Tuesday, February 11, 2014: Day of Prayer and Fasting

Montreal Archbishop Christian Lepine is calling all faithful to a day of prayer and fasting to commemorate the World Day for the Sick.

The day also holds special significance, said the archbishop in an open letter, as the Quebec legislature reconvenes tomorrow and will be voting shortly on legislation which will permit physicians ot euthanize their patients.

The archbishop concluded his letter by inviting all persons to come to the Cathedral tomorrow evening for a Eucharistic celebration. The purpose of the celebration is to "celebrate in solidarity with those who are sick and suffering."

The following video is the archbishop's invitation to participate tomorrow:

//www.youtube.com/embed/pFWoiZSUpKc

The following comes from the group Living with Dignity.

• Modern medicine is able to relieve all physical pain.
• "Medical aid in dying" is the injection of a poison that KILLS IMMEDIATELY.
• "Medical aid in dying" is euthanasia, forbidden by the Criminal Code.
• Bill 52 won't solve the lack of access to palliative care.
• The provisions of Bill 52 aimed at legalizing euthanasia are unconstitutional.
• Bill 52 will irreparably damage the health system.
• Legalizing "medical aid in dying" is Criminal Law.
• Only the Federal parliement can legalize euthanasia.
• The oversight Commission's processes don't provide sufficient guarantees for the safety of patients.

To claim the contrary is to deceive the public and our legislators.

The Numbers

• 88 % of palliative care physicians oppose Bill 52 52.¹
• 67 % of Quebecers don't understand what "medical aid in dying" is.²
• 69 % of Quebecers don't have access to palliative care.³
• 25 % of Quebecers don't have a family doctor.⁴
• 34 % of Montrealers don't have a family doctor.⁵

Bill 52 is modelled closely on the Belgian euthanasia law.

Deaths in 2012

Belgium

1 % ⁶ (1 432)⁷ deaths caused by euthanasia.

Netherlands

3 % ⁸ (4 188)⁹ deaths caused by euthanasia .

Quebec

60,800¹⁰ deaths. There would have been between 608 and 1,824 deaths caused by euthanasia depending on whether one uses the Belgian or Dutch percentages.

Some worrysome statistics

• 47 % Euthanasia cases in Flanders (Belgium) are not reported.¹¹
• 31 % Euthanasia cases in Flanders (Belgium) carried out without the patient's explicit agreement.¹²
• 78 % Euthanasia cases in Belgium carried out without agreement weren't even discussed with the patient.¹³
• 22 % Euthanasia cases in Belgium carried out by nurses (which is illegal).¹⁴
• 23 % Lung transplants in Belgium come from donors killed by euthanasia.¹⁵
• Deaf twins euthanized because they were going blind¹⁶ – Belgium.
• Transsexual euthanized because the surgery was unsuccessful¹⁷ – Belgium.
• Woman euthanized because she was depressed, her family not notified¹⁸ – Belgium.
• Woman euthanized because she was anorexic ¹⁹ — Belgium.
• Woman euthanized because she was going blind and couldn't handle not seeing dirt²⁰ – Netherlands.

Euthanasia Worldwide

In 2013, the World Medical Association (WMA) publically stated its position against euthanasia²¹. WMA: 106 member states²², representing over 9 million physicians.

• 196 countries in the world²³. 3 countries where euthanasia is legal.
• 99.6 % world population protected by law against euthanasia. 0.4 % world population not protected against euthanasia.²⁴

According to the World Health Organisation, palliative care intends neither to hasten nor postpone death .²⁵

Vote in February 2014

Ask your MNA to vote against Bill 52. Now. You can easily contribute to the prevention of this catastrophy: contact your MNA as soon as possible and inform them of these facts they probably don't know about. The final vote will take place in February 2014

Bill 52 – "an Act respecting end of life care," is set to be considered by the National Assembly when it returns for its February sitting. The Bill tries to legalize “medical aid in dying” and “palliative sedation” so that doctors will be able to end human life. This legislation has set off a round of public discussion on the question: Is it ever justified to take a human life?

You are welcomed to listen to various panelists on the implications of bill 52 for the practice of medecine in Quebec, on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, from 7 - 8:30 p.m.

• Location: Martin Amphitheater, Room 504
• 5th floor, McIntyre Medical Building, McGill University
• 3655 promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, H3G 1Y6

Keynote presentation: The Proposals of Bill 52 and the Experience of Other Jurisdictions - Mtre Robert Reynolds

Mtre. Reynolds has practiced law in Quebec since 1969 and has pleaded cases at all levels of court up to the Supreme Court of Canada. He was involved with the recent LeBlanc case. He is currently the President of the Christian Legal Fellowship for Canada.

