Petition of Hon Maryan Street and
8974 others”.
It should provide the following information in a cover letter: your name or the name of the organisation you are representing; an email address; a contact address; and a daytime telephone number.
To make the body of the submission, the centre said to state one’s general position, stick to the four areas in the committee’s term or reference and decide the main points you want to address.
It suggested that two pages is an ideal length, but that submissions can be as short as one sentence.
“Use your own words; well used phrases are likely to mean your arguments are overlooked by the committee,” the centre said.
It added that one can use evidence, arguments or stories or all three and advised that the writer should be clear, concise and accurate. There should be a summary conclusion.
Both copies should be sent together to the committee secretariat before the closing date for submissions.
Address your submission to: Secretariat, Health Committee, Select Committee Services, Parliament Buildings, WELLINGTON 6160.
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