Thousands of people rallied for a second time outside NSW Parliament House on 7 May to oppose an “evil” bill which could force Catholic hospitals to provide and perform abortions, while removing the conscientious objection rights of healthcare works across the state.
It came as Labor MPs were denied a key conscience vote on whether the parliament would be allowed to debate a ban on sex-selective abortions.
Present in the crowd were dozens of clergy and people of different faiths including Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Melkite Bishop Robert Rabbat, and Maronite Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay.
The archbishop later posted to social media that he appreciated they “united in disgust” regarding the Greens bill.
“For a state with some of the most permissive abortion laws and highest abortion rates in the the world to move the kill the bodies of even more babies is dumbfounding,” he said.
“But the determination to kill the souls of health professionals and institutions as well, by forcing their participation or by co-opting our nurses and midwives is truly fearsome, indeed hellish.”
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott was a surprise addition to the speakers, telling the crowd the bill is a “fundamental assault” on freedom of conscience.
“This bill is designed to drive conscientious health professionals out of the system, and it’s designed to take religious institutions out of our health system,” he told the crowd.
“It is a shameful attempt to cancel Christianity and change our society for the worse.”
Many began filling Macquarie Road nearly an hour before the rally began, with protesters singing Amazing Grace in one poignant moment.
Professor Joanna Howe, anti-abortion advocate and rally organiser, said the impressive turnout was a reflection of the moral reprehensibility and “dirtiness” of the bill.
“[Labor] removed their conscience vote to block any amendments this evening because they said it wasn’t in the spirit of the bill,” she said.
“That shows us with crystal clarity that this is a bill about killing poor babies, and the people have spoken, they and we will fight this bill for the next 18 months.”
Liberal MLC Rachel Merton echoed Howe’s words, saying that the bill “took the abortion bills of 2019 to another level.”
“Where does it end? When the ideological legislative agenda being pushed here by left-wing parliamentarians in this dangerous, undemocratic and deceitful bill is passed through,” she said.
Director, Public Affairs and Engagement for the Archdiocese of Sydney Monica Doumit also spoke at the event, saying that should the legislation pass, the question surrounding the morality of abortion will disappear from public discourse.
“They’ve already prevented you from even silently praying 150 metres away from an abortion clinic, and they’ve decriminalised abortion right up until the day of birth. Now they want to take our voice away,” she said.
Following the praying of the Our Father by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, podcaster Charlie Bakhos urged the crowd to remember that “Christ is King.”
“Consider the second Joyful Mystery, the Visitation. When Mary entered the room, Elizabeth, six months pregnant, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and John the Baptist, not even born yet, leapt in her womb,” he said.
“What more proof do we need that life exists in the womb?”
Danielle de Silva, who attended the rally all the way from Port Macquarie, told The Catholic Weekly it was clear that “the power of the people,” has spoken.
“We could all sit at home and wait for someone else to act, but we need to get off our lounges and come out to show our support, and that’s exactly what has happened today,” she said.
The debate in parliament is set to run into next week.