Responses:

Dr. Liette Pilon, "What will be the effect on medical practice?"

          Dr. Pilon is a general practitioner who practices medicine in Montreal.  

Larry Worthen, "Protection of patients and dissenting health care professionals"

Mr. Worthen is a lawyer and adult educator who has had a career in management in government. He is the Executive Director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society.

Moderator:

Jonathan Morasse

Mr. Morasse is a second year medical student at McGill.

All are welcome. Everyone will be affected by this legislation, either as a health care professional or as an eventual patient who will someday confront end of life issues. A public discussion will be held after the presentation.

Dear Friends of Life,

Blessed New Year greetings!

At this time of year, I become nostalgic, reminiscing about the past twelve months, the fond moments, the difficult trials of our pro-life ministry, so as to plan for the year ahead.

Here are a few moments that made 2013 memorable.

First, among the fondness of memories was your participation in the National March for Life in Ottawa, in early May. We needed to charter three buses for the day trip; that is, two more than in the previous years. Also, one of these traveled all the way from Quebec City!

Also vividly etched in my memories of 2013 was our annual Triduum for Life, particularly so was the presence of Montreal’s Auxiliary Bishop, Mgr. Thomas Dowd, in a mass and a candlelit Eucharistic procession with many of you outside of the Morgentaler Mill.

Next, in 2013 I was privileged to meet 25 intrepid women, outspoken on their commitment for life and all opposed to abortion, many of whom were post abortive. We met and prayed outside the former Morgentaler mill in East end Montreal, before they walked to Ottawa to attend the March for Life.

2013 also saw the death of Henry Morgentaler. His passing away into eternity was commemorated by a silent candlelight prayer service outside the abortion mill bearing his name on Saint Joseph Blvd., asking our Maker for the repose of his soul, hoping that he had renounced his slaughter of many innocents.

As the attacks on life are not restricted solely to the outset of life, 1700 of us met in Quebec City to denounce the government’s plan to permit the euthanasing of our fellow citizens. We were part of a two-bus convoy from Montreal to our provincial capital to have our voices heard

Finally, in 2013 we coordinated two 40-day prayer vigils for the end of abortion. These symbolize the bridgehead of the culture of life in our society rampant with attacks against life and our families.

The Frailty of Human Life

The most significant events of the year for me were our support of women and the life which they carry within them – the unborn child.

In 2013, I was blessed by three women in particular.

First, on March 15, Théofil was born. His mom had left the Morgentaler abortion mill the previous October and crossed the street to seek our help. Over the ensuing months, through varying trials, mother chose life for her child and on the fateful day, a boy was born.

The second woman I met, over the summer months, also chose life for her unborn child, though the situation was precarious. Having had two abortions in her early life and caring for three preterms – a 6 year old, a 2 year old, and a six-month infant, she had thought of aborting her latest. Circumstances proved otherwise and in early September she saw the fruit of labours – a little baby girl.

The third woman I met was also within the grasp of the abortionist. I met her as she left the abortion mill, seventeen-weeks pregnant with her second child. She was thinking of aborting so as to solve a difficult life situation.

As the procedure would last two days, I had two further chances to convince her that death is not a solution to the difficulties that come our way. In the end despite our efforts and support, she decided to abort the child.

These three women confirmed how frail and fleeting life can be. I saw this when I visited the preterm shortly after her birth and again when I saw the third mother leave the clinic the day she had aborted her 17-week-old.

With this new sensitivity, I pray that these latter experiences of 2013 may foster within all of us at Quebec Life Coalition and all our supporters greater resourcefulness and perseverance to be supportive of women to choose life for their unborn children

For life,

Brian A. Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator

P. S. Congratulations are in order to the women who gave birth this past 2013, particularly those of whom join us in our ministry - Natalia, Maria del Pilar, Michele, and Monica.

Blessed Advent greetings to you!

First I wish to thank you for your continued support of our ministry both spiritually and financially. It is a source of comfort to have you consistently respond to our appeals. Please accept my heartfelt thanks and my apologies if we have ever been unable to extend our appreciation to you more readily. Though we may not have responded to your letters or emails, we do read them all.

