We stand at a cultural crossroads, the intersection of the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death. At this critical juncture, the choices we make matter, now and forever. Therefore, the members of Life is Worth Living, a lay apostolate, have chosen to promote the Culture of Life.
Our mission is to strive to affirm -- in thought, word, and deed -- the infinite preciousness of human life; to encourage service to others rather than radical self-interest; and to promote a climate of public opinion that recognizes the right of all human beings to life, respect, compassionate care, appropriate medical treatment, and equality under the law.
E-Letter #107, September 29, 2008
posted by Julie Grimstad
Monday, September 29, 2008
Dear Members and Friends,
In the encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), Pope John Paul II stated: "Abortion and euthanasia are thus crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection. From the very beginnings of the Church, the apostolic preaching reminded Christians of their duty to obey legitimately constituted public authorities (cf. Rom. 13:1-7; I Pet. 2:13-14), but at the same time it firmly warned that we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29)" (no. 73).
I call this particular passage from Evangelium Vitae to your attention because of two crucially important threats to our basic God-given rights as enumerated in the Declaration of Independence: LIFE and LIBERTY.
How these undermine the right to life will be obvious as soon as these threats are named. How they undermine liberty will become clear as you read items 1 and 2. These are truly "times that try men's souls." Please pray for the defeat of the Culture of Death.
In the Sacred Heart,
Julie Grimstad
Executive Director
Item 1. FOCA
Last week, Cardinal Rigali's Letter to Congress Regarding the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was posted on our website (www.lifeisworthliving.com). I hope you will read and reflect on Cardinal Rigali's strongly worded letter. Here is a tidbit: "Despite its deceptive title, FOCA would deprive the American people in all 50 states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry. FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars. And FOCA would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government to reduce abortions in our country."
FOCA is an attempt to create a "fundamental right" to abortion throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy. That is more extreme even than Roe v. Wade, and, in fact, will mean that existing laws which restrict or regulate abortion will be unenforceable. Senator Obama supports FOCA and promises, if he is elected president, to sign it into law.
How can we protect the rights of all to life and liberty when, if this bill becomes law, all American taxpayers will be coerced into supporting the most heinous of moral crimes? Also, as Cardinal Rigali points out, this bill insists that every program supporting women in childbirth and child care must support abortion. This means that no one who works in these programs would be exempt from promoting abortion.
FOCA must be stopped! If it should become law, then as Christians we will be morally obliged to "obey God rather than men," whatever the personal suffering we may have to endure for opposing this evil.
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Item 2. Washington State Assisted Suicide Initiative (I-1000) -- Bad News and Hopeful News
On November 4, 2008 Washington voters will go to the polls to decide whether or not to make it legal for doctors to help sick people kill themselves. The results of the latest SurveyUSA poll, conducted last week, are bad news. 49% of likely voters say they are certain to vote "Yes" on I-1000; 24% are certain to vote "No"; 26% are not certain, but the majority of them are leaning toward a "Yes" vote.
The hopeful news is that, today, the Coalition Against Assisted Suicide announced it has started a $750,000 broadcast advertising campaign featuring actor Martin Sheen. Sheen's concern for vulnerable people is the reason he is against assisted suicide: "We have a health care system where the more money you have, the better medical care you receive. Initiative 1000 is a dangerous idea -- because so many people do not have the money necessary to get the care they need. When I heard about Initiative 1000, I wanted to help stop it before it harms people who are at risk."
Eileen Geller, R.N., B.S.N., the Coalition Against Assisted Suicide campaign coordinator, was quoted in the Coalition's news release: "It is absolutely crucial that voters understand the very real implications of I-1000. Most people in Washington don't even know that I-1000 is on the ballot this November, and ballots will be mailed in the next three weeks."
According to Geller, the ads point out some of the major flaws in the proposed law:
- Spouses and family members do not need to be told before -- or after -- a loved one is given lethal drugs.
- Persons suffering from depression can be given a lethal overdose without any psychological counseling or treatment -- nothing in the initiative requires an assessment of potential depression by a qualified professional.
- Health care insurers and HMO's could exploit I-1000 to save costs, since a bottle of lethal drugs costs far less than other end-of-life care.
- Heirs to a patient's estate are allowed to participate in the assisted suicide and to witness the request for lethal drugs. This would contravene existing practice governing wills and estates, a scenario that worries law enforcement because of the real potential for abuse.
The Coalition Against Assisted Suicide is working hard to raise more money to fund an even larger media buy, but still expects to be outspent at least three-to-one by proponents of physician-assisted suicide.
For information about how to help the Washington State Coalition Against Assisted Suicide:
http://noassistedsuicide.com/
Coalition Against Assisted Suicide
P.O. Box 11794
Olympia WA 98508
206-337-2091
http://noassistedsuicide.com/
Coalition Against Assisted Suicide
P.O. Box 11794
Olympia WA 98508
206-337-2091
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