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October 27, 2007

The Culture of Death's Benefit of Clergy

I found this to be stomach turning:

On September 18, United Church of Christ minister Kristi Denham announced that a new organization of clergy called the End of Life Consultation Service (ELCS) had been created that would be devoted to ministering to critically ill medical patients. Rev. Denham explained that this organization would “help terminal patients access hospice, pain treatment, and other excellent end of life care.”
At first glance, the ELCS sounds like a charitable Christian group devoted to helping the sick and suffering, or another new ministry devoted to providing spiritual assurance to the gravely ill. Well, not exactly. What makes this organization different from many others is that the ELCS’s main purpose is to assist medical patients in planning their own deaths. And as might be expected, one of the options for a patient’s death offered by the ELCS includes committing suicide.

The new organization plans to man a 1-800 hotline that would provide potential callers with “volunteers [who would] visit patients and families in the home, and together they [could] identify a path to peaceful dying, well-suited to an individual’s illness and circumstances.” After the consultation, the clients would then be free to “obtain and self-administer the means” of killing themselves.

Ms. Denham is modeling her actions on those Christian groups which did so much to advance the cause of legalised abortion back in the 1960's. This is what comes, I believe, when people who claim to be ministers of Christ begin to see themselves as facilitators of guilt-free living rather than a leaders of the pilgrim Church in its earthly mission. In a very literal sense, Lord only knows why someone who claims the title of Christian would think that suicide is acceptable.

We will all, of course, die - so what is wrong with advancing the inevitible if you feel life unbearable due to mental or physical pain? Because, for someone in the Christian tradition, a suicide is in a very real sense a murder of the whole world - the person committing suicide is condemning life, itself; and as God created life, it must be good - no matter what the particular condition of it. Now, for the non-Christian, this does not hold sway - but people like Ms. Denham are claiming the title of Christian, and thus it is Christians who must comment, and point out how grave her error is.

When we speak of the Culture of Life, we're not just talking about living if things are swell; we are talking about life being inherently good, even if the going for a particular person is bad at the moment. And remember, no matter how bad it is, it is only for the moment - my mother suffered pretty badly her last year of life. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease progressively restricted her ability to draw in the very air she needed to live - even with pure oxygeon available, it became a major struggle to breath. One of the memories which I have towards the end of her life was my lying abed in the room adjacent to hers when she woke up with one of her coughing fits - and asking, in a voice strained with desperation, "oh, God, why can't I just die?". At that moment, when things were worst for her, life was still good - her life was still good.

How so? Because in that crisis condition, I was brought close to my mother - a mother who had become a bit of a stranger to me over the years. Because of that I was brought closer to the woman who would be my wife, as she showed love and devotion to my mother - devotion which included such things as giving my mother what turned out to be her last bath. Because of that I turned towards God, and discovered or re-discovered the faith of my fathers. My mother suffered that last year, but there were 69 other years she didn't suffer like that - and in her extremity she instructed her son, and made him a better man. That was life, and that was good.

What the Culture of Death seeks to do is to run and hide from death - it says, "abort the unwanted child in private, murder yourself out of our sight when you become old, or inconvenient, or even just depressed. Please, please, please, keep death away from us - we don't want to hear about and, more importantly, we don't want to have to confront it in others. We like our fingers stuck in our ears and our eyes closed because that way, at least at times, we can forget that we're going to die, too". Some people didn't understand why the late, Great Pope John Paull II just kept at it even when his Parkinsons became very debilitating - he did it because that was his life, and he understood that God had a good purpose in his suffering. John Paul united his suffering with his Lord, and went on doing the best he could under the circumstances. And for those who are unafraid of death, it all became an inspiring story of a man who trusted God in all things - even, and most especially, in the bad things which happened.

The worst thing about what Ms. Denham is doing is that it is an assault upon trust in God - and it is to be hoped that Chrsitians will be able to stop this sort of thing from happening, and help people to understand that while some of our brothers and sisters have strayed far off the path, life is good, always.

Posted by Mark Noonan at 03:59 AM | Comments (15) | Track

Comments

" At that moment, when things were worst for her, life was still good - her life was still good.

How so? Because in that crisis condition, I was brought close to my mother..."

Could you possibly be any more selfish? Your mother was suffering, but her life was still good because it made you feel better that she was still around? She couldn't breathe, and was clearly in agony, but you didn't want her suffering to end because it was beneficial to you. Wow. Just wow.

