Opinion: Alfie Evans and the UK National Health Service

For the second time in as many years, we have seen Great Britain embrace one of the ideologies of Nazi Germany. That is, they now believe, as the Nazi's believed, that the execution of some members of the weakest and most vulnerable in society, is what is best for the overall welfare of the state.

The individual, and his or her life is expendable, and they must be eliminated to prevent a drain on the resources of the British National Health Service. The same excuse was used for programs the Nazi's implemented to eliminate the mentally and physically handicapped.

The only difference is, that the Nazi's hid their murders of the helpless, while their counterparts in Britain carry out their heinous crimes in the open for all the world to see.

In both cases, the cold blooded murder of the innocent is neither acceptable nor civilized.

It wasn't acceptable for Nazi Germany of the 1940's, and it is most definitely not acceptable for the United Kingdom of the 21st century.

Charlie Gard deserved better, and so does Alfie Evans.

Australia's Dr Death Philip Nitschke Importing Suicide Kits Into the United States | LifeNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com (emphases are mine):

• In his most recent newsletter, Philip Nitschke, Australia’s Dr Death, claims to have found a way to import suicide kits into the United States, starting in January 2014, under the cover of his Max Dog Brewing kit.
• Nitschke admitted that his Max Dog Brewing kits are in fact Suicide kits that he sends to people who pay by credit card for the kit that is used for an “undetectable” death.
• A 2010 report demonstrated that coroners were aware of 51 Australians who had died from an overdose of Nembutal, a lethal barbiturate that Nitschke has promoted since the late 1990’s as ‘a peaceful way to die’.
• Of the 38 cases fully investigated by coroners, only 11 people were known to have suffered chronic physical pain or a terminal illness before their deaths. Of the 51, 14 were Australians in their 20’s and 30’s.
• Journalist Michael Cook put it to Nitschke in 2011 that ‘nearly two-thirds of the Australians who died after quaffing Nembutal… were under 60, and quite a few were in their 20s and 30s… [suggesting that] that mental illness or depression, not unbearable pain, was the reason for the suicide.’
• Nitschke responded:
• ‘There will be some casualties… but this has to be balanced with the growing pool of older people who feel immense well-being from having access to this information, [about suicide drugs].’
• American authorities need to confiscate Max Dog Brewing suicide devices while they are being imported or distributed throughout the United States.
• If you are experiencing suicidal feelings and you are reading this article, please contact a suicide hotline.  In the United States contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Link). In Canada contact Your Life Counts (Link).

Read more by clicking below:
Australia's Dr Death Philip Nitschke Importing Suicide Kits Into the United States | LifeNews.com

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions For June

Vatican City, 31 May 2013 (VIS) - The Pope's general prayer intention for June is: “That a culture of dialogue, listening, and mutual respect may prevail among peoples.”

His mission intention is: “That where secularization is strongest, Christian communities may effectively promote a new evangelization.”

You can find more information at: www.visnews.org

The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

New South Wales Parliament kills assisted suicide bill | LifeSiteNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeSiteNews.com:

• Another euthanasia and assisted suicide bill was decisively defeated in Australia last week – this time in the Upper House of the New South Wales’ State Parliament.
• The private members bill was introduced by Greens MLC, Cate Faehrmann, who adopted the title of the original Northern Territory Bill that passed back in 1995, and which was overturned by the Federal Parliament nine months later.  The "Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 2013" was principally an assisted suicide bill with the ‘option’ of euthanasia if the patient was found to be unable to take the drugs for themselves.
• A number of politicians had raised off-the-record concerns that Faehrmann’s bill was primarily a publicity stunt.  Faehrmann will resign from the State Parliament shortly to contest for a seat in the Senate in the September 2013 Federal Election for the Greens in New South Wales.
• Legislators overwhelmingly rejected the bill, with 23 votes in favour to 13 against. There were also five abstentions plus one non-vote due to a resignation.

Read more by clicking below:
New South Wales Parliament kills assisted suicide bill | LifeSiteNews.com

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Investigation Announced into Notorious UK Death-Acceleration Programme

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Investigation Announced into Notorious UK Death-Acceleration Programme

London, 27 October 2012

After months of refusal and prevaricating, a probe has finally been announced into the conduct of Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP); a framework widely criticised by families whose relatives have unknowingly been placed on this 'pathway to death.'

 The Association of Palliative Medicine has ordered the review into the concerns. The National End of Life Care Programme, an NHS affiliate, will coordinate several organisations in the review.  While critics welcomed this initial step, the move falls short of the Government Inquiry recently called for by the Reverend Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark.

LCP is a framework used to dictate the withdrawal of palliative care from those who are seen as close to death.  This includes the withdrawal of nutrients and medicine from the patient, heavy doses of morphine and consequently dehydration.  Such a practice is questioned by the Medical Ethics Alliance, who asserts that any such decision is essentially a prediction, with no conclusive scientific evidence.  This is highlighted by the case of Andy Flanagan, whose family revived him, rescued him from LCP and brought him home to live for a further five weeks. 

