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October 14, 2012

Dying with Dignity?

First published November 27, 2007

euthanaisa-focus-still.jpg

Is it just me, or is this now the news of the day? Is it because CTV aired the controversial film the Suicide Tourist or is it because this Nov 30th and Dec 1st is the first ever International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide?

I don’t want to talk too much about the film, however to make my point, I have to explain that it deals with Dignitas, an organization in Switzerland that holds that anyone, as long as they are of sound mind, should have the right to kill themselves. This, they say, is dying with dignity.

It makes me think of another award winning documentary titled The Bridge, which looks at the Golden Gate bridge, a notorious spot for suicidal jumpers. The director of that film, says that the thought to make the film came to him after watching people jump off the World Trade Centre on 9/11. Those people chose to fall to their death, rather than to be consumed by a fire. He thought that anyone who takes his or her life is also escaping a fire of sorts. The film tries to deal with those “fires” that plague us, that would make us take our own lives.

It is well documented that people of “sound mind” don’t wish to take their own lives. those who wish to kill themselves do so because they have lost their sense of dignity, or a quality of life they (or others) consider worthy of having – in effect, they do so because they are depressed. That’s what depression stems from: losing something, someone, or an ability.

This past Summer, an Italian doctor alleged that Pope John Paul II went against the Church teaching on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide when refusing treatment in the last days of his life. This made us think, here at S+L that there is still much confusion when it comes to Church teaching on this topic. In truth, the stories of those with the “right to die” mentality, are very compelling. And it is not enough to throw around the Fifth Commandment: Thou shalt not kill.

terri-still.jpgLet me give you an example: Around two weeks ago, I asked Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition what the law was in Canada when it came to the meaning of “medical treatment.” I asked this because when making Turning the Tide Bobby Schindler spoke about what happened to his sister Terri Schiavo. He said that in every American State, food and water are considered medical treatment, or “extraordinary care,” which is why when the court ordered to stop all medical treatment, the doctors were able to starve and dehydrate Terri to death.

Let me clarify: I have had an accident and I’m in a coma. Prior to that accident, I had discussed with my wife, my parents and loved ones that were this to happen to me, I was not to have any medical treatment – assuming that medical treatment means no resuscitation, no respirator or any machines to keep the body alive. For the doctors, for the medical system, because feeding would require a tube — it would be considered medical treatment. So while I (even in a comatose state) and my family think that I would be treated with dignity and given the necessary basic care, the doctors would be starving and dehydrating me to death.

I wanted to know if this could happen in Canada. This was Alex’s response: “I just got a phone call from a priest, whose parishioner’s son is currently being starved and dehydrated in one of Toronto’s hospitals.” Why? Because the parents and his wife, requested to terminate all medical treatment. This of course, means no food or water. Two days after our conversation, he called to let me know that the young man had died.

Not only could it happen in Canada, but it does happen. It happens more than we think. But no one wants to talk about it.

Are we scared of offending the “right-to-die” people?

And so, because many of these specifics are not dealt with in Turning the Tide, we decided to address them in a two-part Catholic Focus special: What does the Church say about dying with dignity? What is the meaning of our suffering? What is the meaning of death? What is considered extraordinary care and what is basic care? When do we stop treatment? Why is it that when Pope John Paul II refuses treatment in the last days of his life, it is not euthanasia? What is natural death? All these, and more questions are answered on Wednesday November 28th and Thursday November 29th’s Catholic Focus, at 7pm and 11pm ET, with guests Alex Schadenberg and Fr. Bill McGratton, the Rector and Professor of Moral Theology at St. Peter’s Seminary (fans of Vox Clara will know Fr. McGrattan very well). The episodes also repeat Saturday December 1st and Sunday December 2nd at the same times.

For more information on the International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, go to www.epcc.ca and for information on the Physicians for Life, Medical Student Forum taking place in the same place on the same two days, click HERE. For a closer look at the topic of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, check out our documentary Turning the Tide: Dignity, Compassion and Euthanasia.

We need to educate ourselves on these topics so that we can have the conversation with those who may think that it’s OK to kill yourself if you are terminally ill, or dying, or severely disabled, as long as you are of “sound mind.” Otherwise, the laws will be changed and we won’t know what hit us.

