HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-11-30, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1994.
From the Minister's Study,
Real-life drama hits close, says pastor
By Rev. Randy Banks
Walton-Bluevale Pastoral
Charge
/ have come that they might have
life, and have it abundantly.
(Jesus, quoted in John 10.10)
Pending his appeal, Robert
Latimer has begun serving his life
sentence with no chance of parole
for 10 years for the second degree
murder of his 12-year-old daughter,
Tracy.
Last fall, while the rest of the
family was attending a church
service, this Saskatchewan farmer
ran hoses from the exhaust pipe to
the cab of his pick-up truck and
caused Tracy's painless death by
carbon monoxide poisoning. He
subsequently made a full and
detailed confession to the RCMP.
Friends and neighbours describe
Latimer as a hard-working farmer
and respected member of the
community. His wife, who has
supported him throughout the
ordeal, characterizes him as a
loving father.
Tracy suffered from cerebral
palsy ever since birth when she was
stricken by severe convulsions and
lapsed into a coma for a while. She
never learned to speak intelligibly
nor could she perform even the
simplest of functions for herself.
There are many who regard
Robert Latimer as the angel of
mercy for this child who did
nothing to deserve such a cruel
fate.
This compelling real-life drama
has brought closer to home some of
the most complex philosophical,
moral, and legal questions known
to humanity: What is the abundant
life to which Jesus refers? Does it
mean life that is devoid of all
physical, mental, or spiritual
struggle? Should we enshrine right-
to-die legislation into our
constitution? Should we have the
right to end the anguished lives of
those who cannot speak and act for
themselves? Should the law codes
regarding murder be revised to
allow for more leniency for those
who have killed for the reasons
Robert Latimer did?
The cover of Maclean's
magazine, featuring a photograph
of Tracy, poses the blunt question:
"What would you do?" What I
t
would like to do is avoid answering
the question at all. I am thankful
that I am not confronting such a
moral dilemma in my own life.
Tomorrow, however, I might have
to.
On the one hand I am influenced
by Judeo-Christian theology which
propounds that life is created,
sustained, and sanctified by God,
that it is not ours to give and lake
away, and that society bears a
special responsibility toward the
weaker members of the
community. Furthermore, one of
the last roles I want to fulfill is that
of being an arbitrator of who does
and docs not possess quality of life.
On the other hand, it is difficult
to imagine that Tracy's life
embodied much, if any, joy or
dignity. And yet, how do I know
for certain whether or not she was
happy within her own world.
The trial judge, when he passed
sentence on Mr. Latimer, observed
that "criminal law is unremitting
when it comes to taking a life.
Latimer's lawyer lamented: "The
law is a blunt instrument."
The only flexibility in the law
available to the jury was to deliver
a verdict of guilt for second degree
murder. But, even that sentence
seems unduly harsh given that
Latimer shows no signs of being a
sadistic, cold-blooded murderer and
societal menace who will strike
again.
The debate has been focused in
the terminology of "the right-to-
die" or "mercy-killing." Mercy
killing conjures up images of
euthanizing dogs and shooting
horses and I am hesitant to place
human beings in that context.
Neither is it a question of "the
right-to-die". There is no such
right. Despite the extent of death
denial in our culture, death is
scarcely a right, but, rather, a
matter of inevitability for all of us.
The only questions have to do with
how and when it will happen.
Most of us would prefer that
death will come quickly and
painlessly after a long and
satisfying life. As we know, life
lacks such orderliness.
Because of my vocation, I have
been present at many a deathbed of
mostly very sick and elderly
people. I can confirm that passive
euthanasia is quietly practised.
Passive euthanasia consists in not
taking superhuman measure to
resuscitate the deceased because to
do so would only reinstate the
suffering and indignity. I have not
looked upon the inaction of nurses
and doctors in these instances as
constituting criminal acts. Nor have
I heard family members clamoring
for the medical staff to revive their
loved one.
What would I do if I were Robert
Latimer? I, of course, have the
luxury of examining the issue with
greater abstraction and objectivity
and decidedly much less urgency
than were available to Mr. Latimer.
I have not witnessed by daughter
languishing in a vegetative state for
12 years. I have not had to reach
the conclusion that my beloved
daughter had suffered long enough.
I have no doubt that the Latimers
loved their daughter with all their
hearts and showed her all the
loving kindness they could muster.
I am sure they would give anything
to have her back with them as a
happy-go-lucky child who could
laugh, cry, talk, walk, run, and
express her love in her own words
and hugs.
If anything the heart-rending
story of the Latimers should
motivate us to be more
compassionate and sensitive and
less judgmental toward those who
are severely disabled and those
distressed families who must care
for them throughout long,
exhausting, heavy days, months
and years. It should also remind us,
whether we operate from a faith
base or not, to define the meaning
of life and death for ourselves and
to discuss our views frankly with
our loved ones. For any of us may
one day find ourselves cast in the
same moral crucible as the
Latimers.
It is reported that Jesus wept at
the tomb of his friend Lazarus. I am
sure that he would also have wept
for Tracy, her parents, and her
family and friends. Perhaps that is
the most human response any of us
can make.
Postscript - Robert Latimer is
presently released on bail until his
February appeal hearing.
Visitor sets up link with Chile
Visiting
Juanita Chacon-Snow is
visitng Southwestern Ontario
to help establish an Internet
link between Chile and
Canada.
By Janice Becker
A woman who has spent many
years in Chile, returned to the
community recently to set up a
network to inform Canadians of
human rights issues in that country.
Juanita Chacon-Snow is visiting
Ontario to set up a news service
through Internet, which will enable
Fasic, the Social Aid Foundation of
Christian Churches, to transmit
information regarding human rights
issues, in Chile, to the other parts
of the world.
Ms Chacon-Snow spoke to a
gathering in Belgrave, on behalf of
Fasic, which has been working in
Chile since the military coup in
1973. The foundation works with
refugees, prisoners of war and their
families in an effort to reunite
families.
There have also been many
Chileans returning to their home
country since democracy returned
to the south American nation in
1990. "These people need
assistance finding lost relatives as
well as readjusting to the society
and resettling in a changed
country," she says. "Much of the
work we do is like a social worker,
getting the children into schools,
finding funding for job retraining in
an economic boom and finding the
jobs."
The foundation also educates the
families on human rights issues,
especially dealing with youths and
women. Teachers arc taught how
to deal with conflicts in new ways.
Young women, particularly single
mothers, are retrained in non-
traditional fields and the people are
offered alcohol and drug
rehabilitation.
"The foundation is an ecumenical
organization, consisting of
members from the Catholic,
Pentecostal, Evangelical Lutheran
and Methodist Churches," says Ms
Chacon-Snow, "and we try to keep
a Christian outlook (towards the
problems)."
Aside from aiding social issues,
the foundation provides lawyers
and psychologists for the families
still looking for relatives who went
missing during the reign of the
military dictatorship.
Through the World Council of
Churches, the foundation is also
becoming involved in the political
violence occurring in Peru.
BUILDING TOMORROW
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9:30 a.m.11:15a.m.
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
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PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
Sunday 10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
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11:00 a.m.- Morning Service
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We welcome you to come and worship with us.
9:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 4: 9:15 a.m. Singing Tune Up Time
9:30 a.m. WORSHIP SERVICE
“Second Sunday of Advent”
10:30 a.m. Sunday School For All Ages
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Sunday, December 11: Special MYF Soup Lunch Fundraiser
Eide, REJOICE! REJOICE!
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887-9203 887-6388
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Manse 887-9313
- Morning Worship Service
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Brussels United
Saturday, December 3rd
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‘Welcome to our Second Advent Sunday Service