Tuesday, May 31, 2016

DUBLIN; CELEBRATE THE 8th AMENDMENT ON 4th JUNE 2016! JOIN US IN MOLESWORTH STREET DUBLIN


JOIN TO CELEBRATE IRELAND'S RIGHT TO LIFE AMENDMENT!
  INVITE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. BRING A CAR LOAD OR FILL A BUS.
  Ireland's constitutional protection for unborn babies and their mothers is an inspiration globally.   The 8th Amendment is now under serious threat with groups campaigning to amend it.
  Melissa Ohden is the keynote speaker. Melissa was born alive after a failed abortion and was left for dead. 
  Today Melissa has a Master's degree in social science and is a care worker.

WHERE? MOLESWORTH STREET DUBLIN IRELAND
WHEN? SATURDAY 4th JUNE 2016
WHAT TIME? 3 - 4 PM
WHY? TO SAVE THE LIVES OF INNOCENT BABIES

TO ORGANISE A BUS OR FIND A BUS IN YOUR AREA - FIND FLYERS -  CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK
http://prolifecampaign.ie/main/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Final-Artwork-Celebrate-the-8th-Flyer.pdf


CELEBRATE THE 8th!

With thanks to ProLifeCampaign and Youtube
Photograph by Catherine Nicolette

EUTHENASIA - THE SLIPPERY SLOPE; PART TWO

                                      EUTHENASIA

Euthenasia is the proverbial slippery slope. Professor Theo Boer - a prominent Professor of Ethics who was once part of the Netherlands' euthenasia bureaucracy voiced his qualms about the present interpretation and use of the Dutch euthenasia law in a lengthy interview published by Trouw, Alleged News. [1]

Prof Theo Boer is worried that current trends in the Netherlands are trivializing euthenasia to an extent that many who fought for legalization of 'mercy killing' in the 1990's now privately express their opinion that it has gone too far. And it will be hard to turn back the clock, he acknowledges; Alleged News. 
  Professor Boer is particularly concerned about the 'End of Life Clinic's' growing role as a a euthenasia provider; Alleged News. [1]
  Statistics are clear; Twelve years after the Dutch euthenasia law came into force, euthenasia statistics moved from 1,800 declared cases per year to 4,800 in 2013, reaching a total of more than 25,000 medical killings; Alleged News.
  In 2013, 46 psychiatric patients and 97 patients suffering from dementia were euthenized; Alleged News.
  Over the years, roughly 100 cases were deemed 'not careful' by the control commissions and handed on to the public prosecution, Alleged News. Not a single case gave rise to a trial, Alleged News. [1]

Termination of life in newborns with MMC[meningomyelocele]
Deliberate and active termination of life in newborns with MMC is discussed and practised in an open way in the Netherlands, Alleged News. [2]
  The judgment "unbearable and hopeless suffering" of the newborn and "the prospect of unbearable and hopeless suffering" in the future, together with the notion that there is "no other proper medical means to alleviate the unbearable suffering" forms the basis for this decision, Alleged News. [2]
  A critical reappraisal of Deliberate termination of life of newborns with spina bifida has been authored by T.H. Rob de Jong. The link can be found at number [2].

'Don't make our mistake'
Legalising assisted suicide is a slippery slope towards widespread killing of the sick, MP's and peers in the UK were told in 2014, Alleged News. [3]
  Theo Boer, now known as a former euthenasia supporter, warned of a surge in deaths if Parliament allowed doctors to give deadly drugs to their patients, Alleged News. [3]
  'Don't do it, Britain', said Theo Boer, a veteran European watchdog in assisted suicide cases. 'Once the genie is out of the bottle, it is not likely ever to go back in again.' [3]
  His native Netherlands, where euthenasia has been legal since 2002, saw deaths double in just six years, Alleged News. [3]
  Professor Boer admitted he was 'wrong - terribly wrong, in fact' to have believed regulated euthenasia would work, Alleged News.
  'I used to be a supporter of the Dutch law. But now, with 12 years experience, I take a very different view,' Alleged News. [3]

  

[1] Euthenasia in the Netherlands is getting out of hand: ethicist who screened over 4,000 euthenasia cases; Alleged News


[2] T.H. Rob de Jong, Deliberate termination of life in newborns with spina bifida, a critical reappraisal

[3] Don't make our mistake: As assisted suicide bill goes to Lords, Dutch watchdog who once backed euthenasia warns UK of 'slippery slope' to mass deaths, Alleged News

With thanks to lifesitenews.com, ncbi.nlm.nig.gov, dailymail.co.uk

EUTHENASIA AND PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE - PART ONE




EUTHENASIA

THE ISSUES OF EUTHENASIA AND PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE [PAS] ARE INCREASINGLY SUBJECTS OF PUBLIC DEBATE AND CONCERN. [1]
The essence of the matter is appeal to the medical profession to show mercy in the form of killing.

