Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Where's the Outrage?

Where was the outrage? Unless you were in a cave over the past week, then you are aware of the attack on the Mosque in Quebec city on Sunday.
Those things aren’t supposed to happen in Canada.  And yet they do.  And if the attack had of been against a church there would have been all kinds of outrage from the right and if the attack had of been against a gay night club there would have been all kinds of outrage from the left.  But, where was the outrage?
In the place of outrage we saw vigils happening across our country.
Vigils that said “lives matter”.  And it doesn’t matter whose life is it, it still matters.  These were men who had gathered for prayer, business men and educators, fathers, brothers and sons.  And their lives mattered.  
And when lives are taken it is wrong and it is evil, regardless of whose life is taken and regardless of who takes their lives.
And so we grieve with the Muslim community of Quebec, not because they are Muslim but because they are Canadians and across Canada we saw the outpouring of support and love for our fellow Canadians, and we grieved because we are Canadians.  And I guess I will take that over outrage.


Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Watch my Plug

It was bound to come out.  In a recent study it was reported that “Doctor-assisted suicide could save Canada tens of millions of dollars annually by avoiding costly “end-of-life” care.”

The study looked at the cost of medical care that was needed to treat terminally ill patients, estimated at $14,000.00 during the last 30 days of his or her life and compared that with the cost of ending someone’s life, which could be as low as $269.00.  

According to the study, the estimated annual savings for the Canadian health care system could be as high as 139 million dollars. 

I wonder how long it will be before we calculate the cost of keeping someone alive vs how much early termination would cost and families and individuals are offered a choice?

On another note, a new TV series on Global is called “Mary Kills People” and is about a Doctor who according to one source “Is an angel of death who helps terminally ill patients slip away on their own terms.”

So, physician assisted suicide has become an economic benefit to our health care service and prime time television is celebrating the heroic efforts of a brave doctor who takes the lives of her patients.

The slippery slope argument doesn’t sound so far-fetched now, does it?

Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.


Wednesday, January 18, 2017

A Few Bad Apples

I have read a number of disturbing stories recently about teachers and administrators in schools, in Canada and the States, who have been charged with possession of child porn or with being sexually involved with students.  What I haven’t read is reaction by people who say that they will no longer send their children to school or support the education system as a whole because their trust in the system has been shattered. 

What people seem to understand is that not every teacher is a pervert, as a matter of fact only a few are, and they can’t judge the entire education system on the behaviour of a few bad apples.  And yet, people judge the Roman Catholic church based on the behaviour of priests who have betrayed their vocation, their church and their God by preying on children. 

I often hear people tell me they have no use for the Church in general and the Catholic Church in particular because of the abuses of a few deviant priests. Come on. Most teachers are committed to educating our children and the majority of Priests are committed to serving God. And it’s not right to judge the entire institution based on the behaviour of a few criminals.     

Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.