Misguided Commentary

Dear Friends:

I must say that I was really shocked and surprised. As I was driving home from visiting my mother in Garden City, I was listening to a political talk show. The host, Bob Grant, is a feisty and controversial host who espouses a more conservative type of politics and can be pretty tough on callers with whom he has difficulties. Suddenly he began to discuss the question of euthanasia mercy-killing, and seemed rather sympathetic to it in certain cases.

This particular day Grant was speaking of people who have miserable lives because of serious mental difficulties. He seemed to suggest that in some of these seemingly hopeless cases, euthanasia might be an acceptable solution.

If I had heard this from the left wing and the usual anti-Catholic, anti-life crowd, I would have been annoyed, terribly angered — but in no way surprised. Yet, to hear a rather right leaning commentator make this horrific observation was deeply disturbing. As a matter of fact, it is revelatory of the depth and pervasiveness of the anti-life infection. This despicable attitude that innocent human life is expendable human life is only increasing. Of course, a society that has the permissive attitude to the destruction of children anytime before birth is naturally going to proceed to the elimination of adults who are tremendously unhappy. I wonder what eventually will happen to all the mentally incompetent and sick elderly who are housed and cared for in government institutions. Will the cost of their care become so prohibitive that they will be killed in the interest of a balanced budget and a bottom line that keeps taxpayers happy?

To mention such a possibility makes you run the risk of being old-fashioned and certainly behind the times. We are living out our lives in a society that has abandoned God—even the mention of His name is odious and politically incorrect. We are plagued by all sorts of organizations that are cheerleaders and rabid supporters for teen contraception and the availability of abortion—-even without the knowledge of the parents. With the utmost conviction, I urge that parents monitor everything that is taugh to their children in health education classes. Explain to them that the Catholic Church utterly and absolutely rejects any and all forms of artificial birth control and abhors the crimes of abortion and euthanasia. We, as followers of the Lord Jesus, are commanded to love all our brothers and sisters and to defend the unborn and those whose lives are imperiled by any form of so-called mercy killing. On these issues there can never be any waffling whatsoever. These are non-negotiable.

Our fidelity to Jesus, the Lord of life, demands a prophetic and courageous stance. Young Catholics who have been sealed with the chrism of salvation should clearly and politely explain the teaching of the Catholic Church whenever the sacredness of innocent human life is questioned. Older Catholics should be firm and unyielding in promoting the holiness of human life.

We belong to Christ. No other attitude is acceptable or possible!

In Jesus and Mary,

Monsignor James M. McDonald

Monsignor McDonald is the pastor of St. Matthew R.C. Church in Dix Hills, Long Island.

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