March Newsgram, Part 2, 1996

Monthly Issues

From Holy Scripture:

And they brought to him also infants,
that he would touch them:
but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
But Jesus called them and said,
"Suffer little children to come to me,
and forbid them not:
for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke 18:16-17

If you have a favorite selection from Scripture, send it along for our next Newsgram

A DOCTOR'S VIEW

By Katherine Sabelko

Dr. Carolyn Gerster, vice-president in charge of International Affairs, Arizona Right to Life, made this point concerning the doctor-assisted suicide decision that came down from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals,

"We have no claim on death. Death has a claim on us so there is no right to die. The term 'right-to-die' is ludicrous. What we are talking about is a right to be killed and more importantly, a right to be killed by your doctor. The consequences of this being normalized as a medical practice is of great concern. Actually, euthanasia will not change medicine. Euthanasia will replace medicine."

On the question of why there is such a determined effort to bring the medical profession into the suicide agenda, Dr. Gerster stated that they are seeking a legitimacy for this method of killing. "They could bring in paramedics to do this and they could be called killaticians or whatever and wear little arm bands with the skull and crossbones but I don't think this would sell. They want this to be a part of medical treatment - death. We used to be told that death was the enemy when I was in medical school. Well, death is not the enemy anymore. Death is now a colleague. Death sits in on the medical ethics committee. Death walks in the corridors. This is a frightening thing of how we view people, with disabilities, that are older. When you talk about suicide, people kill themselves because they are depressed; whether they have a terminal illness or whether from other reasons, these people are not psychologically healthy"

THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY SPEAKS OUT ON THE ASSISTED SUICIDE DECISION

The Washington state attorney general's office said March 6th, it had not decided whether to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. Many pro-life organizations have vowed to fight any implementation of the ruling pending a possible appeal to that Court.

The Christian Medical & Dental Society (CMDS) and the Christian Legal Society (CLS) said in a joint news release March 7 that the ruling strikes at the heart of 2,000 years of medical tradition. CMDS Executive Director David Stevens, MD, said, "An Elite panel of activist judges have thrown out the basic tenets of Hippocratic and Judeo-Christian values that have provided the foundation of medical ethics for two millennia."

CLS General Counsel Steven T. McFarland said, "This is the predictable legacy of Roe v. Wade. When a society stops protecting innocent human life in the womb, the sick and then the elderly are next--a slippery slope back to Auschwitz." He added, "There is a crucial difference between letting someone die by withdrawing extraordinary medical treatment and making them die by giving them a death-inducing agent." He warned, "That has happened in Holland [and] now can happen in the United States. In Holland, where physician-assisted suicide is allowed, patients no longer know if their doctor will heal them or kill them." (Slightly more than half of assisted suicide and euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands are without or against the will of the patient, according to the first official government study of euthanasia practice in 1990 [Remmelink Report, issued in September 1991].)

CHALLENGE TO PRESIDENT CLINTON:SUPPORT REAL PREVENTION OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Family Research Council Policy Analyst Gracie Hsu made the following statement Tuesday in response to President Clinton's newly formed task force to combat teen pregnancy under the leadership of failed Surgeon General nominee Dr. Henry Foster:

"For the Record -- In his State of the Union address, President Clinton said that he would form an organization which would 'support grass-roots community efforts all across our country in a national campaign against teen pregnancy.'

"Abstinence Programs Work -- If President Clinton is really serious about decreasing the teenage pregnancy rate, he needs to look no further than the myriad of successful abstinence programs around the country.

"For example, Best Friends is a program which connects teenage girls with mentors and utilizes the benefits of positive peer pressure to promote abstinence. A recent evaluation showed that only 1.1 percent of its participants became pregnant, as opposed to the 25 percent pregnancy rate for other girls in the city.

"An evaluation of Sex Respect, an abstinence-based curriculum, found that students participating in the program had considerably lower pregnancy rates than those in a comparison group (5 percent vs. 9 percent).

Reprinted from Family Research Council Bulletins

BISHOP WARNS OF EXCOMMUNICATION

It was announced "Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, in Lincoln Nebraska will excommunicate Catholics who belong to abortion rights, right-to-die or Masonic organizations." The USA Today article, March 25, quoted Bishop Bruskewitz, "Members of these organizations...most often is totally incompatible with the Catholic faith." The Bishop stated, "Catholics who belong to such groups as Planned Parenthood won't be allowed to receive Holy Communion as of April 15. If they are still members on May 15, they will be excommunicated."

This type of action should be taking place throughout the United States. We encourage you to communicate with the Bishop of your Diocese, informing him of this positive pro-life action.

It should be noted that many radio talk show hosts applauded the actions of Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz for making clear the Catholic Church's stand against abortion and euthanasia.

