RSL cancels pro-life talk

North Ryde RSL informed organiser Robert Assaff in an email on 23 September—the day before debate on the NSW abortion bill resumed in the upper house — that his booking to have a Q&A on abortion held at the club on 26 September had been cancelled. The club said it made the decision after receiving just one complaint by phone from an individual who had seen the event advertised.

‘Certain political and advocacy groups are not permitted to host events at North Ryde RSL in an effort to protect the club from any potential damage to its brand and due to past incidents, which threatened the safety and security of attendees and other club patrons’.

Does this mean the club has been intimidated?

The event was the inaugural Conservative Q&A panel discussion, organised by the Liberal Party’s Marsfield branch and advertised as the ‘Pro-life edition’.

It featured panellists former attorney general Greg Smith, MPs Lou Amato and Nathaniel Smith and Director of Life Choice Australia Rebecca Gosper and was moved to the church hall of St Kevin’s Parish, Eastwood, at the invitation of parish priest Father Martin Maunsell.

North Ryde RSL did not respond to The Catholic Weekly’s request for comment.

Source: Catholic Weekly