austraLasia #2260

Bio-ethics seminar for Thai Catholics: Dr Norman Ford SDB

Hua Hin: 24th September 2008 -- More than one hundred Catholic priests, religious brothers and sisters, and laity are currently taking part in a three day seminar on bio-ethics conducted by Dr Norman Ford SDB at the Salesian Retreat House at Hua Hin. Critical issues on natal care and abortion, human sexuality, drug abuse, euthanasia and terminal illness are being looked at from within the Catholic tradition in a contemporary world.  Fr Ford, internationally acclaimed bioethicist and author of many books and articles on the range of subjects entailed, hails from Australia and is currently scholar in residence with Catholic Health Care Australia, lecturer at Catholic Theological College Melbourne, and was founding director of the Caroline Chisholm Centre for Health ethics, a post he held until last year.
    Fr Ford is uniquely positioned to assist clergy and laity in this area. He comes from an intense debate currently underway in the Australian State of Victoria where he lives, where abortion law reform before the Upper House of State Parliament would force staff in the 15 Catholic hospitals in the State to offer referrals for abortion. The Catholic Church, then, is responsible for a third of all births in the State. With the threat of closure of maternity wards in Catholic hospitals should the bill be passed, publically announced by Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne, there is some chance that the bill will be defeated.
    Participants in the Thai seminar series come from various Thai dioceses and Religious Congregations from around the country. Amongst them is Salesian Bishop Joseph Prathan, Bishop of Suruthani Diocese.  The seminar will run in two batches, the first from 22-24 and the second from 25-27 September.

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Title: australasia 2260
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces THA AUL Bio-ethic conference
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2260