Priests for Life Canada 2002 articles

INDEX

Articles: by title

THE HOLY SPIRIT: “UNCREATED GIFT”, by Fr. Jim Whalen, 1998, Issue 1

EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THE LIFE-GIVER (PRO-LIFE PRACTICE), by Fr Jim Whalen, 1998, Issue 1

UNDER FIRE "A TIME OF TRIAL AND TESTING", by Fr Jim Whalen, 1998, Issue 1

Articles: by author

Fr. Jim Whalen, National Director, Priests for Life Canada

THE HOLY SPIRIT: “UNCREATED GIFT”, by Fr. Jim Whalen, 1998, Issue 1

EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THE LIFE-GIVER (PRO-LIFE PRACTICE), by Fr Jim Whalen, 1998, Issue 1

UNDER FIRE "A TIME OF TRIAL AND TESTING", by Fr Jim Whalen, 1998, Issue 1

THE HOLY SPIRIT: “UNCREATED GIFT”

by Fr. Jim Whalen

1998, Issue 1

In this sacred season, we are challenged once again by our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II to save the ‘Domestica Ecclesia’, the miniature church, the Sanctuary of Life ... the Family. Only in this way can we hope to save our present society from self destruction: “The family is the basic cell of society. It is the cradle of life and love, the place in which the individual is born and grows. Therefore a primary concern is reserved for this community, especially in those times when human egoism, the anti-birth campaign, totalitarian politics, situations of poverty, material, cultural and moral misery, threaten to make these very springs dry up. Furthermore, ideologies and various systems, together with forms of uninterest and indifference, dare to take over the role in education proper to the family... the family can and must require from all, beginning with public authority, the respect for those rights which in saving the family will save society itself.” (Christifideles Laici, #40)

The Church, the “Family of Families” is the Mother who defends God’s universal moral directives, who remains loyal to the absolute that the family and its rights are a sacred sanctuary. This role cannot be replaced by governments, that advocate uniformity in place of true unity, that permit and promote a contraceptive mentality and a laissez faire attitude, in which the ambiguous will of the people (false democracy) adopts a culture of death agenda. Many have abandoned unity with the universal, hierarchical and charismatic Church, (the Holy Roman Catholic Church), in various forms of particular, independent, regional and national models, through declared or undeclared opposition. Others seek to use their positions of power in various institutes to promote disobedience and dissent, under the umbrella of creativity, liturgical innovation and by introducing private agendas through manipulation and compromission of educational programs, and mass media. These abuses are easy to discover and discern by observing the constant defiance of the teaching magesterium of the Church, evident in alternative secular hierarchies of values that give no priority to the sanctity of life, the family or the Creator’s laws and precepts. This is very obvious to those who follow Christ and our Holy Father’s teachings. “The restoration of culture depends upon the restoration of Divine Order to human affairs. The survival of a truly human community on this planet depends upon the rediscovery of the principles of Catholic thinking, doctrine, practice and spirituality. This will depend largely upon the re-evangelization of our Catholic people, and that begins with the foundation - the family.” (Michael O’Brien, The Family and the New Totalitarianism (1995, P. 59-60)

Some of the threats to family life are rampant and becoming worldwide: contraception, abortion, sterilization, euthanasia, assisted suicide and mercy killing. Others result from immoral life styles: pre-marital sex, recreational sex, homosexuality and sex related diseases. We are surrounded by attempts to redefine spouse and family to include multiple partners or same sex unions (i.e. recent court decision in British Columbia). Following, there’s the destructive consequence of the Aids Virus epidemic (1.4 million increase worldwide in 1996; 30 million are infected worldwide (14,000 of these Canadians); over 1500 infected in Ottawa alone, 388 deaths). There is also the recognized attempts at indoctrination by governments through education systems to pre-empt the role of parents in protecting and educating their children (overriding the subsidiarity principal), thereby fracturing the family. “In the end the only real chance a child has to grow up safe and whole, to live and grow and learn and find happiness is to be raised in a strong family”. (Barbara Johnson, The UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child-Fracturing the Family, AFWUF Voice, Jan/Feb 1990)

Our Holy Church has addressed these abuses in various teaching documents: Humane Vitae, Familiaris Consortio, Veritatis Splendor, Evangelium Vitae; etc. Pope John Paul II denounced some of these evils recently in Bologna, Italy, challenging pro-lifers to persevere. “Millions of human lives have been sacrificed this century in the name of totalitarian ideologies and lies... innocent human beings who are not yet born continue to be suppressed... many people thought that they could made do without God...”. (The Interim, Cathy Brunka: Sept. 28, 1997 What we are witnessing is a loss of the sense of God, man and sin; a devaluation of truth resulting from lack of education in truth and spiritual formation in living the truth. This is the result of the binding of democracy and ethical relativism, which devoid of moral values develops into a form of totalitarianism. “If there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power... a democracy without values turns easily into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism. (Centissimus Annus, 1991, No. 46)

