Note: Mary Wagner is a Canadian pro-life activist who has spent years in jail for the “crime” of peacefully witnessing to the sanctity of life both outside and inside Toronto abortion facilities.
June 20, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – Last week's passing of Bill C-14, made “law” thanks to Royal Assent, is a defeat only if we choose to let it be.
The truth is, these new amendments to the criminal code, (“to create exemptions from the offences of culpable homicide, of aiding suicide and of administering a noxious thing…”) remain mere words to the extent that those of us who know that suicide and abetted suicide are still very, very, wrong, have the courage to continue living out this conviction. If we are Christians, we have no reason to fear whatsoever. We do need to realize that this moment has brought us clearly before the Cross. We should not fear the Cross, because the Cross is the passage to the Resurrection and Eternal Life. Though we certainly can see the darkness in what has happened, we are challenged by Our Lord, who has given us the pearl of great price, our faith, to embrace eagerly the cross that now lies before us.
Bishop Gary Gordon, in his homily during the Mass prior to Victoria's March for Life, directed us to our duty to care for the sick and suffering, to “drop everything” for our neighbour in need. In the face of these amendments to our country's criminal code, we are challenged, more than ever, to seek out those who may be especially vulnerable to abetted suicide, to offer our personal presence, love and care, and in so doing to be Our Lord's witnesses, witnesses to the Gospel. When the darkness is dark indeed, how much a ray of Light changes things!
As we are well aware, these new amendments are directly affecting those in the medical professions. Our trusted physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others will now be faced with requests to take part in – to greater or lesser degrees – abetted suicide. There will be strong temptations to compromise morally, to rationalize assisting in some way, or to refrain from intervening when one knows when and where abetted suicide is underway. The push to accept the lie that a person has the right to choose to end their life will be constant. There will be temptations to remain silent when a voice must be heard.
There may be a very high cost indeed for those who remain faithful to the Christian vocation to affirm the sanctity of life in every situation. It may very well become impossible for people to enter the field of medicine in Canada without entering into some form of moral compromise, or for those who currently are in this field to remain so. Prayer is essential and encouragement is another way we can support those working on the front lines.
A new book published by Justin Press, The Measure of My Days, features several essays and stories which encourage the reader to reflect on the sanctity of life and the fruit borne in caring for our neighbour in sickness and as death approaches. Dr Thomas Bouchard opens the book with “A Physician's Way of the Cross: Reflections on Euthanasia with the Scriptural Way of the Cross.” His meditations are a source of hope and light. In the meditation for the eighth station he writes the following words:
“…our beloved sick…are waiting for a Simon, and we must show them that we are opportunists when it comes to lifting others' crosses. Not only are they waiting for a Simon to help them with their cross, we – as Simons – are eagerly waiting for Christ to pass by so we can help. Behind every examination room door is Christ, hoping to meet Simon in us.”
This most recent assault on the sanctity of life and on the nobility of medicine is a call to all Christians to bear witness to Life, to Love, and to Truth, a witness that is so desperately needed as our country moves further away from God and plunges further into despair. The Holy Spirit will help us to grow in our desire to embrace the Cross. He will help us, if we ask, to embrace the Cross as Jesus did, who, the night he was betrayed, said to his disciples and closest friends, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer”(St Luke 22:15).
