Monday 11 October 2010

A sign of the times...

A roadside campaign has already started, in advance of the case before the Cairns District Court, commencing tomorrow.

In April last year, a young Cairns woman faced charges under an antiquated Queensland law of the Criminal Code, for procuring an abortion, when she imported RU486 abortion drugs from Ukraine to terminate a pregnancy. She was charged under section 225, which carries the possibility of 14 years imprisonment.

Campaigners from many political persuasions are asking for the charges to be dropped against the Cairns woman and her partner, who are charged under sections 225 and 226 of the Queensland Criminal Code. They also say that sections 224, 225, and 226 of the Criminal Code should be repealed to ensure that termination of pregnancy is no longer subject to criminal law.

Pro Choice Cairns wants support funding for abortion services through the public health system, with full Medicare coverage for terminations.

23 comments:

SPIRITUS said...

! ABORTION IS MURDER !
legislation or not We prodigal Souls enter at conception ... our body thus becomes a living Temple of GOD.

www.spiritus.com.au

Roisin - Shannonvale said...

Spiritus, you can keep your God and I will keep supporting a woman's right to choose.

But Moses was furious with all the military commanders who had returned from the battle. "Why have you let all the women live?" he demanded. "These are the very ones who followed Balaam's advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the LORD's people. Now kill all the boys and all the women who have slept with a man. Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves. (Numbers 31:7-18)

When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. (Deuteronomy 20:10-14)

If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her. (Deuteronomy 22:28-29)

Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives [plural] while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.' Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan answered David: "The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. But since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die." (2 Samuel 12:11-14)

Leigh Dall'Osto said...

Ah yes, another sane person with a sensible comment. Thanks Spiritus, for pointing out to me the reason why removing abortion from the state's criminal code is so important.

It has not got anything to do with opinion, moralistic views or religion. In fact, it doesn't even have anything to do with whether or not women should have the right to choose.

Simply put, women have the right to feel safe and protected in their choices, whether we agree with that choice or not.

Abortion's have been procured for as far back as records show and will continue to take place well into the future. Nothing that any of us have to say about the issue will change that one simple fact.

Bearing that in mind, let's remove it from the criminal code, making it a safe procedure, an informed choice and in the process, help save women's lives.

Visit my blog for more of my view on this one. It's a topic I believe quite strongly in (as you have probably already gathered.).

Bryan Law said...

This young woman deserves our support. My religion tells me to choose life, and my experience tells me that choosing life can be fraught with challenges. The right to choose lies with those most affected. Women must be in charge of their own fertlity.

I'm appalled that this young woman, already coping with a difficult choice, is charged with a criminal offence and made to play out all the personal details of her trauma in front ofthe public, and the sensationalised media.

It seems to me we live in a very cruel society, where compassion and a helping hand come in behind self-righteousness and judgementalism.

The key message from Jesus was to love God and one another, and that all our sins will be forgiven. Every time. The law must be society's servant, not its master.

Matt CYP said...

The development of an effective morning-after pill fundamentally changed the abortion debate.

The old law remaining on the books cannot be changed by any government without a massive backlash from the opponents of abortion, without this novel situation being tested in court and the legislation thus shown as outdated and in need of reform.

I've heard comments criticizing the government for laying this charge, but it's my understanding that it's the prosecutor's office that wants to test the law in view of the availability now of a reliable means of getting a self-administered medical termination.

Of course, Bryan is right, we live in a cruel world, and this is very harsh and unfair for the young woman involved and her partner too. I hope they get the support they need.

Abortion is a difficult issue for most of us - in any particular case, if asked for my opinion, I'd say "Please don't do it" and try to find a way to overcome the problem - but on the other hand, I would never presume to tell a woman what she can or cannot do, if she feels she cannot go through with the pregnancy or cope with a child.

I can't see a way either to resolve the issues of the rights of the unborn child, and the rights of the father - for they do both have rights, in my view - once a viable embryo is formed, I consider that to be a person - and if a man has willingly and co-operatively joined with a woman in the endeavour to have a baby, then he surely has some right to at least be consulted.

Veritas said...

@ Bryan

Hear hear!

Warren Entsch said...

Allegedly Jesus says this on the last page of the bible Revelations chapter 22 verse 11@12.

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.



So fundamental Jesus freak that means it's not your business so should butt out. (You give Jesus a crap reputation I reckon.)

Of course what's the foul stink in the room? Same rotting corrupt carcass the Cairns police.

Cairns police as honest and righteous as the scabies infested filthy watch house blankets?

She'll beat the rap because she is good. Jah loves her. The prosecutor of course a lying hyena and his coward cop bullies perjurying themselves on the witness stand with their fabricated evidence.

