Bishop in Australia's Northern Territory condemns plans to legalize euthanasia

A Catholic bishop is reacting after the government of Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) announced that it hopes to introduce voluntary assisted dying legislation by mid-2026, reopening a dark chapter in Australia's history after federal intervention halted the enactment of assisted dying laws around three decades ago. 

The Details:

As Live Action News previously reported, the NT is the only area in Australia that has not yet legalized "voluntary assisted dying," a euthanasia program.

NT Catholic Bishop Charles Gauci has denounced assisted dying as an assault on human dignity. 

“We as a church do not support euthanasia. It is against our beliefs,” Bishop Gauci proclaimed, as reported by the Catholic Leader. “It doesn’t mean we don’t want to be compassionate or loving of people in the dying process. We certainly do, and we want to do our best to help them and care for them.”

The bishop added that providing people with quality palliative care is crucial, as it could ensure that “fewer people will want to take on the option of euthanasia.”

Bishop Gauci also elaborated that the Catholic Church has a responsibility to provide care and appropriate facilities for those approaching the end of life and for their families.

“No one wishes to see others in pain or distress,” he said, noting that “medical professionals have told me there are numerous ways we can provide support and relief.”

Just over a year ago, the bishop also warned that those with mental illnesses could easily be targeted, stating that legalizing euthanasia would be like "opening a whole possible Pandora's box, as has happened in other countries." He added at the time:

"Instead of people finding healing, they opt for the quick answer. We know. I know people who wanted to die, who would be mentally depressed and mentally ill, but then later on they were so glad that they hadn't because they were able to manage their illness to the point of even having happy family lives and being very successful in society."

Opening Pandora's Box: Bishop Charles Warns Against Voluntary Assisted Dying for the Mentally ill

Reality Check:

The developments in the Northern Territory are disturbing for several reasons, including these:

• The 1995 NT law permitted assisted dying, though brief, and uncovered serious loopholes, such as its lax eligibility requirements and loose safeguards that allowed room for abuse and even possible coercion. Australian lawmakers of today seem to disregard these legitimate concerns and appear to have largely jumped on the bandwagon for legalizing assisted dying.

• With all states and the ACT already allowing assisted dying, the NT's intended move would only complete a national slide of the entire country toward a “culture of death” at huge costs to Australia’s vulnerable residents. 

• The immense geography of Australia’s NT and its approximately 30% Indigenous population require culturally sensitive care in terms of dealing with sickness and disabilities, instead of death-on-demand over life-affirming alternatives.

• Case studies from other Australian jurisdictions have shown that such assisted dying laws can widen aggressively, eroding past guarantees of strict limits. For example, in New South Wales (NSW), the 2022 Voluntary Assisted Dying Act was legalized with terminal illness requirements at first but presently faces pressure to include people with other non-terminal conditions. Assisted dying legislation in NSW was introduced amid ongoing hospital strains and staff shortages. Likewise, in the ACT, calls have been made to widen the ability of nurse practitioners to evaluate eligibility for assisted dying.

The overarching storyline is clear: while proponents claim “safeguards” are in place, empirical data has revealed coercion in subtle forms and an overall stance in favor of assisted dying instead of life-affirming care for the elderly, ill, and the vulnerable. 

The Bottom Line:

Rather than pursue assisted dying as the default or easy solution to the needs of vulnerable patients, the various jurisdictions of Australia should invest in life-affirming palliative alternatives and safeguard the consciences of doctors and nurses in not being coerced to perform assisted dying on their patients.