Notes from the 2004 Synergy Symposium
"By Death Trampling Down Death"
Fr.
Joseph Mirowski: Suicide
Final Exit book by Ash: He says I’m just helping them to self-deliver themselves.
Internet: you can find out how to commit suicide; when you try and write letters to people to help those in chat rooms, you are met with hostility.
These groups validate ones desire to commit suicide rather than seeking help from the right source.
41,000 Americans commit suicide every year vs. 20,000 homicides. Since 1952 to today the rate of suicides has tripled. Suicides begin at age 11.
Suicide is extolled as death with dignity. Media elite approve Kevorkian suicide. Government is ambiguous on suicide. “We must recognize people have a right to take their life.”
Two theories: rational and irrational suicide. The only time psychologists have a professional right to interfere is if it is an irrational suicide. If rational they must be non-judgmental; simply weigh the pros and cons. If it is rational they can help them to die if they decide it is their choice.
Death on Demand society. 80% agree that the rational “suicide” are acting ethically. Do we want to be a society that embraces life and everyone or give people the ultimate civil right?
Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death. For ages 11-24 it is the 3rd leading cause. 600,000 people per year to make an attempt to go to an ER.
The Church: Lean on God’s love. God’s boundless love will not leave anyone alone. Bear one another’s burdens and pain. Our effort: to protect and promote life. Living in God and hope. Practice in a more profound way our love for our neighbor.
Suicide is not an absence of religion but an abundance of pagan religion. Young people are susceptible to imitating their peers (suicide is one of many examples).
The Church needs to create an environment that suicide is dealt with. We must recognize the seriousness of depression. Clinical depression is the most common disease in our society by people who have no reason externally to be depressed.
St. John Chrysostom says…the Church is a place to heal. We admit we need healing, but to provide it to others people and society says we are not supposed to be vulnerable so we conceal our vulnerability. No shame to help someone to draw strength. When we shy away we make matters worse. Don’t take the slim chance that they’re not serious.
Our responsibility is to listen, talk and help one another. Understand the Gospel is about healing and ongoing support.
Only in a Eucharistic community as spiritual children, fathers, brothers, and sisters we learn that we can hope in God and for the Sanctity of Life.
We must be given a reason to live. What happens when suicide does occur? We minister to the bereaved and deceased. It is not an occasion to condemn. We must proclaim compassion, forgiveness and communion with God. Whether we live or die we are the Lord’s.
How many times people walk through the doors that we don’t even acknowledge or know? How do we help older people living alone so they don’t feel like they’re living alone?
Suicide is a reminder that we have failed as a society, as a Christian community. We have abandoned people in society and in the church.
Weep with those who weep.
In the 4th century there may have been some resistance on the church’s part to not diminish the role of martyrdom. Church: no back door to get a certificate that says there was mental illness.
Suicide victimizes everyone: parents, friends. What if I had said this or that?
There is a first amendment mentality.
Lutheran minister offering communion while the drip line is going
There is an assault on Christianity by Islam and a political system.
Vera
Faith Lord: Abortion
Society tells us: Its your body and its your right to choose. There are counselors that will drive you to Planned Parenthood.
NARAL Christmas card: An angel gothic, “Choice on earth.” Blasphemy!
If asked which is more important: women’s right to choose or vote..some have difficulty.
She was a poster child for a “justifiable” abortion. Abortion industry says that the perfectly good reasons to kill your child…abusive relationships, alcohol, drugs, fetal alcohol syndrome. A minister has said too, “Send this baby back to God where he belongs.”
The evil one is the father of lies.
No matter what warm euphemism we’ve hidden behind..you have an awful moment where every cell in your body knows what you have done..killed your offspring. You spend the rest of your life running away from that moment.
TWO BOOKS TO GET:
Abortion & Healing—A Cry to Be Whole by Fr. Michael Manyon
Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual & Emotional Peace After Abortion by Sydra Masse & Joan Philips
When a child dies – for us the living to get past the death people surround us, pray for us. For a woman who has had an abortion…baby? What baby? She not only has a dead child, but she can’t mourn for the death.
Impacted grief: post abortion syndrome. Symptoms: migraines, eating disorders, inability to bond, relationship disorders, compulsive perfectionist, suicidially destructive, dissociative psychosis. It affects everyone she comes into contact with, not just the woman. Like a rock, thrown into water…it has ripples.
Dirty little secret behind the door they call choice. The baby is not the only one who dies. The mother too slowly dies. Unless the healing process begins. Society tells us she should feel okay about this. 43% chance of one abortion by age 45.
Abortion industry doesn’t want you to know of this or the organizations and books about post-abortion syndrome.
FILM TO SEE:
Silent Scream
Denying you are in a prison is not going to melt the bars away. Naming your child is the first step towards healing. She one day saw a mom pat her son to make him feel better. She kneeled at home (she’s alone) and cried and sobbed and said sorry to Gabriel.
If someone can’t defend the weakest amongst us, how can they defend my nation? My family? Etc.
Part of their denial system..the most vocal…its my body, its my choice, are hiding behind their pain and are suffering post-abortive mothers. You cannot experience this trauma and not feel the pain whether its rape, poster child, medically your life is in danger, whatever the circumstances. Your body doesn’t let you forget what you did! So negligible the #s of people where a choice has to be made between the mom and the baby. The health of the mother is really no longer an issue.
More myths:
Its my body. Its my choice.
Health of the mother.
Rape.
Saving your baby because of fear for post-abortive syndrome vs. the life of the baby.
Parents who are pillars of the O.C.; image is everything; parents would drive their daughter to get an abortion to not taint their image.
Fr.
Steven Powley: Crime & Punishment
Old Testament reasons to be put to death are many: adultery, etc.
We are all sinners. Who are we to play God? With babies (abortion)? With elderly (euthanasia)? With prisoners (capital punishment)?
Can’t be against abortion and for capital punishment.