VATICAN BANS NUNS FROM HEROIN TRIAL

THE Vatican has ordered the Darlinghurst-based Sisters of Charity Health
Service to withdraw from plans to run a safe injecting room.

The directive from the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
has put at risk the State Government's plan to open Australia's first legal
heroin shooting gallery.

Sydney's Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal Edward Clancy, received the
instruction in a letter from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of the Vatican on
Monday and broke the news to the sisters yesterday.

Cardinal Clancy told The Daily Telegraph last night he had asked the
Catholic Church's arbiter of morality and faith – the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith – for a "determination" on the operation.

The move comes just three months after the Government agreed to the trial
after a recommendation by the historic NSW Drug Summit in May.

The sisters' congregational leader, Sr Annette Cunliffe, said they had
decided to "abide by the Vatican's instruction" but said she was
disappointed they were not asked to provide information about the service.
In its letter to Cardinal Clancy, the Vatican identified "practical
concerns" about the shooting gallery.

This included the message that might be given to people outside Australia
who have been "disturbed" by media reports of the involvement of a religious
order.

The Vatican also expressed concern about the likely effectiveness of the
injecting service and the message it might give about the acceptability of
recreational drug use.

Sr Cunliffe said the letter from German Cardinal Ratzinger did not address
the "more complex moral principles but stays largely on the level of the
practical".

"We are saddened by these events and the effect upon so many," Sr Cunliffe said.

"We are also very disappointed that we were not asked by the Vatican to
provide information on the proposed trial injecting service."

Sr Cunliffe said the Sisters of Charity would make a "formal submission to
the Vatican on the philosophical basis and perceived practical benefits" of
the shooting gallery.

Cardinal Clancy said it was "unfortunate" the project had come this far
because the sisters had put a lot of time and effort into setting up the
shooting gallery.

But he said he was not disappointed the sisters would not be involved
because of the moral issues involved.

"I think the Vatican's decision was correct," he said.

Special Minister of State John Della Bosca said the Government would
continue with its plan for an 18-month trial and would try to find a new
operator for the service.