Life-saving information

I had to run out quickly after the post below, but back to that issue of Voices…

Cadinal Justin Rigali’s address to pro-life directors is based on “the idolatry at the heart of the culture of death”, which is telling it like it is. So is this:

Those who have blind faith in embryonic stem cell research and its so-called “biblical power to cure” (as House majority leader, Nancy Pelosi, called it recently) are worshipping a modern-day false idol. They are putting their faith in an exaggerated view of the wonders of science and in their own ingenuity to overcome disease and aging.

It is all strangely reminiscent of the Israelites’ worship of the golden calf. When Moses ascended Mount Sinai and remained there for forty days, the people got tired of waiting for him to return. In their impatience, stubbornness, and disobedience, they created out of their own possessions — their own jewelry and valuables — a god they could control.

Apt analogy.

Those who promote abortion as a way to further women’s freedom have also exchanged the truth for a lie. Instead of affirming the inviolable dignity of human life, the dignity of women, and respect for the integrity of sexual relations and motherhood, they assert a false notion of freedom made in their own image, a self-made ethic that justifies their own choices.

Speaking of one’s own image, Mary Ellen Bork has a thought-provoking piece on the morality of redesigning the body. Here’s a one-line reason to read it:

A sense of repugnance without an articulated position is not going to last long.

That is the essence of this exhortation to know the arguments and be prepared to ask and answer tough questions.

Nancy Vallko tackles a number of them in her bioethics gem of wisdom.

Withdrawal of treatment, “living wills”, terminal sedation, assisted suicide, organ donation, etc. Currently, it’s virtually impossible to escape all the death talk in the media and elsewhere. For example, if you are admitted to a hospital for almost any reason, you or your relatives will be asked if you have or would like information about documents formalizing your “end-of-life” choices.

But despite all the hype, not every situation involving end-of- life issues has to involve wrestling with big ethical dilemmas. Many times, there are relatively simple considerations or strategies that actually used to be commonly employed until the introduction of the so-called “right to die”. Accurate information, common sense and a good understanding of ethical principles can cut through the “right-to-die” fog and make a person’s last stage of life as good as possible both for the person and his or her family.

It’s overhwelming for people who suddenly find themselves caught in these decisive moments, and most of us can count on being there at some point, for someone. We need handy and manageable resources to know what we need to know. This article is one.

Some pro-life advocates are also suddenly finding themselves caught in an awkward moment outside abortion clinics in a new tactic some abortion activists have sprung on them: confront the good people praying the rosary with a moral dilemma posed as a one-liner and catch that ‘deer in the headlights’ reaction on camera. But there’s no reason to be caught, as “Gobsmacked by Logic” explains. (Yes, it’s mine.)

Be prepared….and get engaged. I wish I could remember who’s responsbible for saying “Once you know, you’ve lost your excuse.” But it’s the message that counts.