I love my mother, which means that I don't want her to suffer just because I selfishly want more time with her. If my mom is ever suffering so much that every breath is terrifyingly painful, and nothing can be done to ease her pain, I will do whatever I can within my power to see that she lives exactly as long as she wants to live.

Posted by: Argyle McBee at October 27, 2007 06:05 AM

Ms. Denham is as much a Christian as Her Thighness, Ubama, and the Breck Girl.

IOW, she's not...

Posted by: Neocon4life!!! at October 27, 2007 06:36 AM

Neocon,

It is very funny that it is the right wing that gets to decide who is or isn't a Christian.
A Christian is:

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin''
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!'
Maya Angelou

Now come back with your holier than thou attitude.

Posted by: rockville at October 27, 2007 10:57 AM

rockville,

But it must be pointed out that this is not just the normal stumbles and failures of Christians...I mess up 20 times a day in my Christian life...but I don't, I believe, set out to work hard for what any Christian can see is a hateful and anti-human and anti-GOd program. The difference must be noted.

Posted by: Mark Noonan at October 27, 2007 12:23 PM

Argyle,

I'm sorry that I was unable to write in a manner which made it more clear that my mother's suffering ripped at my heart...but her life was still good...and you should understand that in living that last year of her life she got to know the woman who would be my wife, whom she instantly loved and became thick as thieves with...and then there was that last time I cooked her dinner, a couple weeks before she died, where I made her Swiss steaks and my speciality, mashed potatos...she ate like a lumberjack that meal, even though most of the time she could hardly eat at all...and she really appreciated what I had done, and I loved my mother very much.

And I got to say goodbye to her...and the last thing she said to me, a very short time before she went home, "don't worry"....

Posted by: Mark Noonan at October 27, 2007 12:28 PM

Mark,

I don't understand. Are you saying that these people who are tired of the suffering and just want to see the Lord didn't have a chance to say goodbye? I doubt if that is true especially if they are the ones seeking this group.

The Christian poem was for Neocon and his attitude and not calling out on your post.

Posted by: rockville at October 27, 2007 07:12 PM

Stevocar,

RE:'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin'' I'm whispering

Isaiah didn't whisper--

Isaiah 12:1-6 (NIV)

'In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with
me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my
salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my
song; he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of
salvation. In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make
known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing
to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout
aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.'

PRAISE HIS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS NAME!!! FOREVER AND EVER!!!! PRAISE HIM!!! HE IS LORD!!!

Jeremiah

Posted by: Jeremiah at October 27, 2007 08:42 PM

Mark, I'm with you 100% on this. Those who think life must come with a no-suffering guarantee are fools.

Posted by: JPL at October 27, 2007 09:44 PM

Rockville,

The poem you posted about being a christian changed my outlook.
I've been down on the christian faith since my wife died 24 years ago - and one reason I enjoy B4B so much is that the "conservative Christians" that post on this site are the meanest, unhappiest people I have ever seen, and their bitter, hate filled rants against "liberals" reinforced my anger Christians and god.

Then I read your poem and it reminded me that Christ is meek. Christ is kind. Christ helps all of those that can't help themselves. Christ does not believe in preemptive strikes. Christ does not believe in bunker busters. Christ is love.

Thanks Rockville for witnessing to me.
I've got my clothes laid out, and tomorrow morning I'm going to church for the first time in 26 years.

Posted by: mack55 at October 27, 2007 10:33 PM

the "conservative Christians" that post on this site are the meanest, unhappiest people I have ever seen, and their bitter, hate filled rants against "liberals" reinforced my anger Christians and god.

Posted by: mack55 at October 27, 2007 10:33 PM

People can call themselves anything they want, mack55; it doesn't necessarily mean it's true.

The individuals to whom you refer are not Christians, by any stretch of the imagination. A real Christian would never utter the garbage that is spewed here, day after day, post after post.

The folks who actually follow the teachings of Christ would find it absolutely abhorrent to espouse such hateful beliefs.

Posted by: Canadian Observer at October 28, 2007 09:18 AM

due respect mark, but ur definitely in the minority on death w dignity.

the death issues - abortion, death penalty, assisted suicide, withholding critical care from advanced geriatic patients - must be consistent from a policy perspctive.