While proponents of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide have very compelling arguments, they ignore the most basic argument of them all: life is sacred at every stage, from conception to natural death, and that suffering and extreme pain, emotional or physical does not de-value us as human beings. It also ignores the fact that death is not an “ending,” but rather a “transition.” They also ignore the fact that legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide, even with all the proper safeguards in place to protect the most vulnerable, the elderly, those with chronic pain, and terminal illnesses, and the disabled, will only lead to one thing: a world where the strong make decisions for the weak and where the doctor’s “white coat of the healer” becomes the “black hood of the executioner”.

Let me know your thoughts. Always happy to hear from you, and remember to check out Catholic Focus Wednesday and Thursday at 7pm and 11pm ET or catch the encore presentations on Saturday and Sunday at the same times.

Pedro (pedro@saltandlightv.org)

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October 14, 2012

Do You Believe?

First published May 17, 2007

I am reading a great book. I say it’s great not just ’cause I’m enjoying what I am reading (so far – I’m only about 10% in), but from what other people have told me about it. It’s Life of Pi by Yann Martel. In it, the main character, Pi (yes, pronounced like the Greek letter we all remember from Math class: ? = 3.14) explains how atheists are closer to believers than we think: we both go after our beliefs with conviction. Agnostics, on the other hand, hang their hats on doubt. Yes, it’s OK to doubt, but to make a life-long belief-system that is based on doubt is akin to making a transportation choice that involves immobility.

I love that. It puts in words what I’ve felt and experienced throughout my life. It reminds me of the scripture passage that says that if you are lukewarm God will “vomit you out of His mouth” (Revelation 3:16). The point here is that I don’t know if anyone has all the right answers – I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life – but in the search for the right answers, the key is exactly that: to search. Searching means struggle and periods of doubt. It means questioning.

One of my favourite authors, Dr. M. Scott Peck, in his famous book, The Road Less Traveled, talks about the stages of spiritual growth. He compares them to the stages of life: childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

As children we do as we are told. We believe because our parents say so. We accept without questioning. There isn’t much reasoning to our Faith.

As adolescents we begin to try to make sense of what our parents have taught us. We decide what we accept and what we reject. We question. Adolescence is the period when we try to intellectually make sense of what we’ve believed blindly and try to own it. It is the journey from the head to the heart.

Many adults are still in their childhood spiritual phase. Not questioning. Merely accepting. Doing because they are told. Not really believing.

In the same way, many adults are still in the adolescent spiritual phase, questioning all, challenging everything, doubting. In fact, trying to make sense of things.

What’s neat is that in the journey from childhood to adulthood, from the head to the heart, we must go through adolescence. The adolescent is closer to being an adult than the child. And so, to give an example, those who merely go to Church because of tradition, or because they learned it as children and haven’t really thought about what it means, are in a lower spiritual stage than those who’ve questioned and challenged and decided to not go to Church because it doesn’t make sense to them. It is a difficult concept to accept for many Catholics who’ve been told repeatedly that they must do certain things and that they must believe blindly, and who were brought up not to question the Church.

The adult stage is the stage when we own our beliefs: The adult goes to Church because she truly believes and understands what the Sacraments means. The adult celebrates the Sacraments because in his heart, he knows what they are and what they mean. The spiritual adult believes in the teachings of the Catholic Church because she’s taken the time to learn about what the Church teaches – she’s learned what other churches teach, she’s read, studied, asked, questioned and prayed much about it. It’s true that Faith is a gift, but God helps those who help themselves, no? So I pray for Faith. As I journey through adolescence, I am conscious that one day I want to be an adult.

And so, in some ways, these were the driving thoughts behind tonight’s Catholic Focus. I assembled a panel of friends who have different beliefs than mine, and asked: What do they believe? Why do they believe that? Why don’t they believe in God? What is the difference between the concept of a “life-giver”, or “creator”, and the Christian concept of God? From where do they get meaning in their lives? Why do they believe that humans have value and dignity? Where does their morality come from?

My hope is not to convert or to confuse, but rather, in hearing their answers, I hope that we can begin to ask the questions of our own beliefs. I believe that in my journey from the head to the heart, I must ask these questions, and I cannot be afraid to seek answers from those outside the Church.