Also, you will notice with this mail-out that there are changes in our image, in our approach. We believe that this will make us more persuasive and more effective when it comes to winning hearts and minds to our cause of protecting innocent human life. I am pleased to present you these three changes that will permit the Quebec Life Coalition to radiate more brilliantly in Quebec with the light of truth.

First we have a new logo. It may look familiar to many of you. It is inspired from a photo, frequently known as the “precious feet,” that has resonated with many in the pro-life movement. This photo, seen here, is of the feet of a small unborn child at 10 weeks gestation.

Also, our new logo is reminiscent of a newborn child’s footprint, occasionally taken right after birth. These feet represent humanity in all its fragility, and the circle about it suggests a nest or protective barrier for this vulnerable life.

Our second change is our newly designed website – i.e., CQV.QC.CA.

You cannot fathom the dramatic growth of our web site since its inception. For example, in 2009, the site hosted on average a hundred visits a day for a total of two to three thousand per month. Today, through the first 28 days of November, it has been visited an amazing 54,000 times from around the world – i.e., an average of 1,900 per day! This means that our message is spreading across Canada and the world. (Our website has recently been redesigned - see picture, and will shortly reflect this change.)

Our third change is the most important one. We have a new slogan that reflects more clearly the totality of the human person to be loved and protected. We are advocating “Respect for the human person - body and soul - from conception to natural death.” Yes, it is both the body AND the soul that we are affirming in all and any moral or ethical reasoning. In fact, our new brochure (which we will publish shortly) describes the work of Quebec Life Coalition as follows:

Respect for the human person in its entirety, whether moral or ethical, is founded on respect for the Divine person, known under the name of “God.” For without God, our immortal soul and the associated free will that He gives us, the human person is reduced to but a pile of material to be appropriated and/or discarded at will. All, therefore, have a duty to deepen their knowledge of God, His commandments and His love-filled plan for life and the family.

So we are pointing out the root problem that without God, the human person becomes a mere “clump of cells,” which each may use for his or her own ends. On the other hand, if each person is of inestimable value, it can only be because he or she has been created and loved by God.

For Life,

 
Brian A. Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator

P. S. Please help spread the message of the “precious feet,” by using the complimentary return address stickers inscribed with our new logo.

Dr Paul Saba shares a personal story of diagnosed illness and a success against the odds.

//www.youtube.com/embed/n1Ib4NHOims

This video provides a counter argument to those advocating the euthanising of children, as Belgium has enacted earlier today; click here for this story.

Many wonder whether common sense has left all senior officials in Quebec.

Fortunately, the head of a OB\gyn group has shown that some sense has not left Quebec.

Irene Ogrizek writes a sensitive and thorough blog on the topic of caring for an elderly parent within the context of a quebec society headed towards permitting the euthanising of our more weak members.

In "Euthanasia Puts the Elderly at Risk," Ms.Ogrizek relates her experiences and concerns for both herself and her elderly mother, a subject many of us can identify with.

For instance, in regards t the care of her mother, she relates how she witnessed over a one year period how medication was misadministered three times. Fortunately, she was able to observe such effects in her mom (she was drowsy and docile), seek out the nursing home's attendants for assistance, and rectify the situation.

An important reference book for persons working with pregnant and post-abortive women has recently been launched.

Complications: Abortion's Impact on Women was released this past Thursday, November 7, 2013, by the deVeber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research.

The well written book comes with introduction, abstract, glossery of terms and index. Also, there are over forty pages of references listed.

Billed as the world's most comrehensive investigation of abortion and women's health, the book's 21 chapters are organized into four sections: The Big Picture,The Medical Impact,The Psychological, and Social Impact, and Women's Voices. Details regarding each chapter may be found here.

For a review of the book click here.

Obtain a copy by donating 35$ or more to Quebec Life Coalition >>

A welcomed story for persons suffering the trauma of having had an abortion and their helpers appeared Wednesday on Lifesitenews' listing of stories.

"U.S. Bishops Approve First National Hire Dedicated for Post-Abortion Recovery" ran the headline. Funded by a fraternal organization, the american bishops approved this past Tuesday at its annual General Assembly to support a ministry providing "prayer, support, and healing for those suffering from abortion."

The article notes that an significant increase in the demand at the diocesan level for such a ministry.

Offering links to relevant scientific studies, the story notes the harmful effects of abortion.

Numerous studies show that abortion can lead to a wide variety of negative emotional, spiritual and physical effects, including heightened risk of alcoholism, thoughts or commissions of suicide, breast cancer, and even death in future pregnancies.