I'll say again, social "conservatives" are PRO BIG GOVT in that they'd have the FEDERAL govt stick it's nose into state & family decisions.

regardless, sorry about ur mom, mark.

Posted by: OhioOrrin at October 28, 2007 12:07 PM

The folks who actually follow the teachings of Christ would find it absolutely abhorrent to espouse such hateful beliefs.

Okay, CO.

I'll do the "Christian" things--I encourage all to vote for Hillary Clinton, Yes, all give your vote to Hillary--I'll give her my vote, and if she wants distribute money to the poor, I'll give her some of my money...Matter O' fact, if she asks, I'll give her all my money, and she can give it to the poor--She can even have all my clothes and distribute them to the poor...and even my house, if she wants my house? She can have it too, and give some poor person a home, and the medicine I have, she can have it for someone who is poor and needs it for the same problems I have. My vehicle, she can have it for somebody who is poor and could use the transportation, my identity, she can have it too.

I would also encourage all women to get pregnant and get an abortion, have another baby and abort he/she also, and another and another just don't stop...All women should do this.

Also, bring all the Troops home, from every country, we don't even need Coast Guardmen they can work anytime they want too, there's no danger of Terrorism, Nagggh, there's no such thing as Jihad...whoever heard of such balogney?

I encourage young people in college to have sex with anyone and everyone no matter what age. Don't worry about getting married.

I encourage everyone from every country to come to America, everyone from Mexico, wecome them and bring as many people as possible with them--and whatever they have for sale--bring it with them, Cocaine, Heroine, LSD, Marijuana--Bring it all and sell it to the school children.

I encourage all to go to church whenever they want too, if they don't want too, then don't go. If anybody doesn't like symbols of Jesus Christ such as Three Crosses by the road side, them take them down, if they don't like scripture verses in our government buildings and monuments, then have them removed. If some don't like Christmas Trees, then remove them from all places in America.

And prayer in schools, if somebody doesn't like me to pray in school, then I'll stop praying, and encourage all students to not pray and give Thanks to God for their food at the lunch table, and for this beautiful day. We don't need God for anything, we can do it ourself, we the most "powerful" beings on the planet...Yeah, we don't need God.

I encourage all ministers of the Gospel to quit preaching the Truth, don't get in the way of the homosexuals we might actually cause a man to stop liking another man and go for a woman. We can't have that. No way!

Now, CO, aren't I the best "Christian"???

Jeremiah

Posted by: Jeremiah at October 28, 2007 01:55 PM

Now, CO, aren't I the best "Christian"???

Posted by: Jeremiah at October 28, 2007 01:55 PM

I think your rant answered that for you, Jeremiah, far better than I ever could.

Posted by: Canadian Observer at October 28, 2007 04:01 PM

I think your rant answered that for you, Jeremiah, far better than I ever could.

CO,

Well, that's a start, at least you finally admit that Liberal Democrats views are demented views. And that a vote for Hillary or Ron Paul either one would be a vote for national suicide!!!

Jeremiah

Posted by: Jeremiah at October 28, 2007 06:29 PM

Ohio,

There is a difference between liberty and license, just as there is a difference between suicide and martyrdom. Liberty is freedom to do, license is lack of restriction. Your view is that of license - Christianity has always vigorously supported liberty, but just as vigorously opposed license. This is just as the Church lauds martyrdom and condemns suicide - in both cases, of course, a person ends up dead...but the key is always in the why of it all.

Why does a person wish to kill himself? Because of pain? Because of mental anguish? If you are to say that suicide is ok because of physical pain, then you have absolutely zero argument against suicide for mental pain...and don't bother trying to inject that mental pain can be cured, or at least managed...so, too, can physical pain.

You let in this argument in favor of assisted suicide (because there is no way to really prevent self suicide, so the whole argument is really about whether one person can assist another to end his life) and you've opened up the most horrific can of worms imaginable - in Holland, its turned out to be doctors deciding that its time for a person to die...under socialised medicine, the incentive will be all in favor of death rather than expensive therapy...and if you think the free market is the solution, just try to convince an insurance company that an expensive cancer operation is preferrable to a few cents worth of sodium pentathol.

We are human, Ohio, and thus we are uniquely valuable - even if our particular circumstances are lousy. I stand firm. My views on the matter aren't "big government" conservative, but just plain and simple conservative.

Posted by: Mark Noonan at October 28, 2007 07:15 PM