Fed: WEL goes head to head with bishops over IVF

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2001
Fed: WEL goes head to head with bishops over IVF

A key women's group is poised to take on the Catholic bishops after the High Court
granted it leave to intervene in a case challenging single women's right to IVF treatment.

The Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference is disputing a Federal Court decision to
invalidate Victorian laws banning single women and lesbians from using IVF treatment.

High Court Justice WILLIAM GUMMOW has given the Women's Electoral Lobby leave to be
involved in the case.

WEL convenor LISA SOLOMON says if the Catholic Church succeeds in its quest, the rights
of one group, in this case yet to be conceived children, will take precedence over the
rights of another group, Australian women.

Ms SOLOMON says WEL will dispute the bishops' right to be involved in the case when
the parties reappeared before Justice GUMMOW on August 6.

AAP RTV jb/daw/klw

KEYWORD: IVF (CANBERRA)

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