Preciousness of human life

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 22, 22 October 1985, Page 16

Preciousness of human life

This month we have seen the promotion of the local Plunket society. Can we assume that Plunket is pro-life? If so, I hope you are pro-Plunket and so pro-life. 'Pro-life' means furthering such values as motherhood, the family and working against such anti-life values as abortion, euthanasia and the unethical and' distasteful experimentation on human embryos. A few considerations to keep us aware of the presence of an evil in our society in the form of an insidious anti-life movement: Let us keep to the forefront of our minds that every

human life is precious and sacred, no less the life of the unborn.

COMPASSION

How can anyone who would allow abortion make a fuss over a newborn baby? How phony can you be? How could anyone manage to deny a baby life-saving treatment because it was born handicapped, and next day be trying to save whales stranded on some beach? What a hollow compassion for whales, alongside a hardness-of-heart for human beings. Respect for human life must be at one of its lowest ebbs in history today.

The death toll from the bloody conflicts of political ideologies and rivalries is sickening. However, equally bad is the number of unborn children being killed. Throughout the world, it is estimated that 54 million children die before birth each vear. The vast majority are killed off, because their existence is socially undesirable.

DRACONIAN

In China for example, draconian population control measures limiting families to only one child, have led to compulsory abortion, and the murdering of baby girls after birth by the par-

ents who want a boy as their 'only child'. In New Zealand, we have a state-run abortion service which has long been accepted by the majority of the medical profession as "an abortion-on-request service." Homosexual practice is anti-life too. How regrettable it is to note that five of the seven members of the N.Z. AIDS Foundation are supporters of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. I cannot recommend your financial support of that foundation, good and all as the aim is — the detection of AIDS cases — but as taxpayers, you have already helped this foundation soften the public's rightful aversion to homosexual activity and lifestyle.

MEDICAL OPINION

We must be aware of the strong medical opinion that decriminalisation of homosexual acts will increase this activity and so as a result the number of AIDS cases will increase. Simple facts and surveys show that the spread of AIDS is largely attributed to homosexuals. Let us remember, and reappraise, the joy of motherhood. May we be positive in the hope that newlife brings — that bringing new life into the world implies a hope for a better world — this we believe in. So if you're pregnant, we're with you — the future of the race is in the hands of you mothers — you Dianas and Rachaels. Fr. Bernie Vella