Euthanasia Back on the Agenda

It has been revealed that Nelson Labour List MP, Maryan Street is intending to submit a Private Member’s Bill legalising euthanasia in New Zealand.

The Nelson Mail reported on Saturday that the MP would be submitting “an end of life choice” bill in about a month.  In New Zealand, a Private Member’s Bill needs to be picked out of the ballot in order to be considered.  Some Bills never make it to debate, let alone voting.  

The first such Bill was introduced in 1995 by Michael Laws.  That Bill was defeated 61 against to only 29 for.  The issue was again raised in 2003 by Peter Brown, a NZ First MP.  That time legalisation of euthanasia was only narrowly missed with a vote of 60 against and 58 for.

If Maryan Street’s “end of life choice” Bill makes it to the debating chamber, New Zealand could very well find itself a land where it is legal to kill those who wish to die before their natural time.  Any door opened to legalised euthanasia will inevitably lead to involuntary euthanasia, where those who are most vulnerable will be killed without their knowledge or consent.

Family Life International NZ is absolutely opposed to any legalisation of euthanasia.  All human life is precious.  We as a society, and even more closely, families, are called to care for with true compassion those in our midst who are suffering at the end of their days.  Our government should be putting more emphasis on and indeed funding Hospice, who do such a marvellous job of providing palliative care for those who are dying.

Looking for more comment on Euthanasia?  We have many blog posts on this topic.  Check these out:

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Euthanasia What Is Is and What It Is Not

Euthanasia Killing the Suffering

Response to the Dangers of Euthanasia

A Human Face to Protecting the Vulnerable from Euthanasia

Top Reasons Why Euthanasia Hurts Individuals and Society

Infertility, Science and the Church

The issue of infertility is one that strikes many couples today.  This week the Academy for Life has been meeting in Rome discussing the topic “Diagnosis and Therapy of Infertility”.  Pope Benedict XVI took the time to address the attendees at the Academy on this topic.

In his speech, Pope Benedict reminded his audience that “the union of the man and woman in that community of life that is matrimony constitutes the only dignified “place” in which a new human being, which is always a gift, may be called into existence.”

He also talked about the human and Christian dignity of procreation saying it “… does not consist in a “product”, but in its connection with the conjugal act, the expression of the love of the husband and wife, of their union that is not only biological but also spiritual.”

Pope Benedict encouraged those researching infertility to be intellectually honest and to “find a response that fully respects their dignity as persons and spouses.”

The suffering that couples struggling with infertility experience was not forgotten and Pope Benedict reiterated the Church’s care for those who do suffer in this way.  He spoke directly to couples experiencing infertility saying:

“I would like again to remind the spouses who experience infertility that their vocation to marriage is not frustrated because of this.  The husband and wife, because of their baptismal and matrimonial vocations themselves, are always called to work together with God in creating a new humanity. The vocation to love, in fact, is a vocation to the gift of self and this is a possibility that cannot be impeded by any organic condition.  Therefore, where science cannot find an answer, the answer that brings light comes from Christ.”

All present were reminded that they were trusted by others and had a great role to play in influencing public opinion.  Pope Benedict finished by saying “Never give in to the temptation of reducing the good of persons to a mere technical problem!  The indifference of conscience before the true and the good represents a dangerous threat to authentic scientific progress.”

The full text of Pope Benedict XVI’s address can be read here.

Pro-Life Prayer Intentions March 2012

 ”A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world…Let us…discover anew the humility and courage to pray and fast so that power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit: the walls which conceal from the sight of so many of our brothers and sisters the evil of practices and laws which are hostile to life. May this same power turn their hearts to resolutions and goals inspired by the civilization of life and love.” (Blessed John Paul II, The Gospel of Life #100)

Each month we will be publishing here pro-life prayer intentions.  We urge you to join us in our prayers for the conversion of all who are bound by deceit and for all pro-lifer’s in their efforts to build a civilisation of life and love.

• For all the staff and volunteers who work at Crisis Pregnancy Centres throughout the world.  May each person work effectively, showing love, compassion and truth to all those seeking help.
• For the medical, administration and other staff who work at hospitals and clinics that perform abortions.  May each person involved have their eyes opened so that they will see the evil that is the destruction of innocent human life.  We especially pray for all those who work at the Epsom Day Unit in Auckland, New Zealand.