There are those who strongly press for the legalisation of voluntary active euthenasia and assisted suicide. [1]
  In some countries the medical profession are already treating patients in ways designed to hasten death; Alleged News. [1],  [2] and [3]

The basic line of arguments supporting euthenasia and physician-assisted suicide can be encapsulated in the following way; it would be merciful to permit some terminally ill individuals to escape what is judged to be undesirable suffering and indignity. 
  In terminating the lives of such persons, we are not harming but are extending mercy. 
  Thus, voluntary active euthanasia according to those who support this view is considered as a compassionate and beneficent act, offering the release from pain and suffering desired by many terminally ill people. 
  This is also understood as 'mercy killing'. [4]

Mercy and Individual Autonomy
This appeal to mercy is allied to powerful appeal to individual autonomy. Autonomy is the central point in the moral defence of euthanasia. 
  The current interpretation of autonomy is that of ethical liberalism, which attributes a supreme value to the individual's freedom and rights.

When euthenasia defenders appeal to autonomy, they mean that each individual has a right to control her or his body and life, including the end thereof; and so should be given the freedom to exercise this right.   The autonomy principle states that the individual has a right to self-determination.

Each person part of Society
The appeal is therefore heard of the so called 'right to die'. The right to die is a principle based on the belief that a human being is entitled to commit suicide or to undergo voluntary euthenasia. 
  It is often suggested that the decision to end one's life is a matter of personal choice, and that such a decision does not harm anybody.   However, this does not take into account the fact that each person is a part of society, and that what happens to one can deeply affect others. 
  A clear example of this is the ongoing distress experienced by Tom Mortier. 
  His mother, Godelieva de Troyer, died from lethal injection in Belgium after she asked to be put to death for 'untreatable depression', Alleged News. 
  Her son Tom didn't find out until the next day when the morgue called him to come and pick up her body. He was 'completely shocked and traumatized.'  [5] 
  Mortier took his case to the European Court of Human Rights. [6]

From healers to enders of life
The euthenasia appeal is often heard of the so called 'right to die.'  
  It is often suggested that the decision to end one's life is a matter of personal choice, and that such a decision does not harm anybody. 
  A major contention is that we will have a better life, and a better death, to the extent that we have control.
  The defendants of this ideal seek through euthenasia to assure us of that last definitive step in gaining full self-determination so that we can die how and when we choose. [7]

In this view, physicians are expected to change their primary focus [in the case of euthenasia and physician-assisted suicide] from extending assistance within the clear parameters of respecting and sustaining all life without exception, to a new focus.
  The new focus is to assist in the suicide of - or directly cause the death of - a patient.
  The medical professional is called on to change from advancing the culture of life, to the culture of death.

We are all destined to die
Each of us is destined to die in the normal course of events some time in the future; that is the norm of our human condition.      However, how each person dies becomes a matter for moral guidelines.
  God Himself warns us that there are consequences to directly killing another human being. 
  When Cain murdered Abel, God confronted him with the evil he had wrought upon his brother. 
  "Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' And he said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?' HE said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand . . .' " [Genesis 4: 9-11]
  GOD Himself gave the command, 'You shall not kill'. [Exodus 20;13]
The unvarnished truth is that in the issue of euthenasia we are called on to make a clear choice; to obey the Word of GOD or to take on the role which only GOD can hold; that of LORD over life and death.
  The reality is that by euthenasia one of our human brothers or sisters - instead of receiving the assistance he or she so clearly needs in their hour of trial, and the panacea of expert and professional treatment designed to ease their suffering and lighten their burden - is instead relieved of their life.
  His or her spiritual road through life, though yet incomplete, has been curtailed by the action of another.
  This is a grave sin in the moral order against another.

