 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
The Hankinson Right to Life Chapter, which was organized on October 12, 1978, believes that all life should be
protected from conception until natural death. It is our hope that all euthanasia and abortion end.
Euthanasia is a willful act or omission by a person or persons which, by itself or by intention, causes the death of
another person whose quality of life is considered of lesser value.
We reject the concept of euthanasia as an act of compassion and reject using "quality of life" as a basis to
determine whether life should continue. We recognize the limitations of medical science and realizes that there is a
time when medicine is at an end and death is imminent. We take the position that ordinary care, such as comfort
care, relief of pain, and provision of nutrition and hydration is ethically mandatory for all patients.
Abortion is any procedure performed with the sole and willful intent to cause the death of the preborn child. We
oppose abortion in any form or for any reason. This position does not oppose medical treatment to save the life of
the mother which may result in the unintended death of the baby. The unintended death of the baby is not to be
construed as abortion. Medical treatment intended solely to improve the mother's quality of life is not sufficient
reason for sacrificing the child's life. We also abhor the violence of rape and incest and sympathize with its victims,
but caring for the victim cannot justify killing the innocent life.
Euthanasia threatens certain categories of people based on a so-called quality of life: the elderly, the incompetent,
the disabled and infants. Some conditions which render a person incompetent would be any form of senility,
Alzheimer's disease, mental retardation, mental illness, or comatose conditions. It is our position that medical
treatment and nutrition and hydration must be provided regardless of a person's "quality of life". We reject the
withdrawal of care to such persons with the sole intent of hastening and/or causing death. We believe the
presumption of medical treatment should be to protect life and enhance that life as much as possible. In all cases
when the body can assimilate nutrition and hydration, every means should be taken to provide it naturally. When
necessary, artificial nutrition and hydration must be administered. We oppose any attempt to legalize passive or
active euthanasia.
We believe that death is the cessation of physical life. We believe that death is determined by irreversible cessation
of the respiratory system and irreversible cessation of the circulatory system and irreversible cessation of all
functions of the entire brain.
We believe that a human being once conceived has the innate right to life regardless of disabilities or gender. We
are opposed to the conception of a child for the purpose of harvesting the tissues through induced abortion. We are
opposed to fetal experimentations on harvested babies from induced abortion which are not beneficial or intended
to be beneficial to the babies regardless of any benefit to other members of society. We are opposed to any drug or
medicine which is capable of and used with the intent of producing abortion. We are also opposed to
"contraceptives" that are in fact abortifacients.
We believe in alternatives to abortion which encourage women to give birth to their babies. We recognize the need
for services for mother and child; however, the main focus of our chapter is to guarantee the basic right to life. We
also recognize that the father being an equal partner in the conception of a child has the right to protect his child from
abortion. We recognize a woman who has an abortion as the second victim of the abortion holocaust. We also
believe that the surviving victims of abortion need the support of family, clergy, and community. We encourage
compassion, unconditional love, and forgiveness. These should guide our response to the woman who have had an
abortion. This in turn gives her hope and healing. We recognize that all children conceived have a legitimate right to
be born, regardless of the age or marital status of their mother. We also recognize that studies have shown that one
of the most common reasons women give for seeking abortions is that they "cannot afford a baby now". Women
faced with unexpected pregnancies are often coerced from loved ones who insist that abortion is the best solution.
Pressure to do the "right" thing is usually done out of love for the woman with the sincere belief that such care will be
appreciated later on. At other times loved ones will push abortion on a woman - not out of concern for her - but out of
concern for themselves. This is all done in a culture of lies with a society that too often leaves her alone with her
"choice".
We mourn the lives of those children who were killed to derive the sixty-plus stem cell lines that currently exist. We
oppose the killing of human embryos for stem cell research. We recognize that research on adult stem cells has
been shown to be promising or beneficial to many different diseases or disorders, including breast cancer, coronary
heart disease, congestive heart failure, multiple sclerosis, leukemia, Parkinson's Disease, sickle cell anemia, and
spinal cord injuries; and does not require the killing of human lives at their earliest stages of development. We
believe stem cell research should only be of the kind that does not require the destruction of human life.
It is also our position that to be involved in helping another individual to commit suicide, whether passively or
actively, is to aid in causing a person's death. Because we believe in the sanctity of human life, it stands in
opposition to legalizing assisted suicide by individuals or through state-sanctioned methods. Our belief in the
sanctity of life is also extended to those who are suffering physically and/or mentally. We believe in alternatives to
assisted suicide which encourage people to choose life and not death. The medical community is encouraged to be
cognizant of and utilize the many means available to relieve suffering.
We believe that the method of or reason for assisting suicide is morally irrelevant and will oppose any efforts to
legalize assisted suicide for any class of people and/or by any means.
protected from conception until natural death. It is our hope that all euthanasia and abortion end.
