BACKING FOR HEROIN ROOMS

Traditional Catholic teachings gave a clear moral justification for
supervised heroin injection rooms, a leading Jesuit and moral theologian
said yesterday.

At the launch of the Jesuit Social Services' drug policy, Father Geoffrey
King, the principal of the Jesuit Theological College in Parkville, said the
church's governing principal of "respect for human life" meant drug use had
to be tolerated within an overall strategy to combat addiction.

"A respect for human life requires a holistic response," he said. "There are
no quick fixes to the complex program of drug use."

Victorian Opposition Leader Denis Napthine and National Party leader Peter
Ryan, both Catholics, have expressed "grave reservations" about injection
rooms.

Key independent MPs Russell Savage and Craig Ingram have also said they are
unlikely to support the government's proposal for supervised injection rooms
in five areas.

Father King said it was important that Christian organisations support
marginal groups such as drug users, and not treat them like lepers.

Late last year the Vatican intervened to stop the Sisters of Charity
establishing an injection room in Sydney.

Father King said it was part of the Catholic tradition to debate
controversial social issues.

"I don't think the Vatican would have great difficulty with what we are
saying today," he said.