YOU WERE THERE

You are there with Him at Calvary
Oh, not in person, but symbolically
Look in your heart, reach deep in soul and mind
For you are there...and so is all mankind.

Which one are you, a sinner or a saint
A person of compassion or restraint?
How deep the ocean of your love...how small?
Do you believe, or have no faith at all?

Like Judas, are you a symbol of betrayal
For thirty silver pieces do you fail
Your Lord? Do you pray...or sleep away the night
As Peter, James, and John...then run in fright?

Are you Pilate? Are there problems you could solve
A person you might save, but lack resolve?
Does ambition lead you away from Him,
Imprisoning you in sorrow and sin?

Do you sometimes say or think, "Oh, Lord, not I!
No, hear me Master! I would not deny
I know you!" But much later do you weep
Recalling vows you made, but didn't keep?

How willing are you to embrace His cross
As Simon did, considering any loss
Which might result much easier to bear,
Than to later face the fact you didn't care.

Are you are contrite as Dismas? Is your plea
The same as his, "Oh Lord, remember me!"
Or remorseless in your sins, do you impart
The scorn and bitterness of Gesmas' heart?

As Veronica, would you act with strong belief,
Risk censure to bring solace in His grief?
Has courage given you such wondrous grac
And left imprinted on your soul...His face?
Which traits of your personality
Are represented there at Calvary?
Look in your heart, reach deep in soul and mind
For you are there...and so is all mankind.

Copyrighted Margery Ferin

FOR EACH OTHER

An article in The Wanderer, December 14, reflects on the scripture, "See that you despise not one of these little ones; for their angels in Heaven always see the Face of my Father who is in Heaven...It is not the will of our Father in Heaven that even one of these little children should perish." (Col. 1:24) It is worthy to consider during this Lenten season.

"When I look at the crucifix and see the suffering Christ who died for our sins, I can see Him gathering the "least of His brothern" into His outstretched arms to hold and hug. He offers me the chance to hold and hug our precious preborn babies, when I remember to give into His loving will. Now the meaning of St. Paul's words about making up in my own suffering for what is lacking in Christ's takes on new meaning and has become another way to help the babies by serving Our loving Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Let us pray for each other's faith and endurance as we seek the Face of God in finding His will and the ways in which all of us can become better involved in our efforts on behalf of His most precious preborn babies."

Andrew and Pat Brew founded a non-profit crisis pregnancy center, Mother and Unborn Baby Care, 3704 Myrtle Springs Rd., Fort Worth, Texas, 76116 - K.S.

MEN IN THE ACT

A group of men now declare they believe their rights have been violated in the issue of fatherhood. National Center for Men Reproductive Rights have drawn up an affidavit that declares that men have a constitutional right to choose fatherhood.

We do not want to mislead anyone with this information. Men already are protected by God and country to father offspring. This group states that it doesn't have to be a father automatically, just because they have sired a child.

The document that they are distributing nationwide is called Reproductive Rights Affidavit. Just a part of this 'document' states:

"I hereby relinquish all legal rights and responsibilities for the child referred to in this affidavit. I have made no commitment to, and will accept no obligation for this child. I will not recognize the authority of a court to strip me of my constitutional right to reproductive choice and I will challenge any court order that seeks to impose a parental obligation upon me against my will."

As ludicrous as this document seems, it is a natural offshoot from the pro-choice liberal feminist mentality. The women now declare they can have their baby killed and pretend they are not a mommy. These men are declaring they do not have to be a daddy to the child they have already sired, unless they choose it.

As usual, the only ones who don't have a voice in these decisions are the innocent unborn. It's too bad babies can't choose to be conceived by only good people who will care and love them forever - much like Our Father in heaven loves us! - K.S.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE - IT'S SIMPLE SEPARATION

What About Separation Of Church And State?

Our national constitution was not framed with a view toward excluding Christians from civil affairs. Rather, it was written to exclude the formation of a state church or religion. Furthermore, separation of church and state cannot be taken to mean that when a Christian seeks public office he must place his faith into a blind trust. To do so would be to compartmentalize Christianity -- separate life into the secular and sacred, which is impossible for the committed Christian.

What Does Federal Law Allow Churches To Do?

For the most part, fundamental churches are recognized by the IRS as non-profit, tax-exempt religious organizations. Within the guidelines for 501(c)3 organizations it is legal for churches to engage in the following activities:

* Voter registration and education. A church may engage in or spend money for nonpartisan voter registration and voter education activities, so long as those activities are not intended to benefit any particular candidate or political party.

* Conduct public candidate forums. A church may hold public political forums for the purpose of discussing election issues, debating political or social matters, or hearing several candidates present their views, so long as all viable candidates for that office are invited.

