|
|
|
|
- Newsletters -
July - August 2005
These are available from The Endeavour Forum, 79 Church Street, Beaumaris, Vic 3193. $25, made payable to Babette Francis, will buy you a DVD, a booklet, a few pamphlets. Enquiries: babette@endeavourform.org.au Highly recommended! THE ANNUAL RETREAT is fast approaching. Those of us who have taken part in the previous ones know what a treat and a spiritual boost it is, and how encouraging and inspiring to share with others who are spreading the Gospel of Life in the Diocese. This year we have Anne Lastman with us as our special guest (see enclosed flyer). Father Hans Stankiewiec will be back with us again to share his wisdom and to see to our spiritual needs. You will find an application form for the weekend. Please send it back ASAP. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
When I sent out our last email newsletter I wrote in the text box: “Here is the Apostles for Life News for May-June 2005. I hope that you enjoy reading it. I on my part would love to get your feedback. It gets lonely sometimes when no one responds! If you wish to be taken off our list please let me know.” Here are some of the responses: Dr. Amanda Lamont, Fertility Care, Perth I am only just reading your newsletter now, and am delighted to read your article about NaProTechnology. I am happy to report that our inaugural education program is ongoing, and there are 3 doctors from Perth in training, as well as the two in Sydney you mentioned, one in Brisbane, one in Melbourne, 3 in Taiwan and one in Singapore. There are also some FertilityCare practitioners going through the training program (teachers of the FertilityCare system of fertility awareness) Thank you so much for having included our work in your newsletter, and helping to make people aware of this exciting new area of ethically sound reproductive health care! God bless you and your ministry. I hope you had fun in Queensland Bishop Doug Young, Mt. Hagan Don't be lonely. You are doing a great job. Keep up the good work! Fr Denis Carroll, St Carthages Lismore Keep me on your list. I like to receive the News. Like everything I receive, I read what grabs me. I'm surprised to hear that you get few responses from your wide network of contacts. Keep plugging away Fr. Charles Kakumanu, St Carthage’s, Lismore First of all thank you for sending me the Apostles for Life newsletter. Whenever I read it I am very much inspired but some how failing to convey my sincere appreciation and support to your mission which is very necessary at this time. Congratulations. Under the cover of Modernism, the culture of death and “nothing wrong” mentality is growing stronger. In this mist, many people don't see clearly that, by abortions, they are killing innocent people and as a result also many mothers are depressed. I am glad that on one side you strongly fight against abortions and on the other side you open the doors for reconciliation for the mothers that repent. This is what Christ did. He rejected sin and welcomed sinners. May your mission bring more lives and more peace. Keep up your good spirit and God bless you. With love and support,
Mark and Mignon Crawford, Cairns Thank you sooooo much for this wonderful newsletter. I'm sending it off to some other pro life people and friends of our dear late Pope. I'm glad your holiday went well and you arrived safely home and yes, it is a looooong way here and back but sounds like it was worthwhile. God bless you all and keep up God's work. .
I’d love to hear from the snail mail receivers too! Come Away to a Quiet Place and Rest a While Mark 6:31
Apostles for Life Third Annual Retreat of Prayer, Reflection, Learning and Sharing Mount Tabor Retreat House, 77 Northbank Rd, Bellingen
YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE WHOLE WEEKEND OR INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THE LOT Situated in an 80-acre property overlooking spectacular mountain ranges – a place of prayer and peace. Accommodation is basic, with from 2 to 6-bed rooms and shared bathrooms, and is limited to thirteen persons. (Depending on the number wishing to attend, we might consider the possibility of billets so if you live close by and can help, we would love to hear from you.) The weekend will be fully catered, and we will share the kitchen chores. You may arrive for Friday dinner (6.00pm) if you have far to travel. You need to bring: Bath-towel and single-bed linen (blankets provided). Cost: By anonymous donation, commensurate (if possible) with the running costs. Deposit of $20 required to secure your place. Enquiries: Angela Martello 6621 2348 ---------------------
Anne Lastman BA(Psy/RelStds), DipEd(sec), MRed, MTS
• Founder of Victims of Abortion and publishes Broken Branches, newsletter of Victims of Abortion • Recognized internationally for her work with those who suffer the trauma of abortion and sexual abuse. • Counsels post-aborted individuals (males/females) and sexually abused women. • Just back from London where she presented a workshop "In the Mourning We Remember Them" to the International Conference on Grief In Contemporary Society. • Holds Masters degrees in Religious Education and in Theological Studies and Batchelor of Psychology and Dip Education.