Euthenasia now, accountability before GOD later
Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, came to the world stage and vigorously opposed the concept of euthenasia. 
  He informed us that whatsoever we do to the least of His brethren,  is considered as done directly to Him. [Matthew 25;40].
  This is a clear warning.  Our personal judgement will occur after our death; and we will be accountable for our actions throughout our lives.
  According to Christ, no human is to be considered unwanted or unworthy of life and nurturing. 
  Otherwise, if unrepented, it may go harshly at the perpetuator's judgement. [Matthew 25;31-46]

The medical professional and the theologian
The medical professional and the grounded theologian realize that their call is to be God's ambassador; the bulwark against illness, physical, mental and moral.
  They are called upon to be the protector of the weak, the speaker of the truth, the prophet of the future, the healer of the suffering, the consoler of the dying - and NEVER the enabler of murder of the most defenceless of all.



[1] Hung Manh Tran, Peter, C.Ss.R. Advancing the Culture of Death; Euthenasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide. 2006. Pauline Publications; Mumbai. Page 29

[2] Death Statistics from the Netherlands [July 2012], [Statline - Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics]. Three percent of deaths in the Netherlands are the result of euthenasia or assisted suicide. Of those, 7% were done without the explicit request of the patient; Alleged News

[3] Statistics Netherlands; Deaths by Medical End-of-Life Decision; Age, Cause of Death; Alleged News

[4] Hung Manh Tran, Peter, C.Ss.R. Advancing the Culture of Death; Euthenasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide. 2006. Pauline Publications; Mumbai. Pages 31 to 32

[5] Man who had no idea his Mom was euthanized until the Morgue called challenges Euthenasia Law, Alleged News

[6] Mortier v. Belgium, Alleged News

[7] Hung Manh Tran, Peter, C.Ss.R. Advancing the Culture of Death; Euthenasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide. 2006. Pauline Publications; Mumbai. Page 32

With thanks to P Hung Manh Tran, C.Ss.R, patientsrightscouncil.org, statline.cbs.nl, lifenews.com, adfmedia.org

Friday, May 13, 2016

END SHACKLING IN INDONESIA, ALLEGED NEWS


IN MARCH 2016, LUMIERE REFLECTED THAT PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOSOCIAL DISABILITIES [MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS] IN INDONESIA ARE SHACKLED OR PLACED INTO INSTITUTIONS; ALLEGED NEWS. [1]
In the Institutions they often face physical and sexual violence, involuntary treatment including electroshock therapy, seclusion, restraint and forced contraception; Alleged News. [1]

Indonesia Minister of Health
Recently Human Rights Watch met with Indonesia's Minister of Health, Nila Moeloek, and she committed to providing mental health medication to all 9,500 community health centers across the country; Alleged News.

[1] Shackling in Indonesia, Alleged News. Why not join the campaign?
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2016/03/shackling-in-indonesia-alleged-news-why.html

[2] #BreakTheChains: End Shackling in Indonesia, Alleged News
https://www.hrw.org/breakthechains

With thanks to Hrw.org



LAWSUIT AIMS TO STOP LICENSING OF TEXAS IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITIES, ALLEGED NEWS


IN MARCH 2016  LUMIERE CHARITY WROTE ABOUT THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY TEXAS TO CLASSIFY IMMIGRANT DETENTION CENTERS AS CHILD-CARE FACILITIES. [1]
  In our March 30th 2016 blog post, Lumiere reflected that Judge Gee had ruled that the country's three detention centers release the children they were holding in 'deplorable conditions' that 'failed to meet even the minimum standard' for a safe and clean environment for children, Alleged News. [1]

Flight
Many of the children are fleeing from drugs and gangs. 
  In 2014, it was reported that Anthony O Castellanos disappeared from his gang-ridden neighbourhood in Honduras; his younger brother Kenneth got on his bicycle to search for him, Alleged news.
 They were found within days of each other, dead; Alleged News.
Anthony, 13, and a friend, had been shot in the head; Kenneth, 7, had been tortured and beaten with sticks and rocks, Alleged News.
  These young innocents were among seven children murdered in the La Pradera neighbourhood of San Pedro Sula in April 2014 alone.
 These killings are a great factor inspiring the migration of Central American children to the United States, which has sent an unprecedented number of unaccompanied minors across the Texas border; Alleged News. [1]