The sanctity of family life must be preserved. This is essential as we prepare for the Jubilee 2000. We are called to imitate the Supreme Holy Family, the Trinity and the Holy Family of Nazareth, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They offer us in their family life an example of holiness and perfection. We might be tempted at times to give up in following the footsteps of God, but we see before us a human family. Jesus is the source and example of all sanctity. He is the reason for the season. Mary and Joseph are His perfect followers and disciples. Jesus gives us the supreme example. Mary and Joseph point out the possibility of perfectly following Him. He leads us in the straight and narrow way. Mary and Joseph encourage us, weak and human as we are, to walk behind Him. We often excuse ourselves by saying we cannot follow the heroism of the saints. Here in the Holy Family, we have a magnificant model of service and love to God and fellow man, family life centered on prayer and work, simple yet sublime, with absolute fidelity to the ordinary tasks of life, transforming everyday opportunities from the ordinary into extraordinary blessings. This is what can make every day an unprecedented remarkable day — a Christmas Day! “The future of humanity passes by way of the family. It is indispensable and urgent that every person of good will should endeavor to save and foster the values and requirements of the family. Loving the family means being able to appreciate its values and capabilities - fostering them always - identifying the dangers and evils that menace it - creating an environment for its development. The families of today must be called back to their original position. They must follow Christ.” (Approprinquat Iam, 1980, Pope John Paul II, Letter). ¤

Back to index

EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE LIFE-GIVER
(PRO-LIFE PRACTICE)

by Fr Jim Whalen

1998, Issue 1

Among the multiple ways to prepare for spiritual battle to protect and defend the innocent unborn, the vulnerable disabled, the chronically ill and the victimised elderly, is the practice of praying, praising, petitioning the Holy Spirit to empower us.

Some specific basic steps are part of this on-going process. In the spiritual battle to protect life, one must strive to be in the state of grace. This means entreating the Holy Sanctifier to purify us from being self-willed, self-centered and self-opinionated. It means beseeching the Holy Comforter to inspire us to find decisive ways to deliver the helpless children from abortion and rescue the targeted victims of euthanasia, giving us an appreciation and understanding of their suffering and humiliation. It means calling on the Sancte Spiritus to enlighten, enkindle and inflame us with His fire of love so we can undertake with courage and strength His battle plans to overcome all obstacles: ( i.e. Planned Parenthood, opposition, pro-abortionists); and contradictions: (false compassion, mercy killing). It means begging the Holy Ghost to give us the wisdom to guide others, to free them from fear of peers so they can stand up for the helpless; to free them from false bonding that keeps them from following Our Lady of Guadalupe in her victory march; free from unjust paralyzing laws that prevents them from defending their pre-born brothers and sisters, united with St. Joseph, our guardian angels and the mighty army of angels led by the Archangels, St. Michael (Defender), St. Gabriel (Messenger) and St. Raphael (Healer).

Recognizing our present helplessness without the Creator Spiritus, compels us to ask Him to liberate us from superficial spirituality based on relativism and a false set of priorities and values that foster comfort, convenience and pleasure, resulting in an eclipse of reality, and the promotion of a culture of death ( i.e. the innocent and helpless are killed instead of nurtured and cared for: over 106,000 in Canada, in 1997 by abortion). It means appealing to the Paraclete to grant us the fruitfulness to not only defend but to advance the pro-life cause and build a culture of life by promoting justice, peace, true compassion and care, for the poor, the needy and the most endangered and vulnerable humans ( i.e. the child in the womb: abortion: Roe vs. Wade?; the new born infant: infanticide: Baby Doe?; the handicapped daughter: mercy killing: Tracy Latimer?; the chronically ill patient: euthanasia: Dr. N. Morrison?).

It is essential to turn to the ‘Life-Giver’ for an effusion of the spirit of truth and love so we can grow in filial and fraternal spirit, in respect for all life from conception to natural death. He is the one who blesses us with Trinitarian Joy; a fire of light, love, unity and peace, enabling us to persevere in choosing life in following Christ.

