Archive for the ‘catholic’ Category

Death Panels: It’s not a bug its a feature

Posted: September 11, 2009 by datechguy in catholic, opinion/news
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One last thing about the death panel stuff.

If you wonder why pro life people, particularly the Catholic Church keep fighting when all this stuff goes on it’s because they have seen the culture of life degenerate since Roe v. Wade. They have seen assisted suicide and euthanasia in the western world. The see the Capewell case and they understand what the fight is all about.

They understand in the great tradition of Margaret Sanger the death panel isn’t a bug, it’s a feature. And once there are guidelines are in place people who would normally be considered good and moral people will embrace those features and say they were just following guidelines or didn’t want to rock the boat. Just as otherwise good people and good neighbors embraced slavery and Jim Crow without giving it a second thought or if they had those thoughts kept them to themselves. The change will be gradual, it will be a gentle slope:

You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report great wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-— the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.

If this passes I predict that in ten years we will be told that our instance of the preservation of life and the treatment of the elderly will be called “unreasonable” and the argument of “quality of life” and “economy” and “guidelines” will be used as an excuse to end life.

It’s not a bug it’s a feature

a totally different thing altogether:

Guidance limiting care of the most premature babies provoked outrage when it was published three years ago.

Experts on medical ethics advised doctors not to resuscitate babies born before 23 weeks in the womb, stating that it was not in the child’s ‘best interests’.

The guidelines said: ‘If gestational age is certain and less than 23+0 (i.e at 22 weeks) it would be considered in the best interests of the baby, and standard practice, for resuscitation not to be carried out.’

Medical intervention would be given for a child born between 22 and 23 weeks only if the parents requested it and only after discussion about likely outcomes.

Well it’s not like hospital workers would refuse treatment to a live baby when his mother is begging for it, oh wait:

Sarah Capewell begged them to save her tiny son, who was born just 21 weeks and five days into her pregnancy – almost four months early.

They ignored her pleas and allegedly told her they were following national guidelines that babies born before 22 weeks should not be given medical treatment.

Miss Capewell, 23, said doctors refused to even see her son Jayden, who lived for almost two hours without any medical support.

She said he was breathing unaided, had a strong heartbeat and was even moving his arms and legs, but medics refused to admit him to a special care baby unit…

…She told how she begged one paediatrician, ‘You have got to help’, only for the man to respond: ‘No we don’t.’

Jayden Capewell  Born & Died Oct. 3, 2008

Jayden Capewell Born & Died Oct. 3, 2008


I found this story in the Corner, my son and I are both a bit shocked over it, him more than me because he is 18 and still innocent enough to not understand how a doctor can look at this baby and decide to let him die without any effort. It would seem contrary to human nature, I think the opposite, it is very human to duck responsibility whenever possible.

I have a message for the “death panel deniers” who don’t want to read editorials that use those words. You may not believe that they will exist, but let me tell you Jayden Capewell damn well believes in them.

I’m going to go all Catholic on you for a sec; it’s not the soul of Jayden that needs prayers, it’s the doctors and staff that let him die, they’re the people who you need to pray for.

Update: it’s just below the headline on Drudge. This is going to make for a fun day on Rush and on the talk shows tonight.

Update 2: Now in the green room, it will progress from there to the main page and I predict to Rush before the day is done and then to Fox.

Update 3: Don Surber has more examples while Darren Hutchinson calls it a conspiracy theory and equates it with Birtherism. Tell that to the Capewell family.

Well I found out the best way to get parishioners to the end of the month after mass breakfasts at St. Anthony di Padua.

The secret is to start frying the kielbasa during the mass. The scent goes up the stairs to the main church “a fragrant aroma” (Philippians 4:18b). And when that “sweet smelling” (Numbers 15:7b) odor hits the parishioners who haven’t yet had breakfast, when mass ends they pour down the stairs to the church hall where…

“They all ate and were satisfied.” (Mark 6:42)

One funny story, a fine woman who I’ve known since grammar school was at mass as always with her 4 kids. Her husband never comes to church. The kids suggested that since there are free pancakes and Kielbasa maybe they can get him to go at least once a month.

It’s a good plan. Maybe it will work on the Christmas and Easter crowd. The Kielbasa can get them in the doors and and The Holy Spirit can do the rest.

Ironically today’s Gospel was Mark chapter 7.

A chance to meet an obscure blogger in person!

Posted: August 30, 2009 by datechguy in catholic
Tags: ,

All you have to do is go to the 8 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony di Padua Church in Fitchburg Massachusetts this morning and after mass go to the church hall!

This obscure blogger will be in the kitchen providing free pancakes and kielbasa to all who attend.

Come and get a free meal at my expense!

Due to the expected crowding blogging will be light this morning.