The protestations of the Flanagan family added to the many complaints against LCP.  The Royal College of Physicians has uncovered that up to half of families are not informed their loved ones have been placed on LCP.  In particular, when Mr Cooper (pictured) discovered his wife had been condemned to LCP without his knowledge, medical staff refused to reverse the decision in spite of his wishes.  

It has also been noted that the number of patients placed on LCP has doubled in the past two years.  Critics have suggested hospitals are beginning to use LCP as a cost-cutting measure, against patients who are made to feel like a burden to society.

Speaking on behalf of the British Parliament's Cross-Party Working Group on Human Dignity, Jim Dobbin MP, its Vice-Chairman, asserted the necessity of this investigation: "We would do well to recall the words of Pope John Paul II - 'A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying.'  The practices of Liverpool Care Pathway are surely not the best we can do for the elderly and the dying of our society, there is no dignity in the deaths proscribed here.  Such decisions as to the best care must always be made by the loved ones and families of the patient; Liverpool Care Pathway has resoundingly failed on this account and should certainly be investigated for it."

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

Skewed Priorities?

I have noticed something that is repeated over and over again in our society. That something is, people get more upset and more outraged over harm done to an animal, than they do over harm done to another human being.

Let there be a news item in your local newspaper, a shared news story on Facebook or twitter about an animal...particularly dogs or cats...being injured or killed through abuse, wanton neglect, or callous indifference, and there will be tons of letters to the editor...hundreds of comments on Facebook ...hundreds of re-tweets on twitter...all expressing outrage over the harm done to an animal, and all accompanied by demands that the full extent of the law be applied in dealing with the perpetrators of these acts.

For example, a post on Facebook linked to a story about a Newark, New Jersey woman who is charged with second degree burglary and third degree animal cruelty for killing a small dog by throwing it into oncoming traffic. Out of the more than 70 comments condemning this woman, only one said that they get upset over someone hurting children or animals.

Only one...not two, three or more....just one! Sadly, that seems to be the mindset of people in today’s society. They either consider an animals life as equal to, or superior to the life of a human being.

A few years ago, there was a young lady... just weeks away from her high school graduation...who was killed in a car accident by being thrown from the car she was riding in when it struck a tree. She and her boyfriend who was driving, had been leaving a party where alcohol had been served to them by an off duty law enforcement officer, even though both were under the legal age to consume alcohol.

At the request of the young lady's family, no charges were brought against the off duty officer, or the young driver of the car.

There was not one single letter to the editor in protest of this decision. Yet just a few weeks later, there appeared a story about a dog (that somehow survived) being doused with a flammable liquid and then set on fire. The letters of protest and outrage over this act appeared on the letters to the editor page for almost 3 weeks.

Chief

Let me make it perfectly clear that I love all of God's creatures. We had both dogs and cats growing up, and I have owned dogs in my adult life as well. My last dog was a German Shepherd Dog named “Chief” and he was the best dog I ever owned. So I am against animal abuse. Period.

In absolutely no circumstances however, would I place an animals life above that of any human for any reason.

I would just like to see the same outrage over the life of a human being, and particularly, that same level of outrage over children killed through abuse, wanton neglect, callous indifference, or murdered through the heinous act of abortion.

Where is that outrage and why is it not being expressed? Are we keeping it to ourselves out of fear of being ostracized? Are we afraid we will offend someone? Do we not care for the unborn as much as we do for Fido or Muffin? I am beginning to believe Fido and Muffin are more important to far too many of us than are Jack and Jill or that unnamed child in the womb, who's chance at life ended today.

Here are some quotations from the famous and not so famous to ponder:

“You shall not kill.”

-- Exodus 20: 13

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life . . .”

-- Deuteronomy 30:19

“Yet thou art he who took me from the womb; thou didst keep me safe upon my mother's breasts. Upon thee was I cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God.”

-- Psalms 22: 9-10

“Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

-- Psalms 100: 3

“For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

-- Psalm 139: 13-16

“God’s love does not distinguish between the infant in the mother’s womb or the child or the youth or the adult or the older person. In each one God sees His image and likeness. Human life is a manifestation of God and His glory.”

-- Pope Benedict XVI

“That is the dignity of America, the reason she exists, the condition of her survival, yes, the ultimate test of her greatness: to respect every human person, especially the weak and most defenseless ones, those as yet unborn.”

– Pope Blessed John Paul II

“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”

-- Blessed Mother Teresa

“Nothing we do to defend the human person, no matter how small, is ever unfruitful or forgotten. Our actions touch other lives and move other hearts in ways we can never fully understand in this world. Don’t ever underestimate the beauty and power of the witness you give in your pro-life work.”

-- Archbishop Charles Chaput

“There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

-- Albert Einstein

“I notice that all of the people who support abortion are already born.”

-- Ronald Reagan

“The Church has never changed its teaching on the sanctity of human life - it didn't make up a rule for the convenience of a particular time like a rule at a country club as the Governor would have us believe.”

-- Wellington Mara

“That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.”

-- William J. H. Boetcker

“The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.”

--Robert Louis Stevenson

Proof "Pro-Choicers" Use Nazi Ideology / Documentary Anti-Abortion Pro-L...

This short video reinforces what I have always thought regarding the evils of abortion and euthanasia. Both are from the ideologies and practices of Nazi Germany and have no place in any civilized society.