After-Birth Abortion Is Really Infanticide

Two ethicists who work in Australia are calling for what they call “after-birth abortion”.  They say it is their preference to use these words instead of what it really is infanticide, because they believe a newborn infant has the same moral status as a fetus.

Their argument follows that a fetus and newborn infant do not necessarily have an immediate right to life.  In fact if that child’s life is to significantly impact upon the life of the mother or other family members, then it is those people whose rights prevail.

The etheicists, Alberto Giubillini and Francesca Minerva, are using semantics to change people’s thinking about this issue.  Abortion is acceptable in the minds of many in society.  Abortion is especially acceptable to those in society when a pre-born child is diagnosed with Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, a heart defect or other condition.  If it is okay to kill a child within the womb, then logic follows that it would be fine to kill a child presenting with these conditions after birth.

What this truely is and what it should be called is infanticide.  It is murder of an innocent and can never ever be ethically right.

Society must stand up against this move to change our thinking and never bend to the whims of these so-called “ethecists”.  Society must be prepared to do everything they can do protect the lives of those who are most vulnerable.  Family Life International NZ does this through our Crisis Pregnancy Centre and our Therese Programme which aims to support families who have had a diagnosis of some sort prenatally.

Let’s call “After-Birth Abortion” what it is – infanticide.

The actual article which appeared in the Journal of Medical Ethics can be read here (abstract is free, full article will cost).

Email us for crisis pregnancy information (including adoption) or for support for your family during and after pregnancy with a child who has a non life-limiting condition (such as Down Syndrome or Spina Bifida) or a life-limiting condition (such as anencephaly or heart defects).

More Contraception an Answer to Abortion?

The NZ Abortion Supervisory Committee released this month a Supplementary Report to their Annual Report of 2011. The report dealt with 2010 abortion statistics in New Zealand, and included information about the number of abortions, how and where they were perfomed, on who, for what reason and at what gestation.

There is much to digest.  However, of note is a comment made in the Supplementary Report that:

It is a concern that over 50% of abortions performed are recorded as using no contraception.

A strange comment considering 45% of women who had abortions in 2010 were using some kind of artificial contraception (1.3% had been practising NFP, however I have not included that figure with artificial contraceptive/abortifacient figures).

So, while just OVER half were NOT using contraception, only just UNDER half WERE using contraception.  Given this information, can the Abortion Supervisory Committee really say that better access to contraception is the answer to lowering our abortion rate? 

The Committee suggests fitting intrauterine devices at the time of the abortion, despite a lowering of effectiveness when done at this time.  This suggestion is because tubal ligations are “difficult” for women to get.

There is a failure of the Committee to acknowledge the abortifacient nature of many contraceptive devices.  So, while our abortion figures for 2010 may have been 16,630, countless other newly formed human beings were aborted through the use of intrauterine devices, oral contraceptives, depo provera and other such “contraceptives”.

Research shows (as does these figures) that more contraception does not decrease the number of abortions.  In fact Alfred Kinsey (the man who studied sex and is generally held up by those who promote abortion and contraception as a revered expert) stated:

“At the risk of being repetitious, I would remind the group that we have found the highest frequency of induced abortions in the groups which, in general, most frequently uses contraception.”

Contraception is the slippery slope to more abortion.  It will not reduce the number of surgical abortions.  In fact, contraception which has abortifacient properties only contributes to the number of newly formed human beings who are being killed.

More information, including links to studies can be found in the article “Studies:  Birth Control, Contraception Don’t Cut Abortions” at One More Soul.

 

Making Reparation for Sins Against Life

As we begin the Lenten journey, it would do us well to stop for a moment and think about not only the state of our own soul, but that of our nation.  For it is the laws of our land which allow the killing of innocent children while still in their mother’s wombs.

The catechism teaches us that:

“Every offense committed against justice and truth entails the duty of reparation, even if its author has been forgiven.  When it is impossible publicly to make reparation for a wrong, it must be made secretly.  If someone who has suffered harm cannot be directly compensated, he must be given moral satisfaction in the name of charity…”  (CCC 2487).

Each time an innocent pre-born child is condemned to death the truth that he or she is made in the very image and likeness of God is denied.  What an incredible offense against He who sent His only begotten Son to suffer and die on the cross for each and every one of us!