Always happy to hear your thoughts.
PEDRO

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October 14, 2012

Blessed Be God

First published April 5, 2007

I’ve always enjoyed Holy Thursday the most of all Holy Week liturgies. I guess the music at Mass had a lot to do with it. We get to sing: Table Song, Bread for the World, Now We Remain, We Have Been Told, Take and Eat, We Remember, and as a Psalm, Our Blessing Cup (my most favourite setting by Bob Hurd). I also really love the washing of the feet. Once, while at York University I had my feet washed. While a simple act, it was very humbling.

When we re-enacted the Passion for Good Friday, or for specials like INRI (airing Good Friday @ 9am, 6pm & 10pm ET), I also always enjoyed best the scene of the Last Supper. I loved saying the words: “baruch atah adonai, eloheinu, melah haolam…” “blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the Universe….”, which are the words of the blessing of the bread and wine, which Jesus would have used. I learned these while working at a Jewish Summer camp one summer. Before and after every meal we prayed: “Blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the Universe who brings forth bread from the earth.” And then, “Blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.” I used to love that simple prayer.

Last Sunday, Sheri, the boys and I gathered at our friends’ home for the first of many (we hope) Pesach celebrations, or Passover meals together. None of us are Jewish, but as Christians, we wondered why we don’t celebrate all Jewish holidays. Afterall, the Jewish people are our spiritual ancestors. Jesus did come to bring a new covenant and we believe that the Mass, the paschal sacrifice, replaces the Passover meal. But, it is also good to remember.

“We remember how you loved us, to your death, and still we celebrate for you are with us here. And we believe that we will see you when you come in your Glory, Lord. We remember, we celebrate, we believe.” These are the words of the refrain of Marty Haugen’s We Remember. That is part of what we are called to do when we “do this in memory” of Him: remember. And the Jewish people are so good at remembering.

During Passover, we remember the exodus from Egypt. We read the Haggadah, or “story”. This is the story of Moses and of the Jewish people who were enslaved in Egypt; The story of the 10 plagues and of the crossing of the Red Sea. It is a story of liberation, of redemption and of salvation. These are the four cups of Wine that are poured and drunk during the meal: the Cup of Blessing, the Cup of Memory, the Cup of Redemption and the Cup of Hope and Salvation. It is this last cup, at the end of the meal, when Jesus said, “this is my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all, so that sins will be forgiven.” The Jewish people understand suffering and sacrifice and atonement.

Some more contemporary Passover celebrations remember the six million Jews and others who were killed in Europe by evil forces. Evil forces that turned against all that is sacred to Jews, Christians and all other people for whom human life is sacred.

On Sunday, my family and I, and our friends remembered with reverence those men, women and children who have died at the hands of tyrants. We remembered all those who suffered persecution, injustice, poverty and shame. We remembered Anne Frank who said, “It’s really a wonder that I haven’t lost my ideals because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” She wrote this three weeks before she was sent to a concentration camp, a camp where she died.

Most of all, what struck me was how many times we gave thanks. At one point, after the reading of the Haggadah, we all read the “Dayenu”, “for that alone we would have been grateful”. It goes something like this:

How thankful we must be to God for all the good He has done for us.
If He had brought us out from Egypt, and had not fed us the manna in the desert…
Dayenu, for that alone we would have been grateful.
If He had fed us the manna, and had not brought us before Mount Sinai…
Dayenu, for that alone we would have been grateful.
If He had brought us before Mount Sinai, and had not given us the Torah, the Law…
Dayenu, for that alone we would have been grateful.
If He had given us the Torah, and had not brought us into the land of Israel…
Dayenu, for that alone we would have been grateful.

Oh that we were so thankful about everything.