Lawsuit
A Lawsuit now aims to stop licensing of Texas immigration detention facilities; Alleged News.
  A Judge in Austin granted a temporary restraining order to stop the licensing, five days after the Texas department of family and protective services [DFPS] awarded a childcare licence to one of two federal family holding facilities near San Antonio, Alleged News.
  The second was set to receive its permit imminently, Alleged News.
Judge Karin Crump will hear the case - brought by two detained mothers and Grassroots Leadership, an Austin-based group opposed to private prisons - on 13th May 2016. The plaintiffs are seeking a temporary injunction to prevent Texas from implementing a new rule that enables the state agency to license the centers, Alleged News. [2]

Detention and Psychiatric Disorders
Luis Zayas, a psychologist and social worker at the University of Texas, found in 2014 that detention caused serious psychiatric disorders and development regression including reversion to breastfeeding; Alleged News. 
  Zayas believes that as little as a couple of weeks in the facilities could have profound long-lasting effects on the mental health of both young and older children, Alleged News. 
  These children may well have already experienced traumatic conditions in their home countries and on the way to the US, are anxious about whether they will be deported and 'are witnessing their mothers be disempowered by the way they are treated'. according to Zayas, Alleged News. [2]


[1] Texas is trying to classify immigrant detention centers as child-care facilities, Alleged News
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2016/03/texas-is-trying-to-classify-immigrant.html

[2] Lawsuit aims to stop licensing of Texas immigration detention facilities, Alleged News
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/04/lawsuit-texas-immigration-detention-facilities-family-centres

With thanks to theguardian.com

POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR STUDY ON 'REINSTATING' FEMALE DEACONS, ALLEGED NEWS


An ancient fresco depicts Phoebe, the deaconess spoken of by Paul in Romans 16;1
POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR STUDY ON 'REINSTATING' FEMALE DEACONS, ALLEGED NEWS.
  His Holiness told an international conference of religious sisters in Vatican City that he supports the creation of a commission to examine whether women should be 'reinstated' as deacons, Alleged News. [1]
  The Pope called for a commission to review the history and scope of female deacons who served the church in ancient times.

Pope Francis' comments came as part of a question-and-answer session during a gathering of the International Union of Superiors General, a 500,000 member global nuns group.

Female Deacons in the Church
Women served the Church ably and well from the earliest times onwards. 
  St Paul himself affirmed this historical fact when he commended Deaconess Phoebe in the following words to the Christians in Rome, 
'I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchrea. 
Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you.
For she has been a great help to many people, including me ...' Letter to the Romans, 16;1.

Women following Christ
Women were among the last disciples at the cross, and the first at the empty tomb. 
  They played an enormous role in the early church. 
A number of women served as leaders of the house churches that sprang up in the cities of the Roman Empire - the list includes Priscilla, Chloe, Lydia, Apphia, Nympha, the mother of John Mark.

The Apostolic Fathers mention women as stalwarts of the faith.
  Twice Ignatius sent greetings to Alce, whom he called especially dear to him.

About 112 AD the Roman Governor Pliny the Younger found it necessary to interrogate the leaders of the developing church in in Bithynia, two slave women called ministrae, or deacons.
  These women apparently followed in the tradition of Phoebe. [2]

Women as Deacons
As Clement of Alexandria made mention of Paul's reference to deaconesses in 1 Timothy 3:11, so Origen commented on Phoebe, the deacon Paul mentioned in Romans 16;1-2;
  'This text teaches with the authority of the Apostle that even women are instituted deacons in the Church. 
  This is the function which was exercised in the Church of Cenchreae by Phoebe, who was the object of high praise and recommendation by Paul ... And thus this text teaches at the same time two things: that there are, as we have already said, women deacons in the Church; and that women, who by their good works deserve to be praised by the Apostle, ought to be accepted in the diaconate.' [2]

Testament of the Catacombs
The walls of the Roman Catacombs bear pictures showing women in authoritative stances, with their hands raised in the posture of a bishop. 
  They are depicted standing in prayer, exercising a ministry of intercession and benediction. [2]
  Their steadfast witness to Jesus Christ, Son of GOD and the One we love and serve totally and wholeheartedly, remains a shining signpost to us on our journey towards our eternal home.

[1] Pope Francis calls for study on 'reinstating' female deacons, Alleged News
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/05/12/pope-francis-will-reportedly-study-the-possibility-of-female-deacons/

[2] Dr Catherine Kroeger, The Neglected History of Women in the Early Church
https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org /magazine/article /women-in-the-early-church/

With thanks to Washingtonpost.com and christianhistoryinstitute.org