Letters: Euthanasia

Sydney
22 December 2002

Madonna and Christ child by Fra Angelico

Clouds, silver linings and life

Bl Mary in the Eye of the Beholder

Catholic Welfare concern at reforms

Old boys go back to Marist school after 50 years

'Phone home' - a mother's plea

Where do you get it?

What if Egypt's border guards had turned the Holy Family back?

Transport, food need at lunch

Schoolkids deliver petition, armbands and a warning of the plight of kids overseas

Sydney dinner to honour Coptic leader

What do you give a refugee for Christmas?

How the 'Sacred Heart six' came to the rescue

Editorial: Time of prayer, hope

Letters: Euthanasia

Conversation: Stephen Said - pastoral support services co-ordinator - Helping children cope with crisis

Practical tips for the festive season

Roses greet a saint in a year of turmoil

Where Christmas is celebrated every day of the year

Letters: Euthanasia

The first phase of the Nazi euthanasia program began with parental requests for the "merciful deaths" of their severely disabled or ill children.

Then a commission was set up to determine criteria for euthanasia candidacy. It was the forerunner of a program that led to the killing of 75,000 adult 'patients'.

During the War Crimes trials in Nuremberg, Nazi physicians justified the euthanasia program on the grounds of compassion and reason. Dr Karl Brandt, who had headed the program, said: "I am a doctor and I see the law of nature as being the law of reason."

Sixty years on, this "law of reason" is hard at work in the Netherlands where euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have become both legal and common, where in more than 1000 cases a year - according to government research - physicians actively cause or hasten death without patients' permission.

Henk Verhoeven
Beacon Hill, NSW

LASTING PEACE

There will be only one outcome if President Bush carries out his threat to use overwhelming force including nuclear weapons against perceived enemies - terror and destruction never before experienced in human history.

And it will affect all nations, not just the United States' enemies.

It is time our Prime Minister used what influence he may have with the Bush Administration to let them know that as far as Australia is concerned it is not on.

The Christian Far Right in the Bush Administration would do well to reflect on the true meaning of the Christmas season and use their wealth, energy and resolve to work for a true and lasting peace rather than threatening this and future generations and our planet with annihilation.

Margaret Hinchey RSM
Catholics in Coalition for Justice and Peace
Sydney, NSW

INSPIRING

Damir Govorcin's Conversation with Alan Clarkson (Faith, sport and the power of prayer, CW 24/11) is one of the most inspiring pieces I have read in the Weekly for a long time.

I do enjoy these personal accounts of people's lived faith experiences and have for a long time wondered why Catholics who enjoyed the media spotlight keep their faith so well hidden.

Alan Clarkson always impressed us as kids with his public profession of his relationship with Our Lord and the Church on the Channel 7 sports show.

Ironically, in the same issue, we read about Sr Kristen Guy who is enjoying success in the world of seniors' sport.

But why use "karma" instead of a more suitably Christian term in the title Good Sam + badminton = good karma!

I had to consult the Macquarie dictionary to check that the word didn't have a new spiritual meaning. It tells me "karma: (Hinduism, Buddhism) the justice by which a person has a status in life according to his actions in his past life."

We can only wonder how being a Good Samaritan sister and playing badminton leads to that.

Kevin Lee
Associate pastor, Holy Family
East Granville, NSW

['Karma' has more than one definition. It derives from Sanskrit, in which it translates as 'deed' or 'action' (Macquarie Dictionary).]

RELIEVING GUILT

K Henshaw (Marriage Bond, CW 8/12) expresses reservations about the US bishops "saying it is OK to leave your abusive spouse".

Well, let it be said once again: It is OK to leave your abusive spouse.

No one is expected to stay in a relationship where the person's dignity is not respected.

There are many divorced Catholics who still feel a sense of guilt even though the marriage situation they left was abusive and dehumanising.

Let's hope the US bishops' statement helps to relieve some of this guilt.

Fr John Crothers
St Declan's Parish
Penshurst, NSW

FACT NOT FICTION

David S Bannerman (Matter of habit, Letters CW 8/12) is so imaginative he should be writing fiction novels.

First of all Mary MacKillop lived in an age when there was no terrorism, when Australia was not so multi-cultural. Life is so different today.

The Virgin Mary was not a Muslim woman and most Catholic educated girls dress well.

A man can wear a Muslim woman's robes and carry a bomb.

This has happened. It is not fiction.

Beth Usher
Kingscliff, NSW