This Lent, Family Life International NZ is holding Prayer Vigils in both Wellington and Auckland in reparation for the sins against life:

Auckland:  Saturdays during Lent (February 25th, March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st) at 9:00am
Mass at 9:00am St John Vianney Church Hillsborough, followed by a short drive to the foot of Mt Roskill. We will prayerfully walk to the summit and down again.  (Mt Roskill is between the two abortion mills in Auckland City).  More information about the Vigil can be found here.

Wellington:   Fridays during Lent (February 24th, March 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th) 10.30 to 11.30 am on the footpath outside Wellington Hospital.  For more information please email us.

We will be praying the Pro-Life Stations of the Cross in Reparation for Sins against Life.  These were developed by Fr Linus Clovis, our Spiritual Director.  If you live outside of Auckland or Wellington, or even in another country, you may wish to join in the praying of these Stations of the Cross as a Lenten sacrifice.

However you do it, we urge you to pray and fast over this Lenten season that our land may be one that celebrates life from the moment of conception through to natural death, and not one that ends it.

Celebrating Family

Blessed John Paul II wrote in his exhortation Familiaris Consortio “the future of humanity passes by way of the family.”  Why would that be so?  Because it is within the family that children learn to be responsible, caring people who will one day shape the world through their actions and beliefs.

It is vital that every-day families are supported in their efforts to raise children.  Often these families are left to it and no one acknowledges the hard work, and sometimes great struggles that families endure in raising children.  Our focus seems always to be on those who are completely falling apart at the seams (and rightly so, but not at the expense of building up families that are not dysfunctional).

One way that we believe we can strengthen and encourage families is by holding a Family Fun Day.  Family Life International NZ, together with the Secular Franciscans held our second Family Fun Day in Auckland on Sunday 5th February.  About 800 people attended this year’s Family Fun Day!  

The Day featured running races, entertainment, face painting, candy floss and Old MacDonald’s Farm.  Veges were donated for us to sell, and Tip Top turned up with 600 free ice-creams!  But more importantly, there was an opportunity for us to shape our children’s minds and hearts by sharing the message that all children – both born and unborn are precious!  We did this through releasing 500 balloons (biodegradable) with pro-life messages (yes, its the thing of the moment – but wow what a colourful, joyful way to celebrate life).  Bishop Pat Dunn, Bishop of Auckland, led participants on a prayer procession which finished at the grotto for Our Lady.  Here, Bishop Pat blessed all the children present, both born and yet to be born.

It is our prayer at Family Life International NZ that the day will stay engraved in each person’s heart.  That the children who attended will grow to be the next generation of people who will shape our nation to be one that stands for life.  We pray that each family that attended felt encouraged.  We pray too, that each family present will warmly welcome any newly conceived child, no matter the circumstances or the difficulties experienced.

While the Family Fun Day is only a drop in the ocean for promoting life, faith and family, it is a brilliant opportunity to spread the pro-life/pro-family message to those who may otherwise dismiss it. 

If you would like to know more about our Family Fun Day format, please email us.

Preventing the spread of HIV

A study has just been released which reveals that one in five gay or bisexual men in Auckland (New Zealand’s largest city) have HIV and don’t know it. One in 15 in the study of over a thousand gay or bisexual men tested positive for HIV. 

The answer apparently to this potentially deadly epidemic, is condoms.  Or so we are told.

The real answer to the spread of HIV amongst the gay community is chastity.

Rather than being just an old-fashioned idea that can be easily dismissed, chastity is a true expression of real love.  All human beings are made to love and to be loved.  Whether we are gay, straight, married or single. 

Love is not sex.  Love, puts the other person first and doesn’t use someone for your own personal satisfaction. 

Chastity is for everybody in every walk of life.  It is an expression of true love. 

One night stands (which is the life-style of choice for many people who are gay) are not expressions of love for another.  These encounters are simply using the other for personal satisfaction.  In the process many, as this study shows, are spreading the potentially lethal disease of HIV to those whom they choose to engage with.

Condoms are not the answer for they encourage further dangerous and irresponsible behaviour.  The real answer to stopping the spread of HIV in this group is for gay and bi-sexual men to love fully by refraining from the sexual act.  Only then will we see the spread of HIV in this manner diminish and eventually stop altogether.

If you or a family member is experiencing same-sex attraction Courage is a very helpful organisation to be in touch with.

