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| Dear...... The NSW abortion debate has been a jarring experience. There have been some wonderful moments, with MPs championing the most vulnerable in our community: unborn children in the womb. There have also been some terrible moments, with comments that have shocked me in their callousness. (And that’s saying something. Having worked in this field for a while, there’s not much that still shocks me). Sadly, it's not surprising that the NSW lower house saw fit to pass the abortion liberalisation bill late last night – 59 votes for to 31 against – under the guise of “decriminalisation”. Despite the best efforts of supporters like yourself – and the efforts of valiant pro-life MPs – the majority of NSW MPs disregarded concern over atrocious aspects like late-term abortion and rushed the bill through. Around metro and regional NSW, some 5275 AFC supporters have sent, over the past 10 days, a combined total of 263,346 emails to their local state MP and MLCs. In addition to this, countless phone calls have been made, support given to the rally outside Parliament House in Sydney, and more. And this on top of the efforts of many other organisations and churches who have also been campaigning hard against the bill. So why are MPs’ hearts so hardened – not only to the plight of the unborn, but also to the clear voice of their constituents? 
It’s far from the only reason, but one thing strikes me. Too often, we leave debates until “minutes to midnight”, surprised that the commanding heights have been taken and our views are effectively locked out. It has certainly been so in the abortion debate, where the cry for “reproductive rights” has seen pro-lifers essentially declared “anti-women”. It has also meant that attempts to get meaningful amendments, trying to lessen the impact of this awful bill, were shot down in flames. Having said that, while the bill was rushed through the lower house, we now have a narrow window of opportunity. Indeed, we have an obligation to act. We have a few weeks until the upper house considers this bill – and that’s why we must maintain our efforts. AFC is wholeheartedly supporting a group effort to send a MASSIVE new petition to the Legislative Council. Some petitions are of questionable effect, but a similar petition made a HUGE impact in 2017 when this issue was last debated – and we’re convinced that joining forces with our friends from other organisations is the best chance we have of stopping this terrible legislation. We owe it to the unborn children of today and tomorrow to make the effort. This new petition is hard copy as it will be tabled in the NSW Parliament. We need your help to send it far and wide, gaining as many signatures as possible in the short time available. Further instructions are available on the petition cover page. You can email it to your friends, circulate it at church this weekend and next – the opportunities are many. For those in other states and territories, please make every effort to share the petition with your NSW friends. We only have until Tuesday, 20 August, so we need every bit of help we can get! NSW friends, here’s the link to the petition again, by CLICKING HERE. With your help, we won’t rest until every effort has been made to stop this terrible bill. Thank you so much for your support. Best wishes, 
Damian Wyld Director Australian Family Coalition Please print off this petition and get as many signatures as possible The petition needs to be acted upon as soon as possible. Please return the petition no later than Tuesday, 20 August 2019, to: Right to Life NSW GPO Box 3621 Sydney NSW 2001 Or hand deliver completed petition pages to: Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney Right to Life NSW 133 Liverpool Street or 204a/32 York Street Sydney NSW 2000 Sydney NSW 2000 Please email any inquiries to: office@austfamily.com.au Thank you for your efforts, The Australian Family Coalition. .. |
