Civil Liberties versus Religious Morality

[An Céachta Dearg]

Civil Liberties versus Religious Morality

The Scottish MP Margo McDonald has recently announced that she intends to campaign for the right to end her own life. McDonald who is suffering from a terminal illness made the address recently to the Scottish assembly. In her speech McDonald proclaimed ‘I do not intend on leaving early, but I do want to open the debate upon ending ones own life’.

So this brings the issue of Suicide and Euthanasia into play. Most religious institutions deny both these practices as immoral and a sin in front of the eyes of God. However many people feel that the illegality of Euthanasia is a denial of free will and social liberties.

It would be interesting to gain the views of the posters here on www.worldagenda.net in regards to this issue and whether you think it is a mainly social issue or one that comprises human life morally.

If legalised could Euthanasia be wrongfully used in a way to murder an older relation legally to gain access to a will?
Or is forcing someone who is suffering great pain and whose family are suffering traumatic emotional pain in having to witness the victims struggle versus the illness morally wrong and an infringement on social freedom?
Would legalising Euthanasia encourage suicide?

What are your views on this matter?

[Enver]

Euthanasia should be legal.

[Gareth]

^^ Not a hope...

I'm seriously concerned about the liberalisation of things. It's going to cause huge problems in the future.

[Enver]

^^ Not a hope...

I'm seriously concerned about the liberalisation of things. It's going to cause huge problems in the future.

Where does anyone get the right to tell someone when they may or may not end their life? I just can't get my head around this; we're talking about adults consenting to end their lives, not any kind of perversion like eugenics.

[Gareth]

Mentally unstable people can decide to end their life one moment and live the next. It's not practical.

[Don melQuiades]

^^ Not a hope...

I'm seriously concerned about the liberalisation of things. It's going to cause huge problems in the future.

Ironic, since one can trace many of our social problems to the over-regulation.

[Gareth]

one can trace our problems back to making stupid legal decisions, and allowing practically everything to be deemed acceptable. I still hope that people won't tinker with the abortion laws.

[Viv]

^^ Not a hope...

I'm seriously concerned about the liberalisation of things. It's going to cause huge problems in the future.

Euthanasia should be legal and IMO it is coming.

Margo MacDonald may well be the perfect person to action it. She has been a servant of the community her entire life and left the Labour Party for ethical reasons. She was one of few, however, who was able to continue to represent her constituents as an independent, because of her popularity with the people. Here are links to her speech, which I personally cannot watch without being affected by her dignity and calmness in the face of the approach of this terrible illness which may destroy a brilliant mind:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news/scotland/video/161000/nb/161882_16x9_nb.asx

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7310000/newsid_7316900/7316975.stm?bw=nb&mp=wm&news=1&nol_storyid=7316975&bbcws=1#

My father became ill with cancer when I was 21. In fact, I and my brother and sister, nursed both my parents at home to the end of terminal cancer.
I cannot express the horror of that situation and the helplessness of watching the people you love deteriorate and suffer...my mother was completely paralysed, limb by limb which took 11 months from the day she first collapsed, whilst talking to me, until it ended.
Should I contract that illness, I know I will not wait for permission. I will not subject anyone else to the watching and suffering and inability to help. I will fall from a bridge.
I absolutely agree with this woman and she communicates my view on this perfectly. I will support her in any way I can. It is past time for this...

[Gareth]

In Ireland, I doubt it will come as quick.

This is one of the issues I have with secularism, they have an agenda of putting people at odds with the State time and time again, and it will end in conflict I have no doubt about that.

[Enver]

In Ireland, I doubt it will come as quick.

This is one of the issues I have with secularism, they have an agenda of putting people at odds with the State time and time again, and it will end in conflict I have no doubt about that.

Bring it on.

Hopefully both euthanasia and abortion are legalised in Ireland soon.

[Don melQuiades]

one can trace our problems back to making stupid legal decisions, and allowing practically everything to be deemed acceptable. I still hope that people won't tinker with the abortion laws.

LOL. Aren't you the one saying that we should respect neo nazis and racists?

[Gareth]

See, this bring it on is going to be a problem. People wonder why people get radicalised, it's due to the State intending to put the religious at odds with them the whole time (regardless of what religion). We should be moving towards harmonious living, whereby religious have a place in the State instead of marginalizing them. (I should perhaps include myself in this population demographic however)

If the State is an atheist state, that is fair enough. However that isn't true at present.

I feel that secularism just isn't working.


LOL. Aren't you the one saying that we should respect neo nazis and racists?

If they argue correctly yes. However I believe our society will collapse if we keep moving the boundaries too loose on matters such as abortion which is infant homocide (57,000,000 children in 2006 alone).

[Don melQuiades]

I feel that secularism just isn't working.

In what country?

[Gareth]

In Ireland, UK, France, and most of Western Europe. You can have freedom of religion, even if there is an established faith of the State.

However, in the USA it's interesting as religious people are having an input in the body politic. Mike Huckabee had a good run in the caucuses there even though he had a low budget.

[An Céachta Dearg]

I feel that secularism just isn't working.
[/I].

Gareth surely matters have improved for you since the goveremtn of the Republic of Ireland has started to cut its ties with the Roman Catholic Church.
Im not attacking you hear I'am just curious like I would have believed it an improvement. Personally I'am very against Euthanasia but I was asked to discuss it so I brought it up(I confess it wasn't my idea lol)

[Gareth]

In some regards yes it's been a move forward, and in some regards no in relation to how people want to constantly push the boundaries. Personally I'd prefer a Christian state with tolerance for other religious groups.