SIGN ON TO SAVE LIVES or THE LIFE YOU SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN Recently I received in my mailbox a letter and a 12-page booklet “SIGN ON TO SAVE LIVES”. This is a joint initiative of the Australian Government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, supported by the Australian Divisions of General Practice. They are writing to every Australian household to encourage you and your loved ones to become organ donors. This campaign differs from previous ones in which you could register your INTENT; in this recent one your intent is “STRENGTHENED TO A LEGALLY VALID CONSENT,” according to the letter co-jointly signed by the Minister for Health, Tony Abbott, and for Human Services, Joe Hockey, the President of the Pharmacy Guild, and the Chair of the Australian Divisions of General Practice. Both the letter and the booklet are heavily weighted in favour of donation, without any word of warning of the risks involved in saying “yes”. While providing a spot to tick “NO”, it is biased towards you signing your organs away without giving you all the information you would need in order to make an informed choice. When can organ and tissue donation occur? This question is addressed on page 6 of the booklet and contains information which gives cause for concern – “Organ and tissue donation can only occur after death.” However it goes on…”In some cases organ donation may be possible after a person’s heart has stopped beating, but this is rare”. If it is rare that organ donation is possible after the heart has stopped beating, then the majority of donations occur while the heart is beating. We are told that “donation is only considered after several tests are carried out by two appropriately qualified senior doctors to establish whether brain death has occurred.” We would do well to keep in mind that the term “brain death” did not exist in medicine before the advent of heart transplantation. How reliable are these tests? Can we trust these “two appropriately qualified senior doctors” to make decisions when our injured loved one’s life is hanging in the balance. Will they be influenced by the demand for organs for those 20,000 on the waiting lists for organs and tissues. In recent years, I met a woman who had been, according to doctors, “brain dead”. Her husband had been repeatedly requested for permission to take her organs for transplants but he consistently refused. This “brain dead” person had many people praying for her behalf, eventually recovered and went on to start and run a new business. Was the diagnosis of “brain death” wrong? Or was she raised from the dead? My personal belief is the former. This incident, while ending happily, illustrates how arbitrary can be the decisions, especially in view of the present climate of increasing disregard for the value of human life of the disabled and chronically ill, on occasion callously regarded as having “a life not worth living”. The concept of organ transplantation is a noble one, provided that we properly understand and explicitly follow the applicable theological and moral laws. These laws are:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2296) teaches that the removal of organs that would “directly bring about the disabling mutilation or death of a human being” is intrinsically evil. As the campaign to promote organ donation grows in intensity it is imperative to look closely at the facts. While patients are declared “brain dead”, and their organs are removed while vital bodily functions continue, serious questions and concerns arise. This combination of “brain death” and organ donation is one that places every idealistic and generous person at risk of having a shortened life – if they are not fully informed so that they can make the best possible choice. A consistent pro-life argument In a paper entitled “Brain Death is Not Actual Death: Philosophical Arguments,” Dr. Seifert (Rector of the International Academy of Philosophy in Furstentum, Liechtenstein) makes a dramatic argument when he writes:
“During the first six weeks of pregnancy our body lives without a brain and hence our human life does not begin with the human brain. Certainly, the embryo is alive but his life is not bound to the functioning of his brain. Therefore, the thesis of brain death being the actual death of the person which ties human life inseparably to a functioning brain goes against this biological fact: the development of the embryonic body proves that the brain cannot be simply the seat of the human person’s life or soul. To hold the opposite view, you have to defend the position that the human soul is created or enters the body only after the human brain is formed.”
Young people in particular need guidance on the issue of the morality (or immorality) of organ transplants. The admirable idealism that is so common among young people often makes them wish to help others. If they hear no arguments against the practice, they may become donors without the information necessary for adequate reflection. But more experienced, older people must also be educated to the truth that when healthy vital organs are taken in accordance with the legal common practice of medicine, the donor is killed. See: http://www.all.org/issues/ http://www.catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Igpress/2001-03/essay.html -----------------------------
Yes, I/ we wish to attend “Come Away to a Quiet Place” Pro-life Retreat on the weekend of 26th – 28th August 2005 My special interest/work is………………………………………….. Name/s…………………………………………………………………………. Address…………………………………………………………………….. …………………………….…………………………………………………………… Phone ………………………E-mail………………………………………. For catering purposes, please answer the following questions: I wish to attend both days………….…..YES / NO I am only able to attend Saturday/Sunday (please specify) I will need Friday dinner and accommodation..….YES / NO I will not need accommodation. I can offer accommodation, please give details…………………………… I am unable to attend but would like to help with a donation. Enclosed please find $……… as deposit Enquiries: Angela: 662 12348
SPIRITUAL ADOPTION OF THE UNBORN CHILD Not everyone can work in Pregnancy Support; Not everyone can pray outside abortion “clinics”; Not everyone can attend pro-life meetings; But there is something that EVERYONE can do. Will you? If every Catholic took this on, we could win in the fight against abortion You may not meet your child in this life, but you will in the next! Spiritual adoption of the unborn child Can act as a healing balm for those who suffer after abortion. If you already have a copy, please pass this on to someone who will use it. Can you promote it among your family and friends? Can you ask your parish priest to promote this in you Parish? Family Life International (address is on back of pamphlet) would be happy to send you more
|
|
amartello@apostlesforlifesite.org
|
Apostles for Life News 
