Many people don’t follow the euthanasia controversy closely. (I don’t know why: It’s not as if there is nothing else going on in the world.) But even though the issue isn’t currently on the public policy front burner, I think it is important to understand that once a society accepts killing as a legitimate response to human suffering, the idea of following the law fades in importance, even the requirement that mercy killing remain strictly voluntary.
That has certainly been the pattern in the Netherlands . And now, in Flanders, Belgium, studies show that almost as many patients are killed by doctors who have not asked to die, as who have . For those interested in more details, check out these posts at Secondhand Smoke :
- Belgium Euthanasia: Going Up and Under Reported:
- Nearly as Many Life Terminations Without Consent as Voluntary Euthanasia Deaths in Flanders
- Legalizing Euthanasia in Belgium Unleashes Nurses to Do Doctor-Ordered Non Voluntary Killing
The worst part is that once a culture catches the euthanasia virus, abuses that would have once caused an uproar are shrugged of as of little consequence.
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
