News Item: : Day for Life 2015 - More Woolly than an Aran Sweater?
(Category: Torch of The Faith News)
Posted by admin
Sunday 26 July 2015 - 13:45:46

The Catholic parishes throughout England and Wales hold their annual Day for Life collection today. Sad to say, it looks like this has been yet another missed opportunity to promote the Culture of Life with clarity and vigour.

This time last year we posted an article called Day for Life 2014 - Another Year, Same Fluff to express our ongoing disappointment.

We spoke then of the fact that, as long ago as 1995, Evangelium Vitae called for a Day for Life to be celebrated, on an annual basis, by the Catholic Church in every country. In paragraph EV 85, the primary purpose for this celebration was established in the following terms: ''To foster in individual consciences, in families, in the Church and in civil society a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.'' The encyclical specified that particular attention, ''should be drawn to the seriousness of abortion and euthanasia, without neglecting other aspects of life which from time to time deserve to be given careful consideration, as occasion and circumstances demand.''

Last year, we recalled with heavy hearts that, although an abortion holocaust was raging throughout Britain, and the threat of euthanasia was gradually taking hold, it took until around 2003 for the Bishops of England and Wales to develop an annual Day for Life. And we lamented the fact that, even then, the initial content had been so vague.

Last summer, we also lamented the fact that, on the whole, things had not improved too much with time. Indeed, something of a nadir was reached during the summer of the Olympic Games with Day for Life 2012's diluted message about health and happiness.

That summer, William Oddie was prompted to pen an article in the Catholic Herald; in which he wondered aloud why the bishops in these isles always seemed to go out of their way to undermine the papal vision for the Church. Mr Oddie suggested that their lacklustre approach to the Day for Life was, ''perhaps the most grotesque and cynical example of this phenomenon.'' He concluded that, up until then, the annual Day for Life in Britain had been about anything but what the, then, Holy Father had requested in Evangelium Vitae.

2015 - Continuing the lacklustre tradition?

At first glance, this year's glossy literature seemed to have a lot more going for it. In an age when the elderly and vulnerable are so ignored, neglected and undervalued, it is encouraging to see a positive picture of Pope Francis giving a blessing to an older lady on the front page of the leaflets for this year.

And turning over, it is also good to see a quote from Pope Francis announcing, in large coloured-type at the head of the page, ''How great a lie... to make people think that lives affected by grave illness are not worth living!''

We think, though, that the problem starts once the small type is studied in more detail. The leaflet provides a scenario about 'Kathleen... a much-loved grandmother', who collapses with a sudden stroke. The lady is anointed and doctors talk of possible brain damage.

The leaflet then goes on to affirm that every life is loved by God and that it is wrong to hasten or bring about death.

In a following paragraph, the leaflet states that there is no obligation to pursue medical treatment when this no longer has any effect or, indeed, harms the patient, or where the risks or burdens of the treatment may outweigh any likely benefits.

The leaflet then suggests that difficult and important decisions need to be faced with others - such as spouses, siblings, extended family and ''experts''.

The concluding paragraph suggests two questions as guides in a situation: ''Is this decision loving life?'' and ''Is this decision accepting the inevitablity of death?'' A link to the website is then offered for more detailed guidance.

Some Thoughts...

It is fair to say that the website does provide further information. 

However:-

1. We must ask how it can be that a leaflet dealing with ''Cherishing Life - Accepting Death'' makes absolutely no reference to the looming threat of euthanasia, from the Marris Bill, which is presently moving through the Commons.

2. In light of this, why is Day for Life 2015 not being used to promote and organize a robust defence of the elderly and vulnerable from this looming threat of euthanasia in this country, instead of this, at best, generalistic message?

3. Although the Day for Life website makes clear that food and water are basic needs which should not be removed, this is not explained at all in the glossy leaflets. As there is so much confusion over this issue in the present culture, we suggest that this is a dangerous omission.

4. The leaflet talks about making ''difficult and important decisions'' with ''experts and family members''; what if such persons are not informed about, or do not hold to, the ethical teachings of the Catholic Church?

5. Given the growing cultural acceptance of euthanasia - and the lack of a clear description of euthanasia or any articulation of a clear and developed defence against it in the leaflet - is there not a danger that some people might see this leaflet as giving a mixed message. Might they even mistakenly interpret the leaflet's concluding questions (''Is the decision loving life?/Is the decision accepting the inevitability of death?'') in a relativistic manner? Shouldn't the question ''Is this decision honouring God and the 10 Commandments?'' be paramount?

6. Given that the literature must have cost a lot of money, can it be described as an effective use of funds to produce vast quantities of such lacklustre materials when the Culture of Death is gaining ground all around us; with a specific threat even in the Commons at this time?

7. Given that some Catholic lay people, some Protestants and some other people of good will, are organizing a clear defence against the Marris Bill, how does this year's literature bear an effective witness to the True Faith from the Hierarchy?

8. Given the subject matter, why is there no reference to pro-life support groups like the Patients' First Network? 

In light of Mum's serious stroke last summer, this is all very close to home for us. We find that this year's leaflet is gravely lacking in terms of pastoral support, in terms of a clear defence of life in general; and against the imminent Marris Bill in particular.

At the end of the week we received an e-mail from Christian Concern calling readers to urgently contact MPs and ask them to vote against the Marris Bill. The e-mail provided helpful links to the guidelines put together by Christian Medical Fellowship and by SPUC. As you know, we already highlighted SPUC's helpful leaflet and booklet earlier this week. Why can the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales not organize prayer vigils, information sharing, widespread lobbying, protests, and guidelines for writing to MPs as part of Day for Life? 

Sadly, Day for Life 2015 looks like Day for Life 2014, and too many other years before that, in being Another Year, Same Fluff. Indeed, this year looks more woolly than an aran sweater.

May God have mercy on us. 

---

This news item is from Torch of The Faith
( http://www.torchofthefaith.com/news.php?extend.1041 )