DOES Saturday’s lead article signal the renewal of the campaign by The Age to push for euthanasia legislation? Will it be a fair discussion with the real difficulties of developing legislation that permits euthanasia or assisted suicide but prevents abuse of the power to take the lives of others presented?
Will there be a discussion of the dangers of encouraging people to think that killing equals caring?
Angelique Flowers’ story is very sad and distressing, but can we be sure we got the whole story?
What treatment options were declined, what choices made that may have compounded her suffering?
Will we get to hear from others involved in trying to care for her?
If we knew the whole story, would it make a compelling case for assisted suicide, or might there be other lessons our society could take from it?
We will never know the answer to these questions.
Individual cases, selectively and passionately retold, cannot be the basis for making far-reaching changes to laws that protect the lives of everyone. They are the basis for a determined effort to provide better palliative care to all.
Neil Chambers, Viewbank
Well said Neil, and certainly an opportunity for more letters to be written today.
The Church of England bishops are going to apologise to Charles Darwin because one of their number, Samuel Wilberforce, dared to think that he might be wrong. They might be better off apologising to God for their anaemic leadership of what has at times been a credible Christian community.
The curriculum I use as a scripture teacher at my children’s primary school is the same as that used by all scripture teachers in my town. Contrary to Jane Caro’s views ("Secular schools of thought tainted”, September 22), there is no “sleight of hand”. The material is available to anyone who asks for it and is paid for by contributions from all the local churches.
In contrast, when my child undertook an extension course in philosophy, there was no written curriculum and no lesson plan available. I was told if I wanted to know what was being taught I would have to come and observe the class. The only “bending of the truth” is Caro’s misrepresentation.
Roslyn Deal, Wingham
I agree that religious education should never convert by stealth or bend the truth. But how can Jane Caro advocate respecting the attitudes, beliefs and opinions of all when she sees religion as an “invasion” and “unequivocally unwelcome”? Sounds like a case of religious intolerance of the worst kind - banning all views but her own.
Mike Doyle, Darlington
Well said! And good on you Mike D for drawing this to our attention.
The gospel truth on scripture at schools
The curriculum I use as a scripture teacher at my children’s primary school is the same as that used by all scripture teachers in my town. Contrary to Jane Caro’s views ("Secular schools of thought tainted”, September 22), there is no “sleight of hand”. The material is available to anyone who asks for it and is paid for by contributions from all the local churches.
In contrast, when my child undertook an extension course in philosophy, there was no written curriculum and no lesson plan available. I was told if I wanted to know what was being taught I would have to come and observe the class. The only “bending of the truth” is Caro’s misrepresentation.
IN THE abortion debate, it appears “conscience” has become code for “compliance”. In the first place, Premier Brumby called for a conscience vote, while clearly saying the bill should be voted through. It is now evident that under the proposed legislation, doctors who have a moral objection to abortion must refer any woman seeking an abortion to another medical practitioner. This bill reeks with a moral suppressant that I thought our society had done away with.
Murray Campbell, Mentone
Murray trained at Moore College and now pastors Mentone Baptist in Melbourne.
If you have time, this is worth a letter today. See the other letters to the Age here.
In the SMH the editor writes a little piece about the letters they received that week. This week he wrote:
Jane Caro’s opinion piece sparked a furious debate on religious education classes, in which the secularists had the weight of numbers.
I reckon the secularists are a very small vocal minority - and I reckon Anglicans have a bigger minority.
So it should be an encouragement to write. It’s certainly a weight of numbers thing - so even if your letter isn’t published - it helped a similar letter be published.
So it should be an encouragement to write. It’s certainly a weight of numbers thing - so even if your letter isn’t published - it helped a similar letter be published.
Mike
Completely true, Mike. I once got a call from an aggrieved SMH letters editor when I suggested in an (unpublished) letter that this practice hadn’t been followed.
The current letters editors may take a different view of what letters get in, and how, but if so I haven’t heard anything. The best response to an unpublished letter is not to think ‘Oh, they’re censoring Christians again’, but to write another letter.
When I was keeping track of these things, I managed to write 20 letters straight without a single one getting in. I’m sure I’ve beaten that record since.
When I was keeping track of these things, I managed to write 20 letters straight without a single one getting in. I’m sure I’ve beaten that record since.
Thank you, Paul Sheehan. You have confirmed what I have thought for some time - that Malcolm Turnbull is not fit to lead anything. He is interested in one thing above all others - Malcolm Turnbull.