I’ve always believed in the importance of being thankful. We want our children to grow up with this habit. But after celebrating the Passover meal, I have a new idea of what it means to be thankful after a meal. The Bible commands us to give thanks to God after eating a meal. It says, in Deuteronomy 8:10, “When you have eaten and are satisfied you shall thank the Lord our God for the good land which he has given you.” and so, after the meal, we gave thanks, but it’s not called, “thanks after the meal”, it’s called, “blessings after the meal.” How did we give thanks? Well, how the Jewish people give thanks: we praised God for His goodness, for “his kindness is everlasting”, using the words of many Psalms, and we blessed the Lord. We didn’t say, “bless us, oh Lord and this food”, we said, “blessed are YOU, Lord our God. Blessed are You! You are most awesome, you are the best.” Baruch atah adonai, eloheinu melah haolam…

Then after eating and drinking and praying and laughing we asked God to “inspire us to nobler living and to draw us closer to Him.” We asked that we may plan and live our daily lives with the “same zeal that we have prepared for this day.” I can’t imagine a better celebration to have been the “Last Supper.” To have been the institution of the Eucharist and of the priesthood and to prepare Jesus and all the disciples for what was to come in the next couple of days. May we too be blessed and empowered by tonight’s Eucharistic Celebration for what is to come in the next three days.

Pedro

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October 14, 2012

Terri Schiavo Was Not Euthanized?

First published March 30, 2007

We love receiving emails and phone calls from our friends and viewers! Just this week I heard from a priest who received our message regarding our documentary, Turning the Tide: Dignity, Compassion and Euthanasia, which will premiere on S+L this Sunday, April 1st at 9:00pm ET (and rebroadcast on Wednesday April 4th at 9pm ET). The documentary features several people who, because of personal experience, claim that if Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide were to be legal, they would be the targets. They also speak on behalf of the most vulnerable: the elderly, the terminally ill and the disabled.

One of these people is Bobby Schindler, Terri ’s brother. For those who may not recall the Terri Schiavo case of two years ago, she was a young woman, who due to mysterious circumstances (to this day, no one knows what happened to her), had a “collapse” when oxygen could not reach the brain, which led to brain damage. You will recall that some people claimed that Terri’s collapse was due to her alleged struggles with an eating disorder. Some claim that her husband, Michael Schiavo is to blame for her “passing out” that morning, some 16 years ago. Skip ahead 14 years, after receiving virtually no therapy and no treatment (she was basically warehoused in various nursing homes and hospices), by court order (and the wishes of Michael Schiavo), she was dehydrated and starved to death. She died on March 31st, 2005.

The email I received, expressed concern that Bobby Schindler was in Turning the Tide, because, this email claimed, Terri Schiavo was not euthanized: She was in a vegetative state, showing no brain activity, and therefore she was already dead.

At first, I was a bit confused; hearing from a Catholic priest who said that what happened to Terri Schiavo was not Euthanasia. But in reading his explanation, it all became clear. The issue with Terri was whether she was already “dead” and simply had to be “let go”. For her brother Bobby and her family, she was clearly not dead. She was responsive and had brain activity. For Michael Schiavo, she might as well have been dead, had no ‘quality of life’ and had expressed a desire in life not to be kept in such a state.

But let’s not be confused. The position of the Church is very clear. Our priest friend is right. When someone is already dead, ie. if they require extra-ordinary care, as in a respirator, without which they would not be alive, then, in effect, they are already dead. Disconnecting them from this machine is not euthanasia, it is not murder. It is letting them die a natural death.

I don’t think there is much of an issue here. We don’t need to see brain activity to determine if someone is dead or not. If the lungs and heart are working on their own, as in the case of Terri, then, the person is alive. The only care Terri required was a feeding tube, so she could eat. In the absence of the feeding tube, she could have been fed by hand, like we feed infants or other people who cannot feed themselves. Despite what the laws in most states say, this is not extra-ordinary care, or medical treatment. This is feeding. It is ordinary, basic care.

And what of brain activity? Who says that those with no brain activity should be killed? Besides, as you will see very clearly in Turning the Tide, Terri was responsive; she follows the doctor and her mother with her eyes. She follows a balloon with her eyes and she turns her head when asked. She even vocalizes in response to her mother’s voice and to music.

So, what happened to Terri Schiavo? The courts decided that her husband could determine her fate, despite the fact that there were others, namely her parents and her siblings, who would have gladly brought her home and cared for her, and since she was considered a “non-person”, with no brain activity (which could be disputed), they detached her feeding tube and starved her to death. That is not a natural death. That is euthanasia.

We love getting your emails and phone calls. Please continue to do so. You can also add your comments to this blog.

And let us know what you think of Turning the Tide. We love that you are watching. But we love it more when you write to tell us about it.

PEDRO

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