Slash the Police budget. We don't need them. In my opion police are a rip off, a scam and murderers. Police are the murderers and the reason many people go missing in this State and deserve culling. Just thinking.

The Essence of Good Taste said...

Fertility is nobodies business but the individual woman herself - to conceive, not to conceive, to terminate, go full term, have a vaginal or ceasarian birth. Unless you are actually there going through it you are not relevant. Even husbands, fathers, brothers are incidential to these life changing choices because in the end it is her individual responsibility and ONLY SHE is left with the consequences.

PaulB said...

As an atheist I find myself in support of your thoughtful words Bryan.

Spiritus, take your infantile nonsense elsewhere.

Michael (the atheist of Earlville) said...

Spiritus,
I had a look at your web site - what a smut. Your religious crap is polluting our society, pulling it back into the dark ages. You and your fanatical cohort are responsible for the stupid law that this young is facing now. Yes, you have got blood on your hands.
I hope your Lord will "show you the way" over the cliff - you will meet Him then.

A compassionate friend said...

This court case is equivalent to a stoning for this poor girl. Having to make the difficult decision to abort in the first place then months of probing by the legal system will be with her for ever. Enough is enough. My thoughts are with her and her partner. May the god of LOVE & LOGIC preside.

Our laws must be changed.

CRAG said...

Consider, has this case been initiated so that the "Fabian" manipulators can continue to degrade our Community values by legalizing abortion thru artificially created "Public Demand"...
what next, kill your spouse or kids if unsatisfied ?

www.CRAG1.webs.com

Russ Parker said...

Goodness me Osho - tell us what you really think!

Mate - a nice cup of tea and a good lie down and you'll be fine.

Cheers mate,

Russ

MG said...

@ Bryan

Well Said

chris forsberg said...

Chris Forsberg wonders:-

Why has this case gone to Court ?

The judiciary has no right and no
role in your bedroom or bathroom -
and the decision this young couple
made at the time is one both of
them will have to live with for the
rest of their lives....

That they should be 'named, shamed
and demonised' in the local media -
and by 'pro-life' bible bashing
bloggers is bloody appalling...

It is to be hoped that the relationship of the couple in question is strengthened by this
dreadful, wholly UNwarranted
intrusion in to their private lives.

It is apparent that the couple's home was the subject of a police
search for drugs of a more er,
'recreational' nature - none of
which were found. Rather than
fostering so-called 'public debate'
(and protest placards)about the
respective merits of 'pro-choice'
and pro-life' arguments, the
unfortunate couple's court defence
could be well-advised to concentrate on the circumstances
that led to the original police
search of their home....

Were they victims of an anonymous
'crime-stoppers' tip-off ? Was
the seizure of whatever 'abortion'
medicinals duly found regarded as
some form of 'consolation prize' by
the arresting officers ?

Did the officers have the appropriate 'search warrant'
(recognizing that one is not needed
for a conventional 'drug search'
if "reason to suspect" exists) ?

This case should not be seen as
a 'test case' relating to 'pro-life
slash pro-choice', but rather as
a violation of the couple's basic
rights to bedroom/bathroom privacy.

A more savvy magistrate should have
found that the couple had "no case
to answer" - instead, he/she has
flicked it to trial, resulting in
yet more un-deserved embarrassment
and punishment for the couple.

A totally INappropriate waste of
the Court's time and resources - IF
they are found to be 'guilty',
THEN a public protest is certainly
called for.

Whereas it's most unlikely that
either one of them will be imprisoned, any fine, bond or
'community service' sentence imposed upon them is completely
in-appropriate - as they have
already punished themselves by
their decision to abort, a
decision which was always entirely
their's - and their's alone - to
make.

chris forsberg bayview heights

Unknown said...

Chris of Manunda says,

Provided abortion is for the right reasons... then like euthanasia the decision must rest with the concerned parties.
"My body, my life, my conscience and therefore my decision.

CG

Warren Entsch said...

POLICE have released video that shows cop Benjamin Price bashing two handcuffed tourists.


The first video shows the then SENIOR Constable Benjamin Price throwing a slightly built, handcuffed woman to the ground then pulling her up by the hair.

Another officer walks around him while the assault is going on, and does not appear to say anything - although there is no sound in the videos.

In the second, Price is out of screen for part of the video before he drags a handcuffed alleged offender up to a wall.

There is blood over the man’s nose and mouth and another officer then hands Price a fire hose, which he shoves in the victim’s face.

The assault goes on for several minutes and is difficult to watch.


Friend of yours Russ? Of course this did not even happen as far as you and Police Union are concerned? I can see it's normal police behaviour to turn back on vicious police violence and attempt to kill them?