“Jadelle” an answer to Child Abuse?

Dame Lesley Max, a children’s advocate made a call on Friday for better promotion of contraception in order to tackle child abuse. This call has been backed up by a Families Commission Report which says “There may be scope for targeting family planning education to parents who have had previous children removed.”

The issue of child abuse in New Zealand is a very significant and worrying one.  Yes, something needs to be done, and it needs to be done fast in order to save the lives of so many innocent children. 

It has been suggested that “Jadelle” would be a great contraceptive device to encourage woman to be fitted with.  The Families Commission has also suggested that this would be a suitable contraception for teenage mothers in order to prevent a second pregnancy.

Jadelle is a two rod implant (a second generation Norplant device).   Inserted into the arm it functions by releasing a low-dose progestin levonorgestrel into the woman’s (girl’s) body over a five year period.  The effect of this hormone being released into the body is three-fold:

1. It inhibits ovulation;
2. It thickens cervical mucus making it difficult for sperm to make it’s way to the ovum;
3. It thickens the lining of the womb making implantation of the newly conceived baby difficult.

Rather than being a true contraceptive the Jadelle implant is an abortifacient, meaning that when the first two actions fail and a child is conceived the final action is for the womb to reject that child.  That is in itself an horrific child abuse.

It is concerning that a particular group is being targeted for the use of Jadelle or any other contraceptive or abortifacient device.  Margaret Sanger, the mother of the contraceptive movement was always keen to target those who were seen to be unfit parents.  Certainly people are making judgements about how fit those on welfare, or who are teens are to be parents.  These are the people being targeted at this time in New Zealand, and it seems that Jadelle is the preferred method of temporarily sterilizing them at this time.  (There have been calls from members of the public for actual sterilization of those on welfare).

This is akin to eugenics.  New Zealand must be very careful that we do not try to eradicate child abuse in this country by deciding who will be fertile or not.  When Norplant was first introduced to the American public (it is no longer available) a number of judges ordered woman to be fitted with the device because they had been convicted of abusing children.  (From Facts of Life by Brian Clowes – HLI). 

Women do not need contraception thrown at them with the idea that everything will then be all right.  The use of Jadelle will only put a sticking plaster over the problem, with new problems lurking underneath.

Those who work with families need to befriend those in need.  Everything in our world today has come down to policies and procedures which equals more paperwork and red tape.  People need people.  Human interaction and caring.  Families need practical support (whether they be large or small).  Mothers, fathers and children need people to whom they can talk to without fear of dire consequences (although those who are neglecting or hurting and killing their children must accept the consequencs of their actions – even if that means that their children are removed from their ‘care’ and they are jailed).  Families need true community.  Something that in the hustle and bustle of modern life we have forgotten.

Defending Life Without Counting the Cost

March 22nd saw the anniversary of America’s Roe v Wade decision (1973) which made abortion legal in the United States.
For 39 years, thousands have marched in Washington DC on this day, speaking up for those who have no voice.  Asking that abortion be eradicated from their country.

As someone who lives outside of the States I believe these people also march for the defenceless in other countries.  For it is the Roe v Wade decision that opened up abortion in many countries.  New Zealand’s own law legalising abortion in certain circumstances (which is now exploited as abortion on demand) was passed in 1977.

On the weekend I watched “A Courageous Heart”, a movie about the work of Irena Sendler, a Catholic social worker in Poland during WWII.  Irena knew that she had to protect the Jewish children from certain death.  She saved 2,500 children smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto and placing them with Christian families.  This was only possible by the great effort of many, many people who placed their own lives at risk if found out by the Gestapo.

Irena eventually was found out and taken for questioning.  She would not betray those who had helped her save the children and suffered greatly for it.  While Irena never died for saving the children, some of her co-workers did.

It is this great courage of conviction that each one of us needs today.  Every individual must make the choice to defend life each and every day, never counting the cost.  The circumstances have changed, but the urgency is just as great.  During World War II, it was the Jewish people, the disabled, the artists and the gypsies who were targeted as being “not fit”.  Today it is the most vulnerable – unborn children, the disabled and the elderly who are targeted as “not fit”.

Let us have one voice, defending life in New Zealand and throughout the world.  Each of us working in the areas that have been placed upon our hearts.  Let us not be afraid.  Let us be strong, faithful and steadfast, never counting the cost.