RESPECT FOR LIFE by Joe McVeigh

I sometimes go to visit in the Palliative Care wing in a local hospital. The patients there are preparing to die. It amazes me to find them in such good spirits. I believe that this is the result of the way the patients are being cared for by the nurses, doctors and staff. Their families and friends are welcomed and made feel at home. I think this is how I would like to die.

Throughout the world many doctors, healthcare workers and researchers are working hard to find new ways to preserve and protect life. 

There are others who are planning bigger nuclear weapons and there are governments spending more and more money on weapons. They show a total disregard for human life as do those who allow themselves to be sponsored by arms manufacturers. The famous soccer club Dortmund Borussia is now sponsored by Rhemmentall -the biggest arms dealer in Germany.

There are many threats to life with the availability of abortion and the growing demand for euthanasia. We have had two World Wars and countless other wars and a huge build-up of nuclear weapons by the USA, Russia, China and India so that the arms dealers can make more money. These weapons will also cause more suffering and death in our world. The Big Powers with their tanks and guns show little respect for the lives of human beings or for all forms of Life on this planet.

After 2 World wars and the Vietnam War many conscientious people have taken to the streets to oppose war and nuclear weapons. Many protesters and campaigners are young people which is a great sign of Hope. Many are inspired by the example of courageous witnesses like the late Berrigan brothers, Thomas Merton, Mahatma Ghandi, Dorothy Day and Martin Luther King. Some belong to no Church or religion. They just want peace for the world.

There are many good people today defending life and protesting against the war-mongers, the growing arms industry and those who want to promote abortion and euthanasia. 

If Christianity means anything today it must mean defending life – no matter what the cost. Many courageous people of all religions and none have taken the lead in defending life and opposing war. They are opposed to military alliances and all threats made against innocent people. The manufacture of arms is the greatest threat to life in the world today. The deeper understanding of what it means to be pro-life takes on this big issue of the manufacture of armaments as well as the issues of abortion and euthanasia.

I believe that all life is precious and we have a responsibility to do what we can to preserve life. 

We hope that all of Life on this planet will be respected and treasured. That day may seem like a long way off but that is our Hope and our Prayer every day. That is why Christianity makes sense to me. The Christian Gospel is pro-life.

More investment in Palliative care is the way forward NOT Euthanasia. We in Ireland -Catholics, Protestants and Dissenters – have to build a culture of Life not a culture of death in this country. In my experience, the Brits have never shown much respect for Life or done very much to promote a culture of Life.