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IMPORTANT
NOTE: People who believe in the right to life of every human being are
tempted to preach to the choir instead of going out and making new
converts. Spread this Alert to others!!
DESCENT INTO BARBARISM
By Julie Grimstad
October 11, 2022
No society which cares for its weaker members will fall into barbarism.
The opposite is also true. Any society which forsakes its weaker members
will certainly descend into the wasteland of total barbarism. The
legalization of abortion on demand was the beginning of this descent in
the Western World.
Acceptance of assisted suicide and euthanasia arose as a direct result
of the acceptance of killing the defenseless child in the womb. And,
just as abortion has progressed from “a last resort” to a relentless
pursuit of fewer births for any number of reasons, so assisted suicide
and euthanasia have progressed from “ending the unbearable suffering of
the terminally ill” to the eradication of human beings as a solution to
all sorts of human conditions – for example, dementia, disabilities,
birth defects, mental illness, and even loneliness.
The Living Will and Its Sequel, Assisted Suicide
Considered “the Father of Situation Ethics,” Joseph Fletcher, STD, was
President of the Euthanasia Society of America in 1975 when the
organization changed its image by changing its name to the Society for
the Right to Die. Fletcher’s mantra, as reported by the American Journal of Nursing
in 1973, was: “What has taken place in birth control is equally
important in death control.” It is relevant to note that Fletcher was a
friend of Margaret Sanger and helped her establish the Planned
Parenthood Federation.
Under Fletcher’s leadership, the Society for the Right to Die promoted
the Living Will and, in 1976, celebrated its first success when the
California “Natural Death Act” became law. The “right to die” by
refusing life-sustaining treatment was now legal in one state. Every
state would follow this lead within the next 15 years.
It was a frighteningly short step from the “right” to refuse
life-sustaining treatment to the “right” to assisted suicide. In 1994,
Oregon became the first state to legalize physician-assisted suicide. It
is now legal in ten states and the District of Columbia for doctors to
write lethal prescriptions for suicidal patients.
A number of countries have embraced assisted suicide and euthanasia,
including our northern neighbor. “Medical Assistance in Dying” (MAiD) –
encompassing both assisted suicide by drug overdose and euthanasia by
lethal injection – has been legal throughout Canada since 2016.
How do we restore protection for every human life? The answer is quite simple. Physicians can refuse to kill.
A Medical System that Does Not Have a Bias in Favor of Life Has a Bias Against Life
Does human life have fundamental value simply because it is human? For
thousands of years, that question has been answered affirmatively by the
medical profession. The few exceptions throughout history have resulted
in human tragedy and vows of “never again.”
Abortion, assisted suicide, and euthanasia could not have become
accepted “medical services” without the acquiescence and even leadership
of the medical profession. If physicians had stood firmly for the moral
integrity that recognizes the sanctity of human life, society would not
be on this path to destruction. The blame belongs squarely on the
medical profession, as does the remedy.
For 50 years I have charted the steady progress made by advocates for
the destruction of the lives of the weak. It is my considered opinion
that their movement would have been thwarted from its beginning had the
medical profession steadfastly clung to the Hippocratic Oath, refusing
under any circumstance to deliberately end a single life.
A medical system that does not have a bias in favor of life inevitably
has a bias against life. We must challenge physicians to embrace the
sanctity of life ethic, supporting and defending them when they do.
Laws can be enacted, and patients can ask, but doctors can refuse to
comply with unethical laws and requests. Pray for our physicians, that
they will have the moral integrity and courage to resist the culture of
death, and that they, together with the pro-life movement, will
successfully restore the culture of life. Ultimately, caring for the
weaker members of society, not eliminating them, will save civilization.
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HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?
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THINK YOUR VOTE DOESN’T COUNT?
HALO encourages you to vote in person on
election day. If we give in to those who oppose our values and morals,
we may lose our cherished freedoms for generations to come.
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Want to Help HALO and be
a Voice for the Medically Vulnerable?
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Thank you for your support! Our organization is a 501 (c)(3)
organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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If you would like to donate through the mail, please send checks only to:
HALO, 7301 Bass Lake RD, Minneapolis, MN 55428. |
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MISSION STATEMENT
The
Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization (HALO) is a voice for
the medically vulnerable. As a non-profit, Christian organization, HALO
addresses a wide array of ethical issues including euthanasia, assisted
suicide, rationing of medical services, and hastening of death in
healthcare settings. In addition, HALO promotes life-affirming
healthcare practices, life-protective advance directives, and
compassionate care for the sick and those nearing the end of their
lives. In all circumstances, HALO espouses in healthcare practice the
sanctity and integrity of every human person.
HALO accomplishes its mission through intercessory prayer; widespread
education; community awareness and assistance programs; interaction with
patients, families, and caregivers; and referrals to appropriate
resources when necessary.
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