John Smeaton has an shocking example of the depths to which debate is sinking on pro-life matters in the UK. (See
Do we live in a civilised country? Draw your own conclusions) Baroness Meacher spoke in Parliament the other day to suggest that for two children she knew with cerebral palsy "It would be in their best interests to have been aborted." Baroness Tonge, clearly aware that it is not politically acceptable to call for the killing of disabled people, attempted to redefine the terms in a way that is eerily familiar:
"... we were not talking here about disabled human beings, but about some grossly abnormal human beings; many of those whom I have seen bear little resemblance to human beings."
I think it is apposite to quote in this context a sermon of Cardinal Clemens von Galen given in August 1941. The Cardinal speaks of the mentally ill but we know that those with cerebral palsy were also included in the programme which he condemned:
If it is once accepted that people have the right to kill 'unproductive' fellow humans--and even if initially it only affects the poor defenseless mentally ill - then as a matter of principle murder is permitted for all unproductive people, in other words for the incurably sick, the people who have become invalids through labor and war, for us all when we become old, frail and therefore unproductive.
Then, it is only necessary for some secret edict to order that the method developed for the mentally ill should be extended to other 'unproductive' people, that it should be applied to those suffering from incurable lung disease, to the elderly who are frail or invalids, to the severely disabled soldiers. Then none of our lives will be safe any more. Some commission can put us on the list of the 'unproductive,' who in their opinion have become worthless life. And no police force will protect us and no court will investigate our murder and give the murderer the punishment he deserves.
Who will be able to trust his doctor any more?
In those days, the RAF dropped copies of Von Galen's sermon among German troops. Perhaps they might drop some over the Palace of Westminster now?
13 comments:
That's a very slippery slope. The good Baroness had better be careful as some day soon, she might find herself on that very list of those unworthy of life. Eternal Life that is.
i have a mental illness as you all know...do i seem unproductive?
Chilling to see that our country the United Kingdom, leads the world in eugenics and other gross misuses of medical science which were once the sole reserve of the 'death doctors and political monsters' of Hitler's vision of the Nazi eutopia. I am disgusted and shocked at the levels we are sinking to. Perhaps the Baroness and her ilk might think differently were they in the same position as the infirm, disabled and elderly. Will they be first in the queue for Dr Kevorkians lethal injection once they become dependant on the love and care of others? I think not. No doubt they see themselves as a social elite above every one else. After all they know what's good for us, don't they? God help us.
aware that it is not politically acceptable to call for the killing of disabled people,
yet.
Cardinal von Galen was right, of course.
It's the thin end of the wedge.
Whom else do you include on your list : the blind, the lame, the disabled, the elderly, the incurably sick, all "unproductive" people ?
Oh, it's a slippery slope, all right.
And it's downright immoral.
In fact, it's very wicked.
Fortunately, it's not legal (yet).
One more comment on this issue Fr Tim. You mention that the RAF dropped copies of Von Galen's sermon on German troops. Reading this post again and John Smeaton's comments to which you have kindly provided a link I believe that 'something' should definitely be dropped on Westminster - preferably a good mix of common-sense, anti-PC serum 100X factor, a strong dose of love, lessons in the intrinsic dignity of each human person, the 10 Commandments - unabridged version, copies of Humanae Vitae, and a real informed and active conscience for each Member of the House. That might just begin to get this country back on the right rails and avert the social disaster that surely is coming our way.
Just scanned through the debate on Hansard 28 Jan 2008 (Column 516 for the Masham Amendment 163). It started on column 448 with a sinister discussion about a legal definition of "supportive parent".
I find the whole HF&E Bill very disturbing. How should a Catholic peer or MP respond? Reject it outright because it presupposes immoral laws that have already been passed, or press for amendments which try to make the best of a bad job? The former has no chance of success, but given the 3-line whip on what used to be matters of conscience, neither has the latter. In which case I would take the moral line (Magisterium), clearly and respectfully, even if it is widely rejected and condemned.
Fr Tim,
I tag you.
I have just watched again a very moving video called "Jenny"- made by pupils at a special school. The star is a girl with cerebral palsy; all the other actors are pupils from the school. The short film was made by the school and was the age group winner of a BECTA Creativity in Digital Video Award in 2004. In an accompanying video, teachers from the school explain how the video was made. I have used the video with classes at school as part of equalities/anti-bullying activities. I will double check copyright issues, and then hope to post both videos at my own blog.
Richard Layard [Mr. Baroness Meacher] always thought that the ultimate aim of public policy is to make people happier. In recent years he has been actively involved in the new science of happiness, and in 2005 published "Happiness: Lessons from a New Science."
Mental illness is probably the single greatest threat to a happy life, and for this reason Richard Layard is currently leading a campaign to provide within the NHS evidence-based psychological therapy for people with clinical depression and chronic anxiety disorder. The Depression Report, published in July 2006, is the manifesto for this campaign.
Finally, Richard Layard is also active in other happiness promoting policies, such as the emotional aspects of children's education, and initiatives by local authorities to monitor and improve the happiness of the population in their area.
Let's see. Mrs. Baroness Meacher wants to kill the mentally ill. Mr. Baroness Meacher apparently wants to make them happy.
That must lead to interesting conversations around the breakfast table.
And they have four children. I wonder which one of them was under consideration for elimination.
http://cep.lse.ac.uk/layard/
The principle to which Cardinal Clemence von Galen refers has already been breached in the U.K., by a liberalised abortion law which allows the killing of pre-born disabled babies up to birth. Of course the killing of any pre-born child is grievously wrong, but to set such a threshold for the disabled baby is indeed evidence of the eugenicist thinking that prevails in our legislature. A further precedent was set in the shameful Tony Bland ruling.
Parents of disabled children are now asked to consider DNR (do not resuscitate) instructions, should their child become ill.
Britain is becoming a frighteningly inhospitable place in which to live.
Drop copies of von Galen's sermon in Westminster? Do yoy want to go to jail like Ted Atkinson?
Oliver - whatever it takes - yes even going to jail. It only takes a few good men to do nothing for evil to prevail. Too many closed mouths in the UK have got us this far down the slippery slope. When will it dawn on the British people that the trend has to stop and then be reversed? We are heading into very dangerous anti-life, anti-Catholic territory. The writing is on the wall.
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