Sign This Petition to Save Calvary Hospital
Take a stand for religious freedom. Ask the Federal Government to override the ACT Government’s compulsory acquisition of Calvary Hospital.
A new petition with a short deadline has been published at the Parliament of Australia website. Titled ‘Stop the ACT government’s takeover of Calvary Hospital’, the petition closes 31 August, and therefore requires a prompt response from Australians wishing to protect religious freedom.
You can sign the petition here.
The ACT Legislative Assembly passed legislation to compulsorily acquire Calvary Hospital on July 3, 2023. An appeal to the ACT Supreme Court by Calvary failed.
In the months since, the ACT Government has demonstrated that it is unwilling to dialogue with hospital authorities and ACT citizens. Worse, it has made no bones about its opposition to Calvary’s “problematic” Catholic beliefs, which includes refusing to provide elective abortions and euthanasia, which the ACT Government intends to legislate later this year.
Fortunately, the Federal Parliament has the power to veto legislation by Territories of the Commonwealth. The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into the ACT government’s action. The inquiry received 76 submissions and thousands of letters and emails. Most were concerned and dismayed at the takeover.
The ACT government is being called before the Committee to explain its action.
Calvary Hospital: The Canary in the Coal Mine
The new petition is the initiative of a local resident of Canberra, Chris Rule. Mr Rule has worked in collaboration with local Catholics and has the support of Fr Tony Percy, the Australian Family Association, and the National Civic Council.
So far, the petition has just over 1,500 signatures, but many more are needed for a strong message to be sent.
Chris Rule is asking for the support of as many Australians as possible. He has said, “Please help us keep the pressure on the Federal parliament to overrule the ACT government on this unwarranted and sectarian attack on the right of people of faith to run their own hospital.”
The ACT Government’s illiberal decision has caused serious concern among faith communities that a precedent has been set which may encourage more state intervention in other faith-based institutions.
In short, if a government can compulsorily acquire a religious-based hospital, what other religious organisations can it compulsorily acquire?
The Need for an Independent Calvary Hospital
Across Australia, the Catholic Church has established hospitals, trained medical professionals and served the community for 170 years. Today, 21 public and 54 private Catholic hospitals treat more than 1.5 million patients annually, or three patients every minute.
As the ACT Government is already struggling to provide adequate services at Canberra Hospital, there is no reason to believe that it can competently run a second hospital. Hence, why take over a well-run hospital providing excellent medical services to the people of the ACT?
The Territory continues to need a major, independently run hospital that provides high-standard services, as Calvary Hospital already does.
This petition is a way for everyday Australians to push back against the ACT Government’s illiberal and harmful decision to take over Calvary Hospital.
The Canberra Declaration team encouraged all supporters to sign and share this petition far and wide. You can sign the petition here.
Image via HRLA.
2 Comments
Leave A Comment
Recent Articles:
14 February 2025
4.1 MINS
Adelaide's Walk for Life 2025 organisers are looking towards a much brighter future for the unborn and were thrilled with “the best Walk for Life to date”.
14 February 2025
3 MINS
As Aussie NFL star Jordan Mailata etches his name into Super Bowl history, he does so among a score of teammates who openly attribute their success to their faith in Jesus Christ.
14 February 2025
2.8 MINS
We are thrilled to announce the Christians in Politics 2025 Digital Summit, which will be held next Wednesday, 19 February 2025 on Zoom. With the federal election to be called soon, now is the time to learn how to most effectively engage in the political process to promote Australia's Christian values for the good of all.
14 February 2025
4.8 MINS
Freed Israeli captives reveal horrific conditions under Hamas — hostage torture, starvation, and unimaginable suffering in war-torn Gaza.
14 February 2025
7 MINS
Trump has defied political correctness to address a major human rights abuse, sanctioning South Africa over land expropriation, racial discrimination, and Afrikaner persecution.
13 February 2025
4.9 MINS
The Trump administration is challenging a federal court order blocking DOGE, the government’s efficiency agency, from accessing U.S. Treasury records.
13 February 2025
3.4 MINS
The Health Minister’s response to a video in which two New South Wales nurses threaten to kill Jews in their care tells you everything about the problem we have here in Australia.
Wonderful summary, and brilliant that a local resident, Chris Rule, has managed to get this petition up. For me, it shows that the tide is on the rise!
deplorable that it has come to this. revolution to all those standing up against a takeover. Seems there are more people with good morals than those without.