Euthanasia is a willful act or omission by a person or persons which, by itself or by intention, causes the death of
another person whose quality of life is considered of lesser value.
We reject the concept of euthanasia as an act of compassion and reject using "quality of life" as a basis to
determine whether life should continue. We recognize the limitations of medical science and realizes that there is a
time when medicine is at an end and death is imminent. We take the position that ordinary care, such as comfort
care, relief of pain, and provision of nutrition and hydration is ethically mandatory for all patients.
Abortion is any procedure performed with the sole and willful intent to cause the death of the preborn child. We
oppose abortion in any form or for any reason. This position does not oppose medical treatment to save the life of
the mother which may result in the unintended death of the baby. The unintended death of the baby is not to be
construed as abortion. Medical treatment intended solely to improve the mother's quality of life is not sufficient
reason for sacrificing the child's life. We also abhor the violence of rape and incest and sympathize with its victims,
but caring for the victim cannot justify killing the innocent life.
Euthanasia threatens certain categories of people based on a so-called quality of life: the elderly, the incompetent,
the disabled and infants. Some conditions which render a person incompetent would be any form of senility,
Alzheimer's disease, mental retardation, mental illness, or comatose conditions. It is our position that medical
treatment and nutrition and hydration must be provided regardless of a person's "quality of life". We reject the
withdrawal of care to such persons with the sole intent of hastening and/or causing death. We believe the
presumption of medical treatment should be to protect life and enhance that life as much as possible. In all cases
when the body can assimilate nutrition and hydration, every means should be taken to provide it naturally. When
necessary, artificial nutrition and hydration must be administered. We oppose any attempt to legalize passive or
active euthanasia.
We believe that death is the cessation of physical life. We believe that death is determined by irreversible cessation
of the respiratory system and irreversible cessation of the circulatory system and irreversible cessation of all
functions of the entire brain.
We believe that a human being once conceived has the innate right to life regardless of disabilities or gender. We
are opposed to the conception of a child for the purpose of harvesting the tissues through induced abortion. We are
opposed to fetal experimentations on harvested babies from induced abortion which are not beneficial or intended
to be beneficial to the babies regardless of any benefit to other members of society. We are opposed to any drug or
medicine which is capable of and used with the intent of producing abortion. We are also opposed to
"contraceptives" that are in fact abortifacients.
We believe in alternatives to abortion which encourage women to give birth to their babies. We recognize the need
for services for mother and child; however, the main focus of our chapter is to guarantee the basic right to life. We
also recognize that the father being an equal partner in the conception of a child has the right to protect his child from
abortion. We recognize a woman who has an abortion as the second victim of the abortion holocaust. We also
believe that the surviving victims of abortion need the support of family, clergy, and community. We encourage
compassion, unconditional love, and forgiveness. These should guide our response to the woman who have had an
abortion. This in turn gives her hope and healing. We recognize that all children conceived have a legitimate right to
be born, regardless of the age or marital status of their mother. We also recognize that studies have shown that one
of the most common reasons women give for seeking abortions is that they "cannot afford a baby now". Women
faced with unexpected pregnancies are often coerced from loved ones who insist that abortion is the best solution.
Pressure to do the "right" thing is usually done out of love for the woman with the sincere belief that such care will be
appreciated later on. At other times loved ones will push abortion on a woman - not out of concern for her - but out of
concern for themselves. This is all done in a culture of lies with a society that too often leaves her alone with her
"choice".
We mourn the lives of those children who were killed to derive the sixty-plus stem cell lines that currently exist. We
oppose the killing of human embryos for stem cell research. We recognize that research on adult stem cells has
been shown to be promising or beneficial to many different diseases or disorders, including breast cancer, coronary
heart disease, congestive heart failure, multiple sclerosis, leukemia, Parkinson's Disease, sickle cell anemia, and
spinal cord injuries; and does not require the killing of human lives at their earliest stages of development. We
believe stem cell research should only be of the kind that does not require the destruction of human life.
It is also our position that to be involved in helping another individual to commit suicide, whether passively or
actively, is to aid in causing a person's death. Because we believe in the sanctity of human life, it stands in
opposition to legalizing assisted suicide by individuals or through state-sanctioned methods. Our belief in the
sanctity of life is also extended to those who are suffering physically and/or mentally. We believe in alternatives to
assisted suicide which encourage people to choose life and not death. The medical community is encouraged to be
cognizant of and utilize the many means available to relieve suffering.
We believe that the method of or reason for assisting suicide is morally irrelevant and will oppose any efforts to
legalize assisted suicide for any class of people and/or by any means.
| St. Philip's Catholic Church PO Box 419 612 Main Ave. S Hankinson, ND 58041 701-242-7327 |