David Ashton Orange
and here’s what i wrote....
Thank you, Paul Sheehan. You have confirmed something I have thought for some time - that Malcolm Turnbull was not fit to lead anything. He is interested in one thing above all others - Malcolm Turnbull.
It seems to go beyond that. Accusing a political opponent of trying to destroy his career is a sign of an unhealthy mindset. He is not above users his own colleagues to achieve his personal desires, and was obviously intent on destroying Nelson’s career. It indicates a narcissistic personality. This type of personality can be very charming when things go their way but can be savage when confronted and will feel threatened by opposition. Some of the changes to his front bench were obviously payback. Not the sort of person to be put in charge of anything.
Hopefully he either self-destructs or is his party dumps him before he gets anywhere near being Prime Minister.
I am not pleased by the editing, especially as they didn’t ask me!
Own trumpet warning: in that august journal, The Illawarra Mercury the following…
Like many, the global economic shenanigans makes me a little anxious about my superannuation.
Solomon’s proverb could be right: “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle”!
But I also recall what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. He noticed that God dressed the flowers of the field more splendidly than even King Solomon. And so he concludes that God knows our needs and can look after us too.
Instead of stressing out about possessions, Jesus suggest we should seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. Worrying will not add a single hour to our lifespan, nor a single dollar to our bank account.
Rev Sandy Grant
St Michael’s Cathedral, Wollongong
Shows you what you can get in to a regional paper - they printed exactly as I sent it - leaving my error in the verb in the second last sentence in place for all to see!
Political correctness of a leftist kind is very much alive at universities (Letters, October 13). The University of New England instructs that students should use so-called gender-inclusive language in essays. In correspondence on the matter a professor seriously suggested that instead of “mankind” I use “personkind”. I replied that if there actually were such a word I might consider using it.
IT WOULD be fair to say that Christianity has been reported to death, even if sometimes inaccurately or prejudiciously. The world views of other religions, whether on private or public affairs of the day, continue to be under-reported by the secular media. Then again, taking lessons from how Christianity is often pilloried, adherents of other faiths may be relieved to stay under the radar.
If the public is to know anything about the views across various religions, then those views need to be publicly articulated. The media can assist by giving space for their articulation and by reporting more widely on religion.
ABC Radio National’s The Religion Report was so obsessed with the Judeo-Christian tradition that the program should have been more appropriately titled Christianity Watch. The ABC’s cancellation of the program is no loss to our greater understanding of religion in Australian society.
The hand-wringing over the axing of Radio National’s The Religion Report (Letters, October 17-24) is unjustified. The program had a dogged focus on Christianity and the goings-on of the church. This is understandable because Christians frequently find themselves in the public arena when they comment on private and public affairs. Adherents of other spiritualities and religions might or might not have publicly volunteered their views on various issues. The Religion Report could and should have sought these out. It failed to provide insight into the relig-ious mind of Australian society.
As a practising Christian I naturally have no issue with the Lord’s Prayer, and believe non-Christian politicians could simply remain silent, as I do when attending services or events I cannot “amen” to. However, I would rather see professed Christian politicians attempt to emulate the ethical, humanitarian and loving behaviour Christ exemplified.
Own trumpet warning… Illawarra Mercury 29/10/08...
I can understand the predicament of non-Christian parliamentarians in only being given the Lord’s Prayer as an option at the start of each day of sitting (Mercury, October 27). But politicians are not forced to say it.
And this tradition rightly acknowledges the key part played by Christian beliefs in Australia’s heritage. Further it affirms the importance of “relying humbly on Almighty God” as our constitution says.
However, a word to those who want to keep praying it. The Lord’s Prayer requests that the Heavenly Father would establish his rule on earth ("Your kingdom come"). Presumably this means judgment on all those who do not do his will “on earth as it is in heaven”.
So although I have often prayed it myself, and will do so again, the Lord’s Prayer is a very dangerous thing to pray if we are not fair dinkum about God’s name being “hallowed” (ie honoured) in our own lives.
Fortunately for our parliamentarians (and for everyone else who are so quick to judge them), Jesus also included a request to “forgive us our sins” when we fail the test of loving God or our neighbour.
Rev Sandy Grant
St Michael’s Cathedral, Wollongong
Many thanks to Gordo for the inspiration and some phrasing!
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