He empowers and transforms us into “fire brands of love and life” when we give Him permission to renew our hearts, to regenerate our souls and re-create us into active and creative pro-lifers. ¤

Back to index

UNDER FIRE
"A TIME OF TRIAL AND TESTING"

by Fr Jim Whalen

1998, Issue 1

Some years ago, Fr. Joseph Gravel, a teacher at Ottawa University School of Nursing related to his students an account which occurred at the Sudbury General Hospital. An operating room nurse, Cecile Rivet, was expected to take part in a 'Dilatation and Curettage procedure' (D & C). When she found out it was an abortion, she refused. The doctor threatened to have her removed permanently from her work if she did not assist him. She reported it immediately to her administrator. The doctor was reprimanded. This nurse displayed the characteristics of an alert and courageous health care worker with strong Christian moral values.

Today many of our health care workers are facing the same problem, having to make choices between conscience and career, as recently reported in the Catholic Register regarding Bishop Frederick Henry's letter accusing the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital of riding "Roughshod over ethical considerations 'for the sake of administrative convenience'." (July 28, 1997). No one should take part or be forced to assist in abortions. The health care profession is meant to be "An unflinching affirmation of Life"... "Absolute respect for every innocent human life also requires the exercise of conscientious objection in relation to procured abortion and euthanasia". (Evangelium Vitae #89)

Part of the dilemma revolves around providing adequate health care, while at the same time allowing for personal values and moral beliefs. In 1988, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) approved the following
excerpt from the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics (though this code has been changed since 1988, to the best of our knowledge this section remains unchanged): "A nurse is not ethically obliged to provide requested care when compliance would involve a violation of her or his moral beliefs, when that request falls within recognized forms of
health care. However, the client should be referred to a more appropriate health care practitioner. Nurses who have or are likely to encounter such situations are morally obliged to seek to arrange conditions of employment so that the care of clients is not jeopardized."

The ethical framework for nursing in Ontario is represented in their magazine: "All nurses have their own personal values which must not interfere with client's right to receive care. Clients' values however, are of primary consideration when planning care...When a client's wish conflicts with a nurse's personal values, and the nurse believes that she or he cannot provide care, the nurse needs to arrange for another care giver and withdraw from the situation. If no other care giver can be arranged, the nurse must provide the immediate care required. If no other solution can be found, the nurse may have to leave a particular place of employment in order to adhere to her or his moral values." (College Communique, Feb. 1995, #20)

Various solutions have been proposed to resolve this situation of participating in duties that conflict with health care workers' personal values or moral codes. In the United States, state legislatures protect health care workers with exemption statutes, that individuals must claim in writing, with no resulting penalties or disciplinary action, with accommodation for moral or religious beliefs. In emergency medical situations the health care worker is required to assist, as the individual's right to life overrides the right to a particular lifestyle. In Canada, the long term solution would be to have conscience clauses enacted at the provincial and federal levels. This approach is supported by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms: (Section 2, Freedom of Conscience and Freedom of Religion). Immediate action would entail appealing to the Workers Union, the Provincial Labour Board and the Human Rights Board. At present Campaign Life Coalition is preparing to introduce 'Conscience Legislation' into Canada. Senator S. Haidasz has drafted a bill to amend the Criminal Code to prevent coercion of health care workers or offend personal values or moral standards and religious beliefs.

Pope John Paul II points out that: "For Hippocratic ethics, as for Christian Morality, the life of each human being is a value which cannot be called into question...it must be defended and watched over. In a word, it must be served. If this imperative applies to everybody, it must apply first and foremost and above all else to health care workers." (The Charter for Health Care Workers: A synthesis of Hippocratic Ethics and a Christian Morality, Vatican City, 1995) The principal aim of the charter is to guarantee ethical faithfulness of health care workers so they can build through their choices and behavior a civilization of love and life, without which society looses its human meaning.

Health care workers are challenged to uphold the right of man to life and to his dignity. In order to carry out their preventive and therapeutic stewarding and promotion of health and the improvement of the lives of people, medical faculties should allot more time to the study of the Church's social teaching through appropriate research and interdisciplinary studies. This would enable students to acquire : "An integrated social vision of the medical profession, making it possible for them to exercise appropriate discernment of the requests for medical intervention, making the right decision and if necessary, being spurred even to the point of conscientious objection." (Faith Offers Integral Vision of Health Care, Pope John Paul II, to Italian Catholic Doctors, Nov. 25, 1995) ¤

Back to index

Priests for Life Canada Newsletters

1998 - Issues 2-4 are not available online.

Back to index

Priests for Life Canada

Newsletter Articles:

Year 1998