Recent Catholic Commentary

This is the third example of which I am aware of “double” euthanasia deaths in Belgium. The first were of an elderly couple. The second of disabled twins, who were going blind. And now the third, another elderly couple. From the Huffington Post story: A Belgian couple that had spent the past 70 years together decided to end their lives the same way. Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reports Leopold Dauwe, 90, and Paula Raman, 89, were euthanized Monday, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. The husband and wife, who had known each other for 70 years and were married for 64 years, said […]

We all know that when pro-life Texas Gov. Rick Perry signs HB 2 into law, this pro-unborn child, pro-woman legislation will be challenged in court. But the ongoing battle—which actually has been part and parcel of the fight over how to understand HB 2 from the beginning—is which narrative will carry the day. This can be understood in many ways, some of which we’ll explore below. But the primary test will be not just whether the dominant media narrative—that the bill is “radical,” “extreme,” “sweeping,” etc.—will convince the public but whether the true breadth of the genuine radical opposition to […]

The number of Washington state residents who died of physician-assisted suicide rose to 83 in 2012, up from 70 in 2011, 51 in 2010 and 36 in 2009, when the state’s Death With Dignity Act took effect.   This is an overall increase of 130% since 2009 in the most north-west US state outside Alaska. The Washington State Department of Health reported in May that 121 patients requested and received lethal doses of drugs in 2012. The vast majority of the terminally ill patients who received life-ending drugs feared loss of autonomy, dignity and ability to participate in activities that make […]

Trayvon’s exploited and tragic death is not about race but about bolstering a false ideology and justifying misdirected violent behavior. Late last Saturday the verdict on the Zimmerman trial, made frontpage news by mainstream media, declared: “Not Guilty.” Trayvon Martin’s death and the perversion of justice that now seeks more death (e.g. Facebook and Twitter posts calling for Zimmerman to be murdered) illuminate the potent ability of news media to shape a nation’s perception. Invoking Dr. Martin Luther King, talk show host Tavis Smiley asserted on ABC’s “This Week”: “Zimmerman knew nothing of Trayvon Martin’s character. All he saw was color.” […]