Regarding Paul Schratz’s July 24 column on the implications of MAiD, the words we use matter. When we use them also matters.
As an acronym, MAiD is a convenient euphemism for what it truly is, physician-assisted suicide (PAS). I personally am trying to use physician-assisted suicide in place of MAiD whenever I can.
I would encourage others to consider the use of PAS as well.
Jim Hargrave
Abbotsford
This manic effort to involve everyone in homicide brings to mind an event from Iranian history.
Saddam Hussein sought to control his country and its citizens through the Ba’ath Party, an extreme socialist party. He called a gathering of prominent and influential people, meant to provide an opportunity for them to show their support for the regime. But he didn’t just take their word for it. Cheering and applause at his principal speech would not suffice.
His calls for loyalty met with the required tumultuous applause, naturally. When it died down, he informed them that they would have a chance to express their loyalty. Submachine guns were produced and distributed, and attendees informed that there were a number of traitors on site who needed execution. The attendees were invited to form themselves into firing squads and dispatch the traitors forthwith in the courtyard.
Since the attendees with SMGs were surrounded by troops with full-sized machine guns, they acquiesced. That made them not merely passive supporters, but active participants in the regime’s activities, locking them down and making opposition much more difficult.
Saddam knew that if you wanted to be homicidal and get away with it, a key was wide involvement. Now in B.C., we have hospitals, care facilities, and other arms of the “health care” system under intense pressure to acquiesce to homicidal procedures – or else. I wonder, do those running the program think themselves to be at all original and innovative?
Gerry Hunter
Burnaby
Re Julie Vanspall’s July 31 article “Reclaiming our sacramental worldview”:
To bring peace to ourselves and to this world, I agree that a sacramental worldview is essential. Living out our daily lives, having everything we do connected to God, transforms us and is contagious to others.
Great article, thanks.
Paul Clarke
North Delta
The Aug. 7 front page shows a deacon blessing some urns containing ashes of cremated remains, with some green and white plastic bags. If we are to show dignity and respect to the dead, the bags are out of place unless the ashes are in them. Even so, the ashes must be placed in respectable containers.
Regarding the way the urns are presented, they could have been arranged in a dignified and presentable manner with a white mantle or cover for the table or counter before the blessing.
Today, burying the dead or cremating is a great concern because of what I witness at funerals and memorials. Some services I have attended are taken for granted by families who want it “done and over with,”
While we are still alive and have our senses, it is important to have end-of-life planning with members of the family and with people who appreciate the Catholic faith in God.
Leo Ilomin
Abbotsford
Re Jenna McDonald’s June 26 column “To Veil or Not to Veil:
While the veil may humble the individual, it can look pretentious to me. I have seen women wearing veils who will only receive Communion from a priest. When my wife and I went to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York some veiled women were determined to ensure they only received Communion from the Cardinal while prostrate on the floor of the church.
While everyone should be free to dress as they like, I find dressing to one extreme or the other in church a distraction from the Mass itself. Didn’t Jesus say in Matthew 6:28 not to be concerned about what you wear?
Veils seem more appropriate for special occasions like a wedding or First Communion. Let’s not overuse a symbol or its significance is lost.
Martin Sollanych
Port Moody
(Of course a head covering doesn’t have to be a veil. Hats have long been a traditional form of head covering in church. — Editor)
We welcome letters to the editor about articles in The B.C. Catholic.