Are you the type of Qld. police officer that turns the back so you did not see the coward trying to kill these two bashing victims?

Police are murderers?

Is Bligh a client of the international sodomist banksters while shifting the attention to this fine couple? She is their client and they say no to abortion? She obeys? I believe!

Abbott didn't really want to win. Sodomy is scary stuff in our opinions!

:Kevin-John: Morgan. said...

Sharing in the suffering, pain and torment of having made a medical decision to have an abortion, is something I can relate to.
We won't go into the details, but I dare the prosecutors department to charge me with it, considering the lady concerned passed away in 1975, so I would dearly welcome the challenge!
I was at the Cairns courthouse after coffee and breakfast at Caffeind today, to support Tegan and Serge, who were until very recently, my friendly neighbours, but I was denied entry for other reasons.
I gave my business card to Bryan Law to give the couple, because he WAS allowed in.
The court case we won 3 weeks ago, in Cairns, using syntax, has the security people and court lawyers on alert for any of us coming back!
Work it out for yourselves, they just don't want syntax issues brought into the Cairns courthouse.
Meaning, No Facts are allowed in the Cairns courthouse unless they can be modified or subjectively argued with!
We'll just have to see about that, won't we?

KitchenSlut said...

Last time I looked there were two people pprosecuted so obviously in reality not "ONLY SHE" is left with the consequences, emotional or legal?

I support the primacy of a womans ultimate right to choose and have for my entire adult life. However this needs to be withiin the nuances of the realities of relationships and mutual understanding. There is never a circummstance without consequences beyond oneself?

I think my brain has just short circuted itself with what I am trying to say however ..... applaud this guy for supporting his partner including facilitating the abortion the way he has in a mature way beyond his years.

Leigh Dall'Osto said...

KS, as obtuse as that comment appeared to be, the crux of it was understood and applauded. Well, by me at least. It is true that hand in hand they faced the courts and at only 22 years of age, this young man is being very supportive and protective of his girlfriend and should most definitely be applauded for that.

If the reports are true and they did decide to import the drug because they thought their only option was surgery in Australia, here is a prime example of why it should be legal. Education can only occur if the law allows the topic to be spoken of in any setting. Pamphlet's can't even be used at the moment and if we are relying only on media to inform the public...we are all in trouble.

If the decision to abort was really because they decided together that they were not ready to be parents, again I applaud them both. Parenthood is tough enough if it's desperately wanted, to decide that the time is not right, to make that choice together, and then to face the consequence of that choice together......that is real commitment. When and if they ever do decide to become parents, their offspring will benefit from having parents with such a strong bond.

Warren Entsch said...

Jah loves them...yea..
You next Mike...freedom........

Russ Parker said...

Osho I don't want to hijack this thread however I do feel that I should respond to your post.

I agree with your viewpoint that Price was a thug and I concur with the finding of the Court and indeed the sentencing handed down. There is certainly no room in the QPS for an officer that behaves in that manner and I believe he got his just deserts.

In fairness to the organisation this matter is not yet finalised and a number of those present are the subject of an ongoing investigation. Some who were alleged to have been present when the assaults took place have resigned in the ensuing period. I won't speculate on their reasons for doing so as I'm not aware of any of the facts of the matter other that what I have seen on that disturbing footage.

It's not as if these events were hushed up. One of the officers present made an official complaint which resulted in the subsequent investigation. Mate I think the Police Union's take on it was that the footage probably shouldn't have been released on Youtube and I tend to agree. On the one hand I can see that the QPS wanted to ensure transparency with the whole thing, however the flip side is that good honest officers are now copping the fallout from it and being branded thugs. I just wonder what was gained as a result of the exercise at the end of the day,

No one, including the Police Union, is disputing that the incident occurred nor is anyone condoning his behaviour. In answer to your query, no, Mr Price is not a friend of mine and I've never met him. To infer that he is attempting to kill the victims is to draw an extremely long bow I believe, however I agree that the entire unfortunate episodes are very disturbing and should never have occurred.

Osho there are about 14,000 people employed by the QPS. I'm sure you'd agree that you can't judge all of those on the actions of a few. The QPS is no different to any other large organisation in that someone will let the side down at some point, much to the disappointment of those who are trying their best to do a difficult job. I've had 21 years in this job and have had the pleasure of working with some of the best people I have ever known.

I accept that I probably won't change your mind but that's quite okay, we live in a democracy and need to respect the opinions of others.

Cheers,

Russ

Russ Parker said...

Sorry about not having my correct name on my previous post - It automatically pasted up 'Russ of Trinity' which was obviously my original Google ID. I have since edited the name in my Google account. Hopefully I've now got it right!

Russ