* Introduce candidates at services. The candidate may only be introduced, or invited to deliver a message, lead in prayer, or read Scripture. The candidate may not ask for support or funds to be used in his campaign.

* Circulate petitions and lobby. A church may spend up to twenty percent of its time and annual budget circulating petitions and engaging in other legislative activities, such as lobbying. Such steps are intended to influence the outcome of legislation.

What Does Federal Law Prohibit?

Briefly, federal law prohibits 501(c)3 organizations from engaging in activities designed to specifically influence the outcome of elections:

* Establish a political action committee (PAC);
* Contribute to political parties or candidates;
* Endorse candidates.

Nothing, however, prohibits individuals in the church (including the pastor) from participation in any of these activities.

Lessons from History: Euthanasia in Nazi Germany

By Priscilia King

Present day death proponents of the "right-to-die" movement disavow any analogy between what they are selling and what happened in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. And, if one does not examine the facts too closely, there appears to be none. After all, Hitler was bent on exterminating the Jews, even though he destroyed a few thousand others before he found his focus. His was a dictatorship, not a democratic nation. His agenda was political, not moral. He fed on hate, not compassion. And one could add to the list.

However, if we look back to German society of the twenties and thirties, we find a civilized culture not so unlike our own. As a nation, Germany took pride in its art, its culture, and its science. People engaged in business, went shopping, enjoyed their families, followed the news. Genocide did not seem a likely development. But the seeds had already sprouted, though few foresaw into what kind of twisting vines they would soon grow.

In 1920 a book was published titled The Permission to Destroy Life Unworthy of Life by Alfred Hoche, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at the University of Freiburg, and Karl Binding, a professor of law from the University of Leipzig. They argued in their book that patients who ask for “death assistance" should, under very carefully controlled conditions, be able to obtain it from a physician. The conditions were spelled out, and included the submission of the request to a panel of three experts, the right of the patient to withdraw his request at any time, and the legal protection of the physicians who would help him terminate his life. Binding and Hoche explained how death assistance was congruent with the highest medical ethics and was essentially a compassionate solution to a painful problem.

Death assistance, according to the authors, was not to be limited to those who were able or even willing to ask for it. They would have such mercy extended as well to “empty shells of human beings” such as those with brain damage, some psychiatric conditions, and mental retardation, if by scientific criteria the "impossibility of improvement of a mentally dead person" could be proven. The benefits to society would be great, they said, as money previously devoted to the care of “meaningless life” would be channeled to those who most needed it, the socially and physically fit. Germans needed only to learn to evaluate the relative value of life in different individuals.

An opinion poll conducted in 1920 revealed that 73% of the parents and guardians of severely disabled children surveyed would approve of allowing physicians to end the lives of disabled children such as their own. Newspapers, journal articles, and movies joined in shaping the opinion of the German public. The Ministry of Justice described the proposal as one that would make it "possible for physicians to end the tortures of incurable patients, upon request, in the interests of true humanity” (New York Times, October 6, 1993, p. 1, col. 2). And the savings would redound to the German people if money were no longer thrown away on the disabled, the incurable, and “those on the threshold of old age.”

A 1936 novel written by Helmut Unger, M.D., further assisted the German people in accepting the unthinkable. Dr. Unger told the story of a physician whose wife was disabled by multiple sclerosis. She asks him to help her die, and he complies. At his trial he pleads with the jurors to understand his honorable motive: "Would you, if you were a cripple, want to vegetate forever?” The jury acquit him in the novel. The book was subsequently made into a movie which, according to research by the SS Security Service, was “favorably received and discussed,” even though some Germans were concerned about possible abuses.

With the public now assenting, the question turned from "whether" to "by whom" and "under what circumstances." The first known case of the application of this now-acceptable proposal concerned "Baby Knauer." The child’s father requested of Adolph Hitler himself that his son be allowed death because he was blind, retarded, and missing an arm and a leg. Surely, in his condition, he would be better off dead. Hitler turned the case over to his personal physician, Karl Brandt, and in 1938 the request was granted.

Over the next few months, a committee set out to establish practical means by which such "mercy deaths" could be

granted to other children who had no prospect for meaningful life. The hospital at Eglfing-Haar, under the direction of Hermann Pfannmuller, M.D., slowly starved many of the disabled children in its care until they died of “natural causes.” Other institutions followed suit, some depriving its small patients of heat rather than food. Medical personnel who were uncomfortable with what they were asked to do were told this was not killing: they were simply withholding treatment and “letting nature take its course.”

Over time Pfannmuller set up Hungerhauser (starvation houses) for the elderly. By the end of 1941, euthanasia was simply "normal hospital routine."

In the meantime, no law had been passed permitting euthanasia. Rather, at the end of 1939, Hitler signed this letter: "Reichleader Bouhler and Dr. Med. Brandt are responsibly commissioned to extend the authority of physicians to be designated by name so that a mercy death may be granted to patients who, according to human judgment, are incurably ill according to the most critical evaluation of the state of their disease.”

Interestingly, physicians were not ordered to participate, but merely permitted to if they so wished. It was to be a private matter between the doctor and his patient (or the family if the patient was unable to speak for himself).

Brandt, testifying at his trial in Nuremburg after the war, insisted: "The underlying motive was the desire to help individuals who could not help themselves and were thus prolonging their lives in torment.... To quote Hippocrates today is to proclaim that invalids and persons in great pain should never be given poison. But any modern doctor who makes so rhetorical a declaration without qualification is either a liar or a hypocrite.... I never intended anything more than or believed I was doing anything but abbreviating the tortured existence of such unhappy creatures.”

Brandt’s only regret was that the dead patients’ relatives may have been caused pain. Yet he justified even that: "I am convinced that today they have overcome their distress and personally believe that the dead members of their families were given a happy release from their sufferings.” (A. Mitcherlich & F. Mielke, The Death Doctors, pp. 264-265.)

Decide for yourselves whether parallels can be drawn between Germany in the thirties and forties and the world scene in the nineties.

BITS AND PIECES

Holland legalized doctor-assisted suicide. In a recent issue of Law and Medicine, an article by retired Dutch cardiologist, Richard Fenekson reported on documented cases of "euthanasia." They found that 13,506 died in Holland in one year. By the process of withholding treatment for the intent of dying, 11,800 had been killed by an injection and of that 5,859 were killed with the patients' consent and 5,941 were killed without the patients consent.

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Baptists for Life, Inc. (BFL) was established in 1984 in Grand Rapids, Michigan in response to the horrors of abortion and the needs of women facing the temptation of abortion. They have since broadened our scope to include the elderly, handicapped and terminally ill who are threatened by euthanasia, another attack on the sanctity of human life. BFL serves fundamental Baptist and Bible churches throughout the country. Their offices are located in downtown Grand Rapids.

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Infant mortality has increased 36 percent reported the Kansas City Star, February 26. Sperm count is down 50% according to a study from Denmark. Child abuse had quadrupled in the last decade. It's time to pray harder!

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Abortionist Edward Allred tried to change his handle from "baby-killer" to "horse race track owner." On the evening he was announced as the new owner of Los Alamitos Horse Race Track, Hispanics for Life and Operation Rescue West picketed the event and handed out leaflets inside the event. At the end of the big race the pro-lifers held up their "Abortion Kills Children posters" in the direct path of the finish line. It would have been impossible to miss. The prolifers declared that the race track was purchased with the money Allred made from all the babies killed at the forty abortuaries he owns.

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It cost $700 to "free" lobsters at a Tucson food market this winter. Ray's Market was the target of an Arizona animal rights group. The owner was so harassed, he decided to eliminate the live lobster tank from his store. Seventeen lobsters, "rescued." were then packed in ice and flown to the waters of the east coast to be released into the great Atlantic ocean. Since the lobsters have not notified the national press yet, we are unsure if they are happy or that they were even dropped off near their homes. Oh, excuse us - I forget - lobsters aren't people!

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Abortions of healthy female preborn babies has been banned in India. Life Advocate, March 1996 reports, "Between 1981 and 1991, the number of females per 1,000 males declined from 934 to 929, according to the latest national census. In developed countries there are 1,060 females for every 1,000 males."

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Clinton's new anti-teen-pregnancy campaign was referred to as "a shame and a sham" by Human Life International. Fr. Paul Marx, the founder of HLI stated, "The very fact that Mr. Clinton would recycle Dr. Henry Foster...calls into question his commitment to this issue."

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"Human embryos and other organs have been encased in plastic and sold as novelty items." stated Dr. Olga Fairfax in an expose called 101 Uses For a Dead Baby, written in the early 1980s. Another excerpt was "The Diabetes Treatment Project at UCLA depends for its existence on the availability of pancreases from late-tern aborted fetuses." stated Life Advocate, March 1996.

NEWSGRAM INFORMATION

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You see, for each five dollars you donate to the cause to fight abortion, you will receive a Newsgram. So, if you send in twenty dollars for our totally voluntary, nonprofit group, you will receive a Newsgram for four months - one month for each five dollars you send.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

For last-minute news, updated daily, simply call us at 715-643-5046 and listen to the message. To disconnect the recorded message and leave your own message, simply press the pound (#) sign. The FAX number is 715-643-2133. Office hours are 9 a.m to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

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End of Part 2 of the March Newsgram, 1996.

NewsGram